Review: Harlequin Productions and Ben Bailey present ‘Elvis ’56: The Story Behind the King’s Rise’
Published July 16, 2026
Last month, I wrote a review of Harlequin Production’s “Million Dollar Quartet” in my regular JOLT News Column. Of course I urge you to see this show before it ends next week, but while you are making arrangements with the box office, have them add a ticket to the final performance of Ben Bailey’s presentation “Elvis ’56: The Story Behind the King’s Rise” on July 23rd.
This show takes you from Elvis’ childhood all the way to the moment he stepped into Sun Records on December 4, 1956 and participated in what would become known as the “Million Dollar Quartet.” It made me appreciate that divine moment in history all the more!
Trust me, it would be most regrettable to miss out on this golden opportunity to honor, celebrate, and learn more about the King!
Click here to purchase your ticket now!
The Review
Attending the premiere show last night, I enjoyed watching Bailey perform Elvis classics like “Love Me Tender” and “Don’t Be Cruel,” but even more than that, I cherished hearing Bailey discuss Elvis’ history in such a vibrant and personable way! In writing this, I am fighting every urge that wants to spill everything I learned during this show. I am fighting this good fight because I really want you to listen to and watch Bailey yourselves.
Bailey has mastered all the vocal and physical nuances that make Elvis iconic, capturing quirks that the majority of impersonators do not embrace but that make Elvis as lovable as he is! In the past whenever I have thought of Elvis impersonators, I pictured something super cheesy and inauthentic. Bailey’s depiction of the King is different because all the time and research he has poured into it is tangible, and his performance is filled with a love and admiration that makes it feel more like a celebration than a typical impersonation. Going back and forth between storytelling and singing, audiences also get to learn more about Bailey who is kind, nerdy in a cool way, and very genuine.
One of the best parts of my job is being able to hear artists regularly discuss the things they love. I love witnessing their pure, childlike joy that gets awakened in these moments. Bailey’s event gives audiences a first class upgrade to these kinds of conversations and allows them to witness that magic themselves.
After the show, I had the opportunity to meet Ben Bailey and his beautiful wife Becca Bailey (who plays Diane in “Million Dollar Quartet”). They are both truly wonderful people! I loved hearing about the creative process of putting this show together and how Ben had to choose which stories to include and which to keep to himself…it’s like choosing between children, it's very hard!
That deep love and irresistible urge to keep learning more about a historical figure and to keep telling the world about them is something I profoundly relate to. In this way, it fills my heart to know there are other kindred spirits in this world like the Baileys who are close to my age and who also have this passion! If you too are a kindred spirit, keep on listening to your gut instinct because you never know where it is going to lead!
There are beautiful and precious moments in the show where Ben shares his personal connections to the King and where his love for him came from. These created an invitation for conversation afterwards. Everyone has an Elvis story so to speak, and I loved hearing my mom’s as well as Terry and Jennifer Shaw’s. What is your Elvis story? Comment below!
Personally, I have enjoyed many “Elvis Summers” with my sister where we would listen to his iconic hits while tanning or getting ready for the day. There is a song he sings called “Wooden Heart” where Elvis sings partially in German. Some of the German lyrics sound like something very humorous to us in English (think 12 year old boy humor), and my sister and I still make jokes and crack up about it to this day. All jokes aside, “Wooden Heart” contains a melody that beginner piano students commonly learn how to play. Even before I took piano lessons, I would mess around on the piano or keyboard and play songs by ear, and I had figured this one out well before sheet music was handed to me by a teacher. I ended telling my teacher about the Elvis connection...it felt fun to be my teacher’s teacher for once!
Personal Reflections
With a deeper understanding of the King now, I cannot help but think about the contrast between first impressions, "outside looking in" impressions, and comprehension of the full picture. I think about how easy it is to misread or misunderstand people in our daily lives because of our limited understanding or judgements. Mom and I called my Grandpa (her dad) after the show and he made a comment that stuck with me: "people judge Elvis because of the drug issues he had, but he had a really good heart."
In spite of the challenges he faced, Elvis’ core message was love. He continually fought against the status quo that tried to separate people based on the color of their skin, economic status, gender, religion, and more! Elvis’ stance against discrimination was exactly what it needed to be — clever and true to him and his capabilities.
There are big problems with this world right now, and it is ineffective and far too overwhelming to try to respond to every issue on our own. Not only do we need each other, but we also each need to keep embracing our personal passions and callings in life. Just Elvis himself would say, music is a very powerful tool in the grand tool kit of advocacy, but there are others. What tools or talents do you have? How can you, just by being yourself and inviting community in, make the world a better place?
We all have a role to play! I encourage you — keep attending shows like these! Your ticket and participation in the community play a vital role in keeping the arts alive!
You can get your ticket to this amazing show by clicking here!