Beverley Knight to leave Memphis on 17 October

British soul singer Beverley Knight will make her last appearance as Felicia Farrell in Memphis The Musical on 17 October (evening performance) at the Shaftesbury Theatre. The show, based on a concept by George W. George, with book/lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music/lyrics by David Bryan, is taking bookings until 31 October 2015.

Beverley Knight's next role will be as 'Grizabella' in Cats, which will run at the London Palladium from 23 October 2015 to 2 January 2016.

Memphis The Musical won four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Original Score (David Bryan and Joe DiPietro), Best Book (Joe DiPietro), and Best Orchestrations (David Bryan and Daryl Waters) and opened at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 23 October 2014, following previews from 9 October 2014, to good reviews from the popular press: "Beverley Knight is sensational in this dynamic musical" (Evening Standard).

The production is directed by Christopher Ashley, with set design by David Gallo, lighting by Howell Binkley, choreography by Sergio Trujillo, costume by Paul Tazewell, sound by Gareth Owen and musical direction by Tim Sutton. It is produced by Junkyard Dog Productions, Marlene and Kenny Alhadeff, Barbara Freitag, Joseph Smith and John Brant.

Synopsis: "Featuring an original score with gospel, rhythm & blues, and early rock 'n' roll fused with Byran's own contemporary sensibility, Memphis follows the fictionalized life story of young, white radio disc jockey Huey Calhoon growing up in Memphis, Tennessee in the 1950's. An unlikely hero with a great love of the music he hears in the black bars on Beale Street, Huey's on-air antics and unstoppable enthusiasm for 'race records' creates a new white audience for African-American music. His personal life transcends the race line as well, when he falls in love with a beautiful black singer - with dramatic consequences."