The musical Ring of Fire, which is based on the music of Johnny Cash, is a musical show that reflects love, faith, struggles, success, redemption, and family. The musical in itself is a journey back to the world that Johnny Cash put into his songs. Ring of Fire originally started as a jukebox musical which opened on March 12, 2006 at Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Broadway. However, the show got poor reviews and ticket sales were not good. On April of the same year, the show had its final performances just one month after it opened. Some people attributed this to the lack of storyline or plot within the show.
Although its Broadway stint was over, the musical Ring of Fire continues to hold a national tour. The show has a cast of 14 multi-talented performers. Thirty-eight of Johnny Cash's songs are included in Ring of Fire. Among these are A Thing Called Love, Country Boy, Daddy Sang Bass, Five Feet High and Rising, I Walk the Line, Ring of Fire, The Man in Black,I've Been Everywhere, and Hurt, Cash's final hit. Richard Maltby, Jr., Tony Award winner, created Ring of Fire, and the idea for the musical play came from William Meade. Maltby, Jr. also directed the show. Jeff Lisenby served as musical director while Lisa Shriver was choreographer.
The cast of Ring of Fire includes Jeb Brown, Tony Award winner Jarrod Emick, Jason Edwards, Cass Morgan, Beth Malone, David M. Lutken, Grammy Awardee Lari White, Eric Anthony, Randy Redd, Dan Immel, Laurie Canaan, Jeff Lisenby, Ron Krasinski, and Brent Moyer. Ring of Fire began when Bill Meade suggested to Johnny Cash that his music be put on the stage. Although many people had given Cash the same suggestion before and he had always declined, he finally relented to Meade. Just before he died, Cash gave Meade the rights to the musical.
