MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The national launch of Memphis: The Musical presents a golden opportunity to showcase the Bluff City across the country. It's also a chance for the two lead actors to make their mark in theater.

Both Felicia Boswell and Bryan Fenkart were understudies to the stars on Broadway. As FOX13's Greg Coy reports, the limelight now belongs to them.

Bryan Fenkart worked as a doorman in New York City. Now he wants to open the door to fame by playing the lead in the national tour of Memphis: The Musical, which opened at The Orpheum on Friday.

"To be able to originate it on the national tour, in the city that it is named after, is an honor."

Fenkart is a singer first and actor second. He released one album and was working on a second when he was the understudy to the lead in the New York show. On the touring company, the marquee role of Huey Calhoun belongs to him.

"Even though it is fiction, a lot of the elements what was happening in the play are very true to what was happening then and we want to make sure we stay sensitive to it."

Co-star Felicia Boswell also has a lead female role, a character with her same first name. She brings experience to this maiden tour after having been on national and regional theater productions. Like Fenkart, she served as understudy to the lead in New York.

"It is the best thing in the world because we have the liberty to create for our own, make these characters be a lot of who we are as people," she said. "We bring our own experiences and idea to these characters. It is nice to have that outlet from Broadway, but it is also nice create it for yourself."

The Broadway version of Memphis won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The cast performing at the Orpheum is different, but just as talented and anxious to prove themselves.

Memphis: The Musical plays at the Orpheum now through next Sunday, October 23rd. For information on show times and tickets, visit orpheum-memphis.com