Ouachita Stories

Jody Alan Lee, a 2011 Ouachita Baptist University alumnus, made his national tour debut earlier this month with his role in the Tony Award-winning musical Million Dollar Quartet. The production opened Oct. 1 at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre in Fort Myers, Fla., and will travel across the Midwest through June 16, stopping in Arkansas on Feb. 26 and 27.

The musical is inspired by the historic 1965 recording session that brought together music icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins for the first and only time. The musical offers the audience a glimpse into the backstory of these legendary singers and features legendary rock hits such as “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “That’s All Right,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Walk the Line,” “Who Do You Love?” and more.

“Up until this point in my career I have performed regionally across the country, but never on a tour,” Lee said. “In my travels, the most important thing I have probably learned is that how you collaborate with others is almost more important that how ‘talented’ you are. Producers and artistic directors would rather work with someone who works hard and has a good attitude than someone who is argumentative and rude, no matter how talented they are.”

Lee graduated from Ouachita in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in music and theatre. He was involved in Concert Choir, Jazz Band, Ouachita Singers, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia national fraternity for men in music and Theta Alpha Phi national honor fraternity for theatre arts.

Because of the limited musical theatre repertoire for his bass voice, Lee worked hard to expand his range in order to sing a wide variety of songs. He is also noted for his versatile acting abilities, being able to perform both serious and comedic roles.

“I am very proud of Jody’s accomplishments,” said Dr. Margaret Garrett, associate professor of music and Lee’s voice teacher during his time at Ouachita. “His commitment and dedication to his craft are to be commended. He has paid his dues, worked very hard and is finding work doing what he loves.”

Lee also has performed as Bill Starbuck in The Rainmaker, Charlie Davenport in Annie Get Your Gun, Norman Petty in Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story, Commendatore in Mozart’s opera, Don Giovanni and Ching Ho in Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Over the years he has learned to play several instruments, including the acoustic guitar, bass guitar, upright bass, banjo, mandolin and violin. “The day you stop learning and growing is the moment you fall behind,” Lee noted.

“Ouachita gave me a lot of the tools to succeed and the confidence to actually go out and achieve,” he added. “More than anything it was my professors’ genuine interest in my career goals. There is something to be said about having people believe in you.”

For more information about the show, visit the Million Dollar Quartet website at www.milliondollartour.net.

 

By Cimber Winfrey // Top photo courtesy Prather Entertainment Group