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James Snyder, center, as Elvis Presley and Zurin Villanueva as Dyanne rehearse a scene in Pittsburgh CLO's production of
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James Snyder channels the young Elvis in 'Million Dollar Quartet'

Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette

James Snyder channels the young Elvis in 'Million Dollar Quartet'

He sounds like Elvis and moves like Elvis. And soon James Snyder’s flowing brown hair would be cut short and dyed black, so he will look the part, too.

‘Million Dollar Quartet’

Where: Pittsburgh CLO at the Benedum Center, Downtown.

When: Tuesday through Aug. 13. 8 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets: $25.75-$80.75; pittsburghclo.org or 412-456-6666.

Video: James Snyder talks about becoming Elvis for “Million Dollar Quartet” at www.post-gazette.com/ae

The actor tapped to play Elvis Presley in Pittsburgh CLO’s “Million Dollar Quartet” has been prepping for this moment for a long time — even as a child he dressed as the King of Rock ’n’ Roll for Halloween.

Mr. Snyder also starred in the rockabilly musical “Cry-Baby,” based on John Waters’ homage to Elvis’ movies. Back home in California, he once sang a satiric version of “That’s Alright Mama” for a troupe that would mix a contemporary song with a classic. “I did ‘Oedipus the King, Mama,’ ” Mr. Snyder recalls, and starts to sing, “That’s not right mama …” — the wrong lyrics but with the right sound, Elvis’ sound.

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“The way he commanded the stage, his presence, his sound, all of it combined” was what inspired Mr. Snyder to choose Elvis as his Halloween hero.

From left, Martin Kaye as Jerry Lee Lewis, Billy Finn as Carl Perkins, James Snyder (seated) as Elvis Presley and Derek Keeling as Johnny Cash gather for a famous pose in Pittsburgh CLO's
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The actor who played Lieutenant Cable last year in Pittsburgh CLO’s powerful production of “South Pacific” had been on Broadway most recently in “If/​Then.” He could not resist auditioning for the role of young Elvis, who was 21 when he returned to Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 4, 1956.

“Million Dollar Quartet” is based on the informal jam session recorded that day, when Elvis met up with Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash and Sun founder Sam Phillips, the man who gave the stars their starts.


Alex Manalo and James Snyder as young lovers in Pittsburgh CLO's "South Pacific." (Matt Polk)

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Many actors have channeled Elvis Presley on stage and screen since his death on Aug. 17, 40 years ago. For this musical, Mr. Snyder has to go back to the days before “the music machines, before Justin Bieber and boy bands,” he says. “It’s just him out there, shaking his hips and feeling the rock ’n’ roll.”

When the actor channels Elvis singing “That’s Alright Mama” for the first time, “That’s the moment for me, Elvis really finding himself in this studio and Sam Phillips helping him do it,” Mr. Snyder said. “You get to see the beginnings of that star start to sizzle.”

Mr. Snyder is trying to strike a balance between reality and perception when it comes to what we think we know about the young man from Tupelo, Miss.

“Elvis, in 1956, is not Elvis,” Mr. Snyder said. “If you look back at early videos, even that first ‘Ed Sullivan [Show]’ or when he performed on ‘The Milton Berle Show,’ he just looks like a goofball. No one had ever seen someone who moved like that, but he didn’t have it all down. He didn’t have all the moves. It wasn’t polished. It was Elvis raw.”

Actor James Snyder, right, is transformed into a Disney Beast by wig master and makeup artist Jeff Knaggs for Pittsburgh CLO's production of
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Elvis based his sound and his moves on African-American artists he admired, hit-makers such as Wynonie Harris. But when he first came to Sun Studios, Mr. Snyder notes, he was there to record Dean Martin songs as a gift for his mother. It was Mr. Phillips who recognized his talent, as he did for the others in the Million Dollar Quartet.


James Snyder (as Elvis) and Christopher Ryan Grant (as Sam Phillips) in rehearsal. (Sharon Eberson/Post-Gazette)

The foursome — with Billy Finn as Carl Perkins, Derek Keeling as Johnny Cash and Martin Kaye as Jerry Lee Lewis — play their own instruments and are joined on vocals by Zurin Villanueva (Broadway’s “Shuffle Along” and “Book of Mormon”) as Elvis’ girlfriend, Dyanne. Mr. Phillips is portrayed by Christopher Grant, who played the role from Broadway to the national tour.

“A lot of these guys have done this a few times, and I’ve been so lucky to have them help me out,” Mr. Snyder said. “But the main vibe of this whole thing is to feel like you guys are watching this live and organic jam session.”

“Million Dollar Quartet” includes two dozen songs, performed in 90 minutes with no intermission. In Pittsburgh CLO time, the cast has seven days to come together as a band and as these icons of rock ’n’ roll.

“Hound Dog” has been Mr. Snyder’s go-to prep song at home, and he said he is lucky to have an understanding wife. After their two children are asleep, he grabs his guitar and is right back to work.

“I’ve had a weird summer,” he says. “I started as Beast in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ [in Sacramento, Calif.], and then went out to the Eugene O’Neill Center and was singing Tom Kitt, which is very contemporary musical theater. And here I am, now Elvis. His speaking voice, because he’s so internal, it sits in his chest. But that rock ’n’ roll’s gotta come through, and that grind, and that iconic Elvis.”


James Snyder channels Elvis for Pittsburgh CLO's "Million Dollar Quartet." (Sharon Eberson/Post-Gazette)

Sitting in a rehearsal studio on Wednesday, Mr. Snyder was suddenly in that distinctive voice or singing the line of a song, turning Elvis on and off with apparent ease. He admits that when someone paid him a compliment earlier, he answered, “Thank you. Thank you very much.”

He admits to being a little nervous about the final step of becoming Elvis: dyeing his hair black for the first time.

But that’s alright if it means it helps him find his inner King.

“It’s been a very big journey for me for the summer,” he says, “but that’s kind of what I love about what I do.”

Sharon Eberson: sberson@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1960. Twitter: @SEberson_pg.

First Published: August 4, 2017, 4:19 p.m.
Updated: August 4, 2017, 5:11 p.m.

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James Snyder, center, as Elvis Presley and Zurin Villanueva as Dyanne rehearse a scene in Pittsburgh CLO's production of "Million Dollar Quartet."  (Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette)
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