Video: Watch Mary Louise Lee sing ‘Fools Fall in Love’ with the cast of 'Million Dollar Quartet’

By John Moore

Mary Louise Lee, a longtime star in the local performing arts community and now First Lady of Denver, returned to her professional roots Tuesday night when she joined the cast of Million Dollar Quartet onstage for a special encore jam session. Lee, who made her professional debut at age 18 in the Denver Center’s “Beehive,” was asked to choose a 1950s-style pop song to perform with the entire cast, and she selected the Drifters’ “Fools Fall in Love.”This video brings you backstage and shows the entire song. 

Lee performed with Scott Moreau (Johnny Cash), Cody Ray Slaughter (Elvis Presley), John Countryman (Jerry Lee Lewis), Lee Ferris (Carl Perkins), Kelly Lamont (Dyanne), Patrick Morrow (Fluke), Corey Kaiser (Jay Perkins) and Katie Barton (Dyanne understudy). She is introduced by Vince Nappo (Sam Phillips), who graduated from the Denver Center’s National Theatre Conservatory in 2005.

On Thursday, Lee will host a “Bringing Back the Arts” fundraiser to benefit her foundation from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Helikon Gallery & Studios at 3675 Wynkoop St., in Denver. Guests will include her husband; former First Lady Wilma Webb; Denver City Councilman Chris Nevitt; Denver Center chairman Daniel L. Ritchie and Denver Center Education Director Tam Frye.

Million Dollar Quartet is the Broadway musical that tells the true story of the one and only recording session between Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. It features timeless hits including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Ring of Fire,” “That’s All Right,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “I Walk the Line,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “See Ya Later, Alligator,” “Fever,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Hound Dog” and more.

Million Dollar Quartet runs through March 9. Call 303-893-4100 or go to www.denvercenter.org. Video and photos by John Moore. All rights reserved.

Photos by John Moore.