Nancy Opel, John Jellison to Replace Cass Morgan, Michael McGrath in Broadway’s Memphis

Nancy Opel will assume the role of Mama and John Jellison will assume the role of Mr. Simmons in the musical Memphis, playing at the Shubert Theatre, beginning with the March 15 performance. They will replace, respectively, Cass Morgan and Michael McGrath, who will play their final performances on Sunday, March 13.

Opel received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in Urinetown. Her other Broadway credits include Fiddler on the Roof, Triumph of Love, Anything Goes, Sunday in the Park with George, and Evita, among others. Her Off-Broadway credits include Drama Desk Award nominated turns in The Toxic Avenger and Polish Joke, as well as My Deah, for which she won an Obie Award.

Jellsion is currently a member of the Memphis company, and has also appeared on Broadway in The Phantom Of The Opera, All Shook Up, Caroline Or Change, Oklahoma!, Putting It Together, On The Town, The Capeman, Titanic, Crazy For You, and Me and My Girl, among others.

Memphis is based on a concept by George W. George and features a book by Joe DiPietro and music and lyrics by Bon Jovi founding member David Bryan. Set in the segregated South of the 1950s, the show follows the fictionalized life story of white radio disc jockey Huey Calhoon, who falls in love with both rock & roll and an electrifying black singer, Felicia Farrell. The show stars 2010 Tony nominees Chad Kimball (Huey) and Montego Glover (Felicia).

For tickets and more information, click here.