‘Heartbreak Hotel’ looks inside Elvis at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts

Julia Amis - DC Theater Arts

January 25, 2025

Elliot Litherland (Elvis Presley) and ensemble in ‘Heartbreak Hotel.’ Photo by Suzanne Carr Rossi.

Scenic designer Frank Foster keeps the stage fairly simple (group choreography takes up a lot of space!), while the real onstage “wow” factor is the lighting design by Michael Jarett, who uses multiple projection screens for scenic details as well as intimate spotlighting throughout the production. The stage itself is perhaps the most memorable element; Technical Director and Master Carpenter Christopher Hudert installs giant, flashy marquee framing and an “Elvis” sign fit for the king of rock and roll. Costumes by Erin Welsh span a couple of decades (from the 1940s to the late 1960s), with an assortment of wigs by Bethany Cheek that are especially charming and fun. The technical elements are sleek and professional and come together to give the story a solid foundation to work with.

The show begins in the late 1940s with a young Elvis (Grayson Lewis) at his humble home in Memphis, Tennessee. Though his family is poor, love abounds, shown when his mother Gladys (Sheri Hayden) and father Vernon (Andy Braden) save their money for months in order to buy him a guitar for his 11th birthday. Elvis is inspired by a number of African-American musicians, shown in the number “Welcome to Beale Street,” which includes Leo Jasper Davis as Roy Brown, Anthony Williams as Jackie Brenston, and Tayandra Allan as Sister Rosetta Tharpe. While this is the music he loves, racial tensions of the time force him into the “crooner” stereotype, and a teenage Elvis (Luke Purcell) bores the founder of Sun Records, Sam Phillips (Andy Braden), who says the timid teenager “acts half his age and sings like he’s twice it.” In the memorable number “That’s All Right,” Sam happens upon Elvis and his band having some fun and encourages the exciting new sound.

At first, Sam has a difficult time getting radio stations to play Elvis, with one DJ exclaiming, “He’s a white boy! You trying to get me killed?!” While older people face Elvis with backlash, his popularity soars with younger people. “Elvis Mania Medley” is a great number, performed by his zealous young “fans,” with fun group choreography. As his star rises, so do the pressures of newfound fame, and an already overwhelmed young Elvis is forced to face the death of his beloved mother, a loss that overarches both the rest of the production and Elvis’ life itself. Accompanied by his teen and kid self, the adult Elvis Presley, played by Elliot Litherland, serenades his mother with her favorite song, “Peace in the Valley,” a poignant song with a sadness that echoes through the rest of the show.

We follow the continued rise of Elvis’ career as he faces new challenges, from being drafted into war to being forced into making back-to-back films by his cigar-chomping talent manager Colonel Parker (Ian Lane) to a tumultuous relationship with his young wife Priscilla (Kiley Ernest). Throughout these trials and tribulations, we get a number of great musical numbers, including hits like “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Hard Headed Woman,” and “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” among many others. Though Elvis’ personal life is seemingly on a decline, the show ends on a high note, with Elvis proudly claiming his renowned title as the “King of Rock and Roll.” Strong performances and vocals accompany an even stronger live orchestra, conducted by Carson Eubank. Riverside is well-known for its exceptional live music, and this production is a perfect showcase.

Heartbreak Hotel is full of poignant performances and thrilling musical numbers, and I highly recommend it for an evening out!

Running Time: Two and a half hours, including one 15-minute intermission.

Heartbreak Hotel plays through March 2, 2025, at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, 95 Riverside Parkway, Fredericksburg, VA. Tickets ($55–$82) are available online or through the box office 540-370-4300, open from 10 am to 6 pm, Mon.-Wed.; 10 am to 7:30 pm, Thu.-Fri; 12 pm to 7:30 pm, Sat.; 12 pm to 3 pm, Sun. Discounts are available for groups (for details, click here).

Adult Dinner & Show – $82 (plus applicable taxes)
Seniors (65+) Dinner & Show – $77 (plus applicable taxes)
Children (3-17) Dinner & Show – $70 (plus applicable taxes)
Adult Show Only – $65
Seniors (65+) Show Only – $60
Children (3-17) Show Only – $55
There will be a $5.00 online processing fee added per ticket.

Cast, creative, and crew credits for Heartbreak Hotel are online here.

COVID Safety: Patrons are not required to be masked in the facility; but if patrons want to wear a mask, they are welcome to.

Heartbreak Hotel
By Sean Cercone and David Abbinanti
Musical Arrangements and Orchestrations by David Abbinanti
Based on a concept by Floyd Mutrux

Directed and choreographed by Jacquez Linder Long
Music direction by Carson Eubank