LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill.—Those rock n’ roll fans who enjoyed the original “Million Dollar Quartet” are going to love its Christmas follow-up. The jukebox musical is the final show of the Marriott Theatre’s 50th anniversary and an exuberant and exciting theater outing for the holidays.
This second installment is very similar to the original, but there are differences. Once again the great Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash come together at Sun Records for an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime jam session. This time, however, the quartet has come together to celebrate Christmas.
The story is the same but with a holiday twist. It was based on a real-life event that took place in December 1956 in Memphis, Tennessee, when the four rock ’n’ roll and country singers showed up at Sam Phillips’s little Sun Records studio at the same time. A photograph that was snapped of them encouraged Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux to write “Million Dollar Quartet.”
As in the previous songfest, fans get great hit numbers, but this time around some of the rock numbers have been changed and some substituted for Christmas favorites. There’s plenty to like with a songbook that includes “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town,” “Silent Night.” “Santa Claus Is Back in Town,” “Run, Rudolph, Run,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus,” and more.
This holiday production goes into more detail about the singers’ lives than the previous one. The singers have all been very successful, but they still have dreams. Carl Perkins wants to become more popular internationally, Johnny Cash wants to be a singing cowboy like Gene Autry, Jerry Lee Lewis is concerned with his financial future, and Elvis is still concerned about the hold that his manager, Col. Parker, has on him.
Scott Weinstein does a terrific job of directing the production. Milo Bue’s Christmas scenic design, Nicholas Hartman’s period costumes, Jesse Klug’s lighting design, and the fabulous musical direction by Matt Deitchman are equally impressive. Together their stagecraft has created an even greater intimacy to the theater-in-the-round Marriott stage. The audience feels as though they’re right in the Sun Studio with the great entertainers.
Of course, the best part of this holiday rock ’n’ roll special are the performers who portray the popular songbirds. Trevor Lindley Craft, who stands out on guitar and moves harmoniously with his music, captures the rockabilly persona of Carl Perkins, bringing to life the singer’s down-home personality and is a delight singing “O Christmas Tree” and “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”
With a deep baritone, Michael D. Potter sounds a lot like Johnny Cash, especially when he sings “Ring of Fire” and a terrific spiritual of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” It recalls the somber, serious quality that Cash projected.
Colton Sims doesn’t look like Elvis but has the same thrilling baritone and gyrates like the king of rock ’n roll did. His “Don’t Be Cruel” was outstanding, but “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” received even more audience appreciation.
The standout performance, though, was JP Coletta as the fiery, electric, energetic Jerry Lee Lewis. His piano-pounding, hair-flying rendition of “Chantilly Lace” had theatergoers almost jumping out of their seats, and even his version of “Jingle Bells” exuded a rare kind of energy one usually doesn’t associate with that familiar Christmas favorite.
Others who provide fine performances to this rousing musical include Teah Kiang Mirabelli as Dyanne, Elvis’s girlfriend. She comes through with a wonderful “Santa Baby.” Ross Griffin is compelling as Sam Phillips, the owner of Sun Records, who gave so many extraordinary and gifted singers their first chance at stardom.
Not to be forgotten are Jed Feder, the drummer, and Cody Siragusa, who plays his bass-playing brother Jake. They join the entire company with some more great Christmas tunes such as “Blue Christmas,” “Boogie Woogie Santa Claus,” and “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”
A nostalgic celebration of the past when rock sounded good and could even be spiritual, “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas” is a rollicking good time.
‘Million Dollar Quartet’
10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire, Ill.
Tickets: 847-634-0200 or MarriottTheatre.com
Runs: One hour, 30 minutes (one intermission)
Closes: Jan. 4, 2026
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