Actor and Arkansas Native Cody Slaughter Visits U of A Campus

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Cody Slaughter speaks with a Drama I class in Kimpel Hall on January 26.

Did you see Elvis Presley on campus last week? Let not your eyes deceive you, because on Thursday, Jan. 26, a very special guest visited Kimpel Hall and Michael Landman’s theatre classes. Cody Slaughter, a native of Harrison, Ark., is playing the role of Elvis Presley in the national tour of the hit musical production, Million Dollar Quartet. Slaughter met with students and faculty in the drama department as he shared his trials, his successes and his thoughts on the performance industry. Cody answered questions, shared stories and even sang and danced for the class.

Million Dollar Quartet gives audience members a chance to take a look inside what happened in the Memphis recording studio, Sun Records, when four icons of American music — Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins — came together for a brief, but impactful, period of time. Timeless hits like “I Walk the Line” and “Blue Suede Shoes” are among the songs that fans will get a chance to witness being performed on stage.

With Presley's humbleness, slicked hair and dance moves (which were once banned from television), Slaughter, an actor and originally an Elvis Tribute Artist, spent time on campus to share his wisdom and passion. Slaughter recently won the most prestigious award for his uncanny likeness to the King of Rock n’ Roll. His fans call him the Prince of Rock n’ Roll, and he made a few fans right here in Northwest Arkansas last week. 

With all his success, Slaughter emphasized the importance of being a good person. He stressed the importance of positive thought and mentioned that Elvis Presley himself believed strongly in the power of positive thinking. As Cody shared stories of living in a basement and barely making it, to the contrasting stories of his first trip to New York City, where his company housed him in an apartment that cost thousands of dollars a month, the students were more than inspired. Cody made it clear that helping out fellow entertainers is one of his main goals in his career; he was able to do just that by visiting with the University of Arkansas drama students. The Walton Arts Center’s department of learning and engagement works hard to directly connect the community with professional artists and the arts. 

The hit Broadway musical, Million Dollar Quartet, starring Slaughter, is running at Walton Arts Center from Tuesday, Feb. 21, through Sunday, Feb. 26. Tickets start as low as $19.50 when University of Arkansas students take advantage of the 50 percent off student discount on Broadway musical tickets.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit Walton Arts Center online at www.waltonartscenter.org or call the box office at 479-443-5600.