Two shows, one a jukebox musical about four legends who came together for one electric night, and the other, an original musical comedy looking behind the scenes of a classic Hollywood movie, are opening.

Bill Mutimer Summer Theatre Series kicks off its 2025 season with “Million Dollar Quartet,” June 4 to June 15, Northampton Community College, Bethlehem Township campus.

Crowded Kitchen Players is presenting the world premiere of “The Last Days of Cleopatra,” June 13 to June 21, Charles A Brown Ice House, Bethlehem.

“Million Dollar Quartet” recreates the time when on Dec. 4, 1956, Johnny Cash (Bryant Cobb), Jerry Lee Lewis (Tommy Bergeron), Carl Perkins (Cason Day) and Elvis Presley (Brian Steinberg) had an impromptu recording session at Sun Records, Memphis.

The jukebox musical with book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, is inspired by the recording session that brought together the four music icons, in their 20s and on the verge of stardom, for a legendary all-night jam session.

The four actor-musicians sing and play their instruments on 21 hit rock ‘n’ roll and country songs, including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Who Do You Love?” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” “Walk the Line” and “Hound Dog.”

“Million Dollar Quartet,” which ran on Broadway in 2010, was nominated for three Tony Awards and received one Tony (actor Levi Kreis as Jerry Lee Lewis). The original Broadway production was directed by Berks County native and 1980 Fleetwood High graduate Eric Schaeffer.

The cast includes Travis Nugent (Sun Records producer Sam Phillips), Lydia Walker (Elvis Presley girlfriend Dyanne), Kyle Lahr (bassist Jay Perkins) and Mike Lucchetti (drummer Fluke Holland).

Clair M. Freeman is director. Cristina Sohns Williams is choreographer. Cason Day is music director. Brett Oliveira is technical director.

“Million Dollar Quartet,” Bill Mutimer Summer Theatre Series, 7:30 p.m. June 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14; 2 p.m. June 8, 15, Lipkin Theater, Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township. 484-484-3412, https://www.ncctix.org

“The Last Days of Cleopatra,” a new musical comedy by Charlie Barnett, imagines what happened behind the scenes of the 1963 film epic, “Cleopatra,” starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

The story takes place in 1961 when cast and crew of “Cleopatra” move from a motion picture sound stage in London, England, to Cinecitta Studios in Rome, Italy, to re-start the production.

Famed Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor (Sami Kennett) had the role of Cleopatra. A new co-star, respected Shakespearean actor Richard Burton (Albert Nelthropp), joined the cast as Mark Antony.

British actor Rex Harrison (Bruce Brown) played Caesar in the movie.

The relationship of Taylor and Burton begins to mirror that of Cleopatra and Antony, even though Taylor is married to pop singer Eddie Fisher (Robert Tollinger) and Burton is married to Sybil Burton (Nina Elias).

The two actors’ adulterous affair ended marriages and scandalized the public.

The cast includes Robert Jacobs, Sawyer Whitted, Jenna Atkinson, Dan VanArsdale, Pamela McLean Wallace, Phoung Tran, Sharon A. Ferry and Lauren Curley.

Ara Barlieb is director. Lynn Flickinger is music director. Jenna Atkinson is choreographer.

“The Last Days of Cleopatra” is the most recent of several plays by the Easton native and Bethesda, Md.-based playwright-composer produced and staged by Crowded Kitchen Players.

In 2017, Barnett’s “Twelveness” was directed by the late George B. Miller.

Crowded Kitchen staged Barnett’s comedy, “Him and Jim,” a religion parable; “19: The Musical,” about the 1919 women’s suffrage amendment, and “The Spectre Of Death,” about an aging heavy metal band.

“The Last Days of Cleopatra,” 7:30 p.m. June 13, 14, 20, 21; 2 p.m. June 15, 22, Crowded Kitchen Players, Charles A. Brown Ice House, 56 River St., Bethlehem. 610-704-6974, https://www.ckplayers.com

“Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com