Mar 24, 1955

"Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" opens at the Morosco Theatre on Broadway in New York. The play features occasional country singer Burl Ives, who also stars in the movie version three years later

Nov 4, 1955

Broadway hosts a country show for the first time, as Roy Acuff, Kitty Wells and Johnnie & Jack begin a one-week run at the Palace Theater

May 3, 1956

The Broadway production "The Most Happy Fella" opens at New York's Imperial Theater. Cast member Frederick "Shorty" Long heads into the studio with Elvis Presley during the show's run to play piano on "Don't Be Cruel" and "Hound Dog"

Nov 24, 1956

After more than two years on Broadway, the musical "The Pajama Game" closes at Manhattan's Shubert Theatre. The production introduced Jerry Ross and Richard Adler's "Hernando's Hideaway," a country hit when parodied by Homer & Jethro

Oct 10, 1957

"The Most Happy Fella," featuring Frederick "Shorty" Long, ends its 17-month run at New York's Imperial Theater. During its Broadway booking, Long took part in the Elvis Presley session that yielded "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel"

Oct 13, 1962

"Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf" opens at the Billy Rose Theatre in New York. After reading the show's script, songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler is inspired to write the Johnny Cash/June Carter duet "Jackson"

Dec 10, 1965

"The Yearling" debuts on Broadway in New York with 13-year-old Steve Sanders in the cast. The production closes a day later after three performances. Sanders is destined to become a member of The Oak Ridge Boys

Jun 7, 1972

The Broadway production of "Grease" opens at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York. The movie version, which opens in 1978, assists Olivia Newton-John in edging away from country music, though it nets her a country hit with "Hopelessly Devoted To You"

Jan 31, 1978

"Elvis: The Legend Lives," starring Presley impersonator Rick Saucedo, kicks off a three-month run at the Palace Theater in New York

Apr 30, 1978

"Elvis: The Legend Lives," featuring Rick Saucedo, concludes a three-month Broadway run at New York's Palace Theater