Exploring the classic rock songs of Elvis Presley set into a fun storyline in a small Midwestern town is the basis for the musical, “All Shook Up”, which is ready for three performances, starting on Thursday, Feb. 27, and running to Saturday, Feb. 29 at Grace United Church, starting at 7 p.m.
Leading the production is a veteran of musicals at the Weyburn Comprehensive School, Colleen Weimer, and her love of music and infectious enthusiasm has empowered a new cast of local people to put on this performance.
“We have 35 people in our cast and chorus and, if you add our entire crew to that, we total about 50 people who are involved in the musical,” said Weimer.
“I am still discovering that I love to direct musicals. This has been an incredible journey with fantastic people. It is fun to work with all ages and it is exciting to have the cast set as their age-appropriate characters,” she added.
“Every musical is a different experience and I can honestly say I have loved every one I have done, whether it is with community members, high school students or youth.”
She described the production this way: “All Shook Up is a musical comedy with so many great songs and a very cleverly developed story line. Audiences can expect to be entertained from beginning to end! There are lots of laughs, lots of love triangles, and tons of familiar Elvis tunes to sing along to.”
There are more than 20 Elvis songs weaved into the story, which was inspired by Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”. All Shook Up follows a small Midwestern town that is thrown into a frenzy with the arrival of Chad (played by Mike Froh), a good-looking, motorcycle-riding roustabout who rides from town to town with (as he describes it), “a guitar on his back, blue suede shoes on his feet, and a song in his heart.”
Repressed by their conservative mayor (Matilda Hyde, played by Jessica Jack), the town begins to come alive once more under Chad’s influence.
Lovers meet, woo, pursue, and more, all in one zany night that will change the town forever.
“All Shook Upis a rocking, heartwarming, humorous tale about following dreams, opening up to love, and the power of music,” said Weimer.
Other key members of the cast include Natalie/Ed, a mechanic and Jim’s daughter, played by Kendra Gonczy; her father Jim, owner of the gas station, played by Steven Zackrisson; Sylvia, owner of the Honky Tonk, played by D’Arcy Megenbir; Sheriff Earl, played by Lorne Klein; Miss Sandra, the museum curator, played by Jessica Ziegler; Dennis, a nerdy guy in love with Natalie, played by Jade Rooney; Lorraine, the teenage daughter of Sylvia, played by Kristen Fortune; and Dean Hyde, the mayor’s son, played by Onello Bahingawan.
Tickets for the musical are $15 each, and are available at Music Craft or the United Church office, or at the door on performance night.
