MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Let the countdown begin. 'Memphis the Musical' begins its nationwide tour next week with opening night on Thursday. The cast and crew will spend the next few days practicing and mapping out the show. They are also taking some time to enjoy the city that Tony Award winning play is named after. FOX13's Greg Coy spoke to the actors, who are learning all things Memphis.

Rehearsals matter now more than ever before the curtain rises for 'Memphis the Musical' at the Orpheum Theatre, and the cast is excited about starting the national tour in the Bluff City.

"Oh my gosh, I think this going to be one of the best places to be on tour," exclaimed 'Memphis' actress Felicia Boswell. "There is so much love here!"

'Memphis' actor Bryan Fenkart added, "There is an added amount of pressure because there are a lot of people who are from that generation, who were around during that time."

The musical tells the fictional story about a white Memphis DJ in the 1950's who plays African American music on a white radio station. The character's name is Huey Calhoun, played by Fenkart.

"I really like this character because it tells an important message, in my opinion, that it takes one person to spark a change."

The play touches on the societal changes of civil rights that began with the help of Rosa Parks. The icon happens to be related to Boswell, who plays Felicia, the character who befriends Calhoun.

"I think I inquired about Cousin Rosa more than anything. We only made reference to her one time and I need to know more about how and why."

When not practicing, the cast and crew have gotten to know Memphis. Julie Johnson, who plays Calhoun's mother, brought her 13-year-old son with her for the tour. "He's fun," she said. "He's very portable, luckily; he's very independent."

Fenkart has visited Beale Street, and says he wants to sing the blues if a band will let him. "I mean literally everywhere you go, down that whole strip is live music. That was great!"

And great is what they want this tour to be for their careers and the city that bears its name.

Great tickets for the 'Memphis the Musical' are still available. For more information on tickets and show times, visit www.orpheum-memphis.com/events/detail/memphis_the_musical