Charlie Sutton, the new Playhouse Associate Director at the Duluth Playhouse, comes on board with an impressive resume as a performer, choreographer, artistic director, and educator. He is choreographing and directing the opening show in the Playhouse’s 2025-26 season, Million Dollar Quartet.
“I performed on Broadway for about ten years in eleven Broadway musicals. After my performance career, I transitioned into direction and choreography, which I pursued for another decade,” Sutton said. “That journey ultimately brought me into Artistic Direction, where I’m now proudly serving as Associate Artistic Director at the Duluth Playhouse.”
Sutton grew up in Miami, Florida, and lived there until he was 18. He attended the New World School of the Arts, an arts-focused high school with a strong foundation in the performing arts.
He stated, “In high school, my primary focus was dance. I didn’t do much theater until I moved to New York. Initially, I planned to become a backup dancer for pop stars like Janet Jackson or Britney Spears. But once my teachers discovered I could sing, everything shifted—and I was sent to NYC to pursue a new path.
“After high school, I moved to New York City and enrolled at Marymount Manhattan College—but only for a few weeks before booking my first Broadway show. I like to joke that my real college experience was at ‘Shiz University’—Wicked was my first professional production and education in the industry,” he said.
He added, “Wicked will always be the most memorable show for me—it was my first real job and my introduction to Broadway. It taught me how to work in a professional musical, what it means to be part of a massive hit, how to collaborate with a team, and how to navigate the lifestyle of 8 shows a week. Most importantly, it gave me lifelong friends and mentors.”
Besides Wicked, he performed in the ensemble and dance captained in such Broadway shows as Spamalot, An American in Paris, Kinky Boots, How to Succeed in Business, and The Addams Family, among others.
He has associate directed and choreographed Spamalot, Kinky Boots, and Diana on Broadway and has worked on numerous other shows at the Kennedy Center and a variety of other regional theaters.
“Charlie brings years of Broadway experience and a standard of excellence that shows in everything he does. He has an incredible energy and a real passion for education, as well as a drive to foster growth in a regional theatre setting. Charlie is a true collaborator. He brings a fresh, fun vibe to the NorShor Theatre and is the perfect fit for Duluth Playhouse’s Associate Artistic Director,” said Wes Drummond, Playhouse Executive Producing Artistic Director.
Sutton’s Perspectives on Million Dollar Quartet
“When I found out Million Dollar Quartet would be my first production as Associate Artistic Director, I was excited,” Sutton said. “I’ve always gravitated toward shows that feel like plays with music—and MDQ fits that perfectly. It drops the audience into one singular, iconic moment in time: the night Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins were all in the same room.”
“My goal was to bring a clear point of view to the show. I didn’t want to recreate a version that already exists. I wanted to reframe it as a memory—a heroic, dream-like recollection,” Sutton explained.
“I asked myself: how do we remember the past? What do we hold onto, and what fades? I wanted the audience to fill in the gaps and imagine this legendary jam session through their own lens, like opening a storybook of memory, music, and magic.”
Sutton noted that the biggest challenge and most exciting part of MDQ is that the actors must portray these music legends while also playing their instruments live on stage, delivering dynamic performances, and capturing the essence of these larger-than-life personalities. He explained that Million Dollar Quartet is an incredible snapshot in time that honors music history and personal legacy.
He is also excited about what he calls the “heroic lighting” because audiences will feel like they’re at a real 1950s rock concert, experiencing the electricity of those performances firsthand. Sutton wants audience members to imagine what an Elvis concert might’ve looked like, with his goal to deliver that iconic, dreamy, and thrilling experience.
“While we have a fantastic group of local performers, we also brought in talent from across the country—including New York, Texas, and the Carolinas. It’s a great mix of regional and national artists coming together in Duluth,” he said.
Loving Duluth
“The job itself was what brought me here—but it was the community that made me stay,” noted Sutton. “I had no idea how vibrant, active, and passionate the Duluth arts scene is. I was truly surprised by how many theaters exist here, how many incredible artists call this place home, and how invested the community is in supporting the arts.”
For Sutton, it is also the natural beauty—hiking trails, rivers, and lakes that charm him, making it easy to fall in love with the city. He loves that Duluth offers both cultural richness and access to nature.
“One day I’m in rehearsal surrounded by brilliant artists, and the next I’m hiking to a hidden waterfall or discovering a new lake to swim in. That balance has made the transition so rewarding,” he stated.
Information on Million Dollar Quartet
Book by Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux
Original Concept and Direction by Floyd Mutrux
Inspired by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins
Performances:
September 12 – 28, 2025
Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30pm
Sunday Matinees at 2pm
Audio Description: September 14 at 2 pm
ASL Interpretation: September 19 at 7:30 pm
Location:
Duluth Playhouse at the NorShor Theatre
211 E. Superior St., Duluth, MN 55802
Tickets:
Visit the box office at the NorShor Theatre Monday-Friday 10am-5pm, call 218-733-7555, or visit: destinationduluth.co/DPHMillionDollarQuartet
(From Duluth Playhouse)
On December 4, 1956, an extraordinary twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together at Sun Records in Memphis for one of the greatest jam sessions ever. Million Dollar Quartet brings that legendary night to life with an irresistible tale of broken promises, secrets, and celebrations.
Inspired by the electrifying true story, this Tony Award-winning Broadway smash explodes onto the stage with the raw energy, heart, and soul that changed rock ‘n’ roll forever!
Audiences can relive the era with an incredible score of rock ‘n’ roll, gospel, R&B, and country hits: “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Walk the Line,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Who Do You Love?,” “Great Balls of Fire,” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Hound Dog,” and many more.
