Broadway's 'Memphis' headed to movie theaters

NEW YORK  - Following on the heels of successful crossover moves into digital distribution for New York's Metropolitan Opera and London's National Theater, "Memphis" will be the first ongoing Broadway show to beam a live performance into movie theaters nationwide.

Broadway Worldwide, a company that acquires and distributes electronic rights to Broadway shows, will capture regularly scheduled performances of "Memphis" January 18-21 at the Shubert Theater.

Theatrical rollout is expected to begin in May, with exact dates and screen count to be announced.

The filming will utilize five high-def cameras and 96 tracks of sound recording. Emmy-winning director Don Roy King will lead the production team.

While the final performance of the long-running Broadway hit "Rent" was filmed for theatrical release, and "Legally Blonde: The Musical" was broadcast on MTV during its New York run, the decision to make "Memphis" available digitally represents an aggressive bid by producers to extend brand awareness in anticipation of the Tony-winning show's national tour.

That road production debuts next October at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis.

Set in the 1950s in its title city, "Memphis" chronicles the efforts of a white DJ, based on Dewey Phillips, to break racial barriers and push black Beale Street rock 'n' roll into the mainstream.

Opened in October 2009, the show won four Tonys last year, including best musical, book (by Joe DiPietro), original score (by Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan and DiPietro), and orchestrations.

A rep for the show said national screenings of the filmed performances are likely to be followed by international dates and a DVD release.