Elisabeth Vincentelli
" * * * ½ (of 4) An EXUBERANT musical with classic values: catchy songs, heaping spoonfuls of inspirational moments and gifted performers at the top of their game. It's IMMENSELY GRATIFYING. DAVID BRYAN's score works PERFECTLY. SERGIO TRUJILLO and CHRISTOPHER ASHLEY wrap it all together with SMART, brisk efficiency. MONTEGO GLOVER is TERRIFIC, embodying rhythm and blues as she effortlessly switches from sexy to funny to emotional. She lifts up the show and stops it dead in its tracks. OF SUCH THRILLS, BROADWAY IS MADE."
Michael Kuchwara
"THE EXHILARATING NEW MUSICAL SHAKING THE SHUBERT THEATRE IS THE VERY ESSENCE OF WHAT A BROADWAY MUSICAL SHOULD BE. MEMPHIS is SENSUOUS, SOULFUL, TUNEFUL & THEATRICAL, EXPERTLY CAST & SUPERBLY SUNG. Take a deep breath as the curtain rises, because THE EXUBERANCE DOESN'T STOP. The PROPULSIVE CHOREOGRAPHY and sinuous, sexy dancing perfectly matches the music. The dancers are among the HOTTEST IN TOWN."
Linda Winer
"A SMASH. This INVENTIVE show has NONSTOP TALENT, REMARKABLE SONGS & VOCAL PYROTECHNICS. An ORIGINAL, AUTHENTIC, EXTROARDINARY SHOW!"
John Simon
"I GUARANTEE YOU A RAMBUNCTIOUS GOOD TIME highlighted by ROUSING music and singing, SPECTACULAR dancing and a WITTY, MOVING story. MEMPHIS ARRIVES ON BROADWAY TRIUMPHANT! The musical numbers are IRRESISTIBLE. Sergio Trujillo has some PHENOMENAL dancers, and he has come up with ORIGINAL AND INCANDESCANT DANCING that NO CURRENT MUSICAL AND VERY FEW PAST ONES COULD MATCH. Add EXTREMELY INVENTIVE scenery, EXHILARATING costumes and unostentatiously incisive lighting, all this coordinated and MAGESTERIALLY DEPLOYED by Christopher Ashley's direction, and YOU HAVE MAGIC even before you get to the FLAWLESS CAST! CHAD KIMBALL is SO PERFECT that not for a moment do you believe that is only acting. This is a performance hewn out of flesh and blood. The ENCHANTING MONTEGO GLOVER is a thrilling singer and commanding actress."
David Richardson
"THE BIGGEST HIT ON BROADWAY THIS YEAR OR ANY OTHER YEAR! MEMPHIS IS TOTALLY OFF THE CHARTS! It is truly overwhelming. The entire audience, including me, shot to their feet at the end. TWO NEW STARS ARE BORN! CHAD KIMBALL is absolutely terrific. The incredibly talented MONTEGO GLOVER is quite frankly incredible. Great sets, great costumes and GREAT SONG AFTER GREAT SONG. Memphis is a musical you have to see even if you have to bribe somebody to get tickets."
Roma Torre
"MEMPHIS ROCKS! TREMENDOUS PERFORMANCES, A SENSATIONAL CAST, AN INFECTIOUS SCORE, EXCELLENT DIRECTION, DAZZLING CHOREOGRAPHY AND AN ENGAGING STORY! THE SHOW IS A KNOCKOUT and LOADED WITH TALENT. The wonderful choreography is DAZZLING and POWERFUL, and the music is FULL OF SOUL. CHAD KIMBALL AND MONTEGO GLOVER steal our hearts. KIMBALL burns exceedingly bright on that stage. GLOVER BLOWS THE ROOF OFF THE JOINT."
Joe Dziemianowicz
"NICE TO KNOW A NEW MUSICAL CAN ACTUALLY SURPRISE YOU! MEMPHIS WINS YOU OVER with its sheer enthusiasm and exuberant performances. IT BLASTS YOU OUT THE DOOR HUMMING AND HAPPY AS ALL, WELL, HOCKADOO! Director CHRISTOPHER ASHLEY spins the imaginative choreography and excellent ensemble into a gleaming production."
David Rooney
"AN ENTERTAINING AND LIVELY NEW MUSICAL, with A TALENTED CAST, STIRRING VOCALS, ATHLETIC DANCE NUMBERS and A WELL-CRAFTED SCORE with TOE-TAPPING BEATS. WAVES OF APPRECIATION COME OFF THE AUDIENCE."
Charles Isherwood
"A sincere new musical with plenty of energetic choreography and a talented, appealing, hard-charging cast that holds the attention. It evokes the powerhouse funk of James Brown, the hot guitar riffs of Chuck Berry, the smooth harmonies of the Temptations, the silken, bouncy pop of the great girl groups of the period."
Robert Feldman
"MEMPHIS EXPLODES OFF THE STAGE with a rhythm and a drive that soar through the house, creating a feeling of INSTANT JOY. DAVID BRYAN has written a very strong score, with exuberant soul and rhythm-and-blues numbers."
Matt Windman
"PURE FUN! MEMPHIS is IRRESISTIBLE, INVIGORATING and TRULY ENTERTAINING, with A PULSATING NEW SCORE!"
