Bill Ward cast in Million Dollar Quartet at Noel Coward

Bill Ward has been cast in the musical Million Dollar Quartet, as 'Sam Phillips', the legendary music producer and founder of Sun Records in Memphis and the man who discovered the "Million Dollar Quartet".

The show, which tells the story of the night in 1956 when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis came together to make music and ended up making history, opens at the Noel Coward Theatre 28 Feb 2011, following previews from 8 Feb - booking to 1 Oct 2011.

Bill Ward played 'Charlie Stubbs' in Coronation Street from 2003-2007. His recent theatre roles include 'Sir Lancelot' in Monty Python's Spamalot in the West End. His numerous recent television appearances have included 'Ruthless Rufus' in Robin Hood (BBC1); 'Rob Towler' in The Bill (ITV1); Doctors (BBC1) and Cold Blood (ITV1).

Further casting to be announced shortly!

Currently playing on Broadway and in Chicago, Million Dollar Quartet is inspired by the actual event that took place on 4 December 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis and features over 20 of the greatest rock 'n' roll, gospel, R&B and country hits.

The musical has book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, originally conceived by Floyd Mutrux.

It is directed by Eric Schaeffer, designed by Derek McLane, lighting by Howell Binkley, sound by Kai Harada. Musical arrangements and supervision Chuck Mead

Produced in London by Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, American Pop Anthology, John Gore, Thomas B. McGrath, James L. Nederlander, Joseph Smith and Michael McCabe.

The legendary meeting was masterminded by Sun Records' founder Sam Phillips, who discovered all four of the musicians, and brought Elvis Presley (and his then girlfriend) back to the recording studio that launched him to stardom. Together with Sun Records' fast-rising new superstar Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins, who was still chasing his next big hit after writing and recording Blue Suede Shoes, the fourth member of this impromptu "quartet" was Phillips' latest signing, Jerry Lee Lewis.