‘ELVIS’ opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on January 31, 1978. Starring Rick Saucedo as Elvis, and The Jordanaires (original Elvis back-up singers), D.J. Fontana (original Elvis drummer) and Millie Kirkham (original back-up soprano).
Howard Dando, Director
Rick Paul, Set Designer
Barry Arnold, Lighting Designer
The production was first directed by Jim Sotos and Henry Scarpelli, but after Opening Night Producer D.L. Productions hired Howard Dando to re-direct the production. The production went on to run for 101 performances and closed on April 30, 1978. The production moved on to the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas where it played for two years.
The show begins at Sun Studios and recreates Elvis at his first recording sessions and follows with the Ed Sullivan performances, the Hollywood years, the come-back and the Vegas era. The title song “The Legend Lives On” was written for the production by Bruce Foster and songwriting legend, Doc Pomus.
