ROAD TO MEMPHIS "It's born!" said David Bryan as he made his way down a red carpet into Finz in Salem on Thursday night. That's where a gala after-party was held for "Memphis," which enjoyed its world premiere at the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly earlier that night. Bryan, the Bon Jovi keyboardist who collaborated on the music for "Memphis," was beside himself with joy, as was fellow collaborator Joe DiPietro, director Gabriel Barre, and Jon Kimball, NSMT's artistic director. Jon Bon Jovi had attended the opening but couldn't make the party because his wife wasn't feeling well. "I loved the show," Bon Jovi said before disappearing into a limo. "I know that David has been working his [butt] off for five years, and he really deserves all the attention." Lead actor Chad Kimball, playing the role of a Memphis DJ who first played "race music" on a white-owned station, was also at the party. "This is the biggest role I've had. I love the energy of it," said Kimball, who attended the Boston Conservatory before moving to New York. "People say that it's hard to sing a rock score night after night, but if it challenges you, you can sing it forever." Also at Finz was Ruth Pointer (of the Pointer Sisters), who hung out with cast member Cynthia Thomas, with whom Pointer had toured in "Ain't Misbehavin'." Pointer noted, "I was talking to David [Bryan], and he said they've been working him hard. And I said, `David, if you want to work hard, the theater is the place to go.' "

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