Sun 1/12 @ 7PM
The late Elvis Presley was born on January 8. That date gives PlayhouseSquare a hook for their annual birthday tribute to the King of Rock and Roll, who would be 79 if he hadn’t died back in 1977.
The production at the State Theatre will feature two Elvis impersonators — Shawn Klush and Cody Slaughter.
They’ll recreate not only the incredibly popular but not very rock and roll Vegas Elvis of the ’70s in his famous jeweled white jumpsuit, but also his pre-army years from 1954-1958 when he became the face and spirit of then-nascent rock and roll; his post-army ’60s years of focusing on fun but superficial movies; and his 1968 comeback special, which reminded audiences of the musical power and sensuality they’d responded to in the ’50s.
The evening also features Elvis’ former drummer DJ Fontana, plus gospel group the Blackwood Quartet who had a major influence on Elvis, and female R&B vocal group the Sweet Inspirations, who performed and recorded backup vocals with him.
Tickets are $10-$47.