by Grayling Holmes

Whether or not you’re into Christmas, most likely you’re a fan the four famous singers from Sun Records, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash. Dubbed the ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ the quadrumvirate made an indelible mark on the music industry. And so will the Rep’s, Million Dollar Quartet Christmas, which is co-produced by STAGES St. Louis.

Sorry for the late notice, but with only a few performances left through Sunday, December 22nd, it’s time to grab your tickets and journey simultaneously to the Rep and go down memory lane with the fellas. If you go, get ready to party. Folks are literally dancing in their seats, clapping to the beats, standing up to boogie for the FOUR, count ‘em, FOUR encores.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis decked out with a cascade of holiday lights.

The subject of a Tony Award-nominated musical, it is the story of how the singers perform an impromptu jam session at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee on December 4, 1956, which is known as the ‘Million Dollar Quartet Christmas.’

The show is nothing short of electric! The impersonations of Presley and Cash are pitch perfect. The guy who plays Jerry Lee is magnetic with his comedic swagger bouncing all over the stage.

The production is a collaboration between the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and STAGES St. Louis. According to STAGES St. Louis Development Director John Herget, during their 2023 season, the theater company produced ‘Million Dollar Quartet,’ which is the prequel to ‘Million Dollar Quartet Christmas,’ and takes place later the night of December 4, 1956. “We already had the cast, the design work and much of the set built. So, when we were able to work with the Rep, we were able to hand them an almost fully fleshed out production, which is a huge cost savings for them. Since we don’t have a show at this time of year, it's an opportunity for us to partner, sell more tickets and reach a new audience.”

The Rep’s Artistic Director Kate Bergstrom, Managing Director Danny Williams, STAGES Artistic Director Gayle Seay, and Executive Producer Andrew Kuhlmann give remarks to supporter in the lobby of the Rep.

To welcome the audience to the premier of the ‘Million Dollar Quartet Christmas,’ St. Louis’ two new “dynamic duos” of theater, STAGES Executive Producer Andrew Kuhlmann and Artistic Director Gayle Seay and the Rep’s Managing Director Danny Williams and Artistic Director Kate Bergstrom warmed up the crowd for the red hot Christmas performance ahead.

The Rep’s Managing Director Danny Williams, Artistic Director Kate Bergstrom, STAGES Executive Producer Andrew Kuhlmann and Artistic Director Gayle Seay curtain warm up.

While attendance may have been down since Covid gutted theater audiences coast to coast, the Rep is making a comeback. Million Dollar Quartet Christmas is just the “opening act” of a spectacular not-to-be-missed 2025 season.

To buy tickets to the show, click here million-dollar-quartet-christmas For more information on the upcoming season or to donate to the Rep, please visit them at repstl.org.

Shout out to Suzie Nall, Rep board member, for inviting me to partake of this unexpected treat and the before and after donor parties. It was a blast rocking and rolling with the Rep audience and some of the greatest musicians of all time.

The Rep Brings Home a Million Dollar Hit for the Holidays

The Evening’s Highlights