All Shook Up (musical)


All Shook Up is a 2004 American jukebox musical with music from the Elvis Presley songbook and with a book by Joe DiPietro.
The show concerns the repressed residents of an unnamed American town in the 1950s who experience an awakening when a leather-clad guitar-strumming roustabout rolls into town. The story takes inspiration from the comedies of William Shakespeare, particularly Twelfth Night, and explores themes such as authoritarianism, homosexuality, and segregation.
The musical premiered on Broadway in 2005.

Production history

The musical had a developmental staging at the Goodspeed Musicals May 13-June 6, 2004, with most of the Broadway cast, except for Manley Pope in the lead role of Chad. Christopher Ashley directed, with choreography by Jody Moccia. The musical had a tryout in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace from December 19, 2004, through January 23, 2005. After the tryout, changes were made to the finale and to add "a more specific instrumental and vocal voice" for Chad.

Broadway

The musical premiered on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on March 24, 2005, and closed on September 25, 2005, after 213 performances and 33 previews. Directed by Christopher Ashley, with choreography by Ken Roberson, the original Broadway cast included Cheyenne Jackson, Jenn Gambatese, and Jonathan Hadary.

US National tour

The US National tour played 35 cities in September 2006 – 2007, directed by Christopher Ashley, and featuring Joe Mandragona as Chad, and Jenny Fellner as Natalie. Sergio Trujillo revised the choreography for the tour.

"Love Me Tender" - 2015 UK Tour

In 2015, a UK tour of the show commenced at Manchester Opera House in June 2015 with the show being retitled "Love Me Tender". The production starred Mica Paris as 'Sylvia', Sian Reeves as ‘Mayor Matilda Hyde’, Shaun Williamson as ‘Jim’ and Ben Lewis as ‘Chad'.

Synopsis

''This synopsis is based on the current licensed version''

Act One

Somewhere in the Midwest in the 1950s, Chad, a guitar-playing roustabout, is released from a weekend in jail. In a nearby dreary little town, a young mechanic named Natalie yearns for love and adventure, unaware that her best friend Dennis has a crush on her. Sitting in Sylvia's Honky-Tonk, the townspeople lament their feelings of loneliness, before getting interrupted by the roar of a motorbike; Chad has arrived in town.
In need of a mechanic, Chad is introduced to Natalie, who is instantly smitten. Upon learning that Mayor Matilda and the silent Sheriff Earl enforce the Mamie Eisenhower Decency Act, outlawing "loud music, public necking, and tight pants", Chad seeks to incite rebelliousness in the citizens. Whilst Natalie repairs his motorbike, Chad inspires her to take to the open road.
Chad recruits Dennis as his sidekick. The newly-formed duo meet the town's museum owner Miss Sandra, whom Chad instantly falls in love with. He attempts to smooth-talk her, but she resists, retreating to the Honky-Tonk where Natalie's widowed father, Jim, also falls for her.
Matilda's teenage son, Dean, declares his love for Sylvia's daughter, Lorraine. Chad encourages their blossoming relationship, much to Sylvia's dismay. Matilda demands that Dean is sent away on a bus to military academy. However, Dean disobeys his mother to stay in town with Lorraine.
Desperate for Chad's attention, Natalie disguises herself as a bearded man named 'Ed' to grow closer to him. Ed dramatically rides into town, with Chad instantly dropping Dennis as his sidekick in favor of him. Jim receives romance advice from Chad, both unaware they seek the same woman. Under Chad's orders, Ed visits the museum to give Sandra a Shakespearean sonnet, which Dennis had previously suggested, though Sandra unexpectedly finds herself attracted to Ed. Flustered, Ed tries leaving, but Sandra is intent on seducing him.
Matilda, appalled that Dean has stayed in town to be with Lorraine, vows to arrest Chad due to his influence. Ed suggests that Chad should hide in the town's abandoned fairgrounds to evade capture. Jim, now with extra confidence, condemns Sylvia for having grown so bitter, and gives her a very surprising kiss. Soon, everyone in town find themselves escaping to the fairgrounds, desperate for someone to love.

Act Two

In the abandoned fairgrounds, the townspeople each search for their love. Dennis reveals to Natalie that he's upset about the way Chad treats her, however she disregards his concerns. Disguised as Ed, Natalie attempts to bond with Chad by asking for advice on how to seduce a woman, but accidentally kisses him in the process. Chad and Jim discover they are both pursuing the same woman: Sandra, who is lustfully searching the fairgrounds for Ed. Chad quickly realizes that he too has feelings for his new sidekick.
Meanwhile, Matilda and Earl are hunting for the elusive roustabout. Jim, heartbroken that Sandra doesn't care for him, comes across Sylvia, who confesses her feelings for him. Dean and Lorraine plan to leave town, but they run into Chad, who convinces them to stay and fight for their love.
Chad, Dean, and Lorraine confront Matilda. Earl finally breaks his silence, denying Matilda's orders to arrest Chad and instead confessing his love for her. With a newfound acceptance for love, Matilda allows Dean and Lorraine to remain together, as does Sylvia. Chad bravely confesses his feelings for Ed, who proceeds to reveal his true identity being Natalie, causing Chad to abruptly leave town. Dennis takes the opportunity to confess his long-time crush to Natalie, who kindly rejects him. However, he and Sandra realize a common admiration for Shakespeare and subsequently fall for one another. Left alone with her father Jim, Natalie reconciles with Chad's absence.
The next day, a triple wedding consisting of Jim & Sylvia, Matilda & Earl and Dennis & Sandra takes place. Chad makes an unexpected return to the town, interrupting the wedding and declaring his love for Natalie. She decides to pursue her dreams with him and hit the open road together. The brides and grooms marry while the town celebrates.

Characters

Source '':
  • Chad - A great-lookin’, motorcyclin’, guitar-playin’, leather-jacketed roustabout.
  • Natalie Haller - A young woman and an excellent mechanic. She’s much more at home in greasy overalls than a dress.
  • Sylvia - The no-nonsense, African-American owner of Sylvia's Honky-Tonk.
  • Jim Haller - Natalie's widowed father. Middle-aged and messy, he still longs for his wife.
  • Dennis - An awkward young man. He aspires to be a dentist.
  • Miss Sandra - The beautiful, intellectual caretaker of the town's museum.
  • Mayor Matilda Hyde - The town's very conservative mayor.
  • Sheriff Earl - The law in town and a man of not many words. He loyally follows the Mayor wherever she goes.
  • Lorraine - Sylvia’s teenage daughter. Pretty, smart and a total romantic.
  • Dean Hyde - Matilda's teenage son. He has spent his youth at military boarding schools and he has never disobeyed his mother.

Casts

CharacterBroadwayUS TourUK Tour
Character200520062015
ChadCheyenne JacksonJoe MandragonaBen Lewis
Natalie Haller/EdJenn GambateseJenny FellnerLaura Tebbutt
SylviaSharon WilkinsNaTasha Yvette WilliamsMica Paris
Jim HallerJonathan HadaryWally DunnShaun Williamson
DennisMark PriceDennis MoenchMark Anderson
Miss SandraLeah HockingSusan AntonKate Tydman
Mayor Matilda HydeAlix KoreyBeth GloverSiân Reeves
Sheriff EarlJohn JellisonDavid BenoitChris Howell
LorraineNikki M. JamesValisia Lekae LittleAretha Ayeh
Dean HydeCurtis HolbrookBrian SearsFelix Mosse

Song list (Licensed)

;Act I
;Act II

Instrumentation

The original Broadway production had fifteen musicians, including the musical director and associate conductor. The original production was scored for two keyboards, two guitars, electric bass, drums, percussion, four woodwinds, three trumpets, and trombone. The first keyboard part was played by the conductor and the second keyboard part also doubled on organ. The first woodwind part doubled on piccolo, flute, clarinet, and alto sax; the second on flute, clarinet, and alto sax; the third on clarinet and tenor sax; the fourth on bass clarinet and baritone sax. There were also three trumpets where the first trumpet is the lead trumpet. The trumpets also doubled on flugelhorn.
The orchestration that is under the current license is based on the national tour version; there are only twelve musicians. The percussion part is removed, there are now three woodwind parts, and two trumpets. The rest remain the same. This time the first woodwind part doubles on flute and alto sax; the second on clarinet and tenor sax; the third on bass clarinet and baritone sax.

Recording

The Original Broadway cast recording was released on May 31, 2005, by BMG Marketing.

Controversy

The musical was the source of a minor controversy when students put it on at Herriman High School in Utah. After discussion, the play was allowed to go on after "minor edits to Presley’s songs and scene changes" to reduce its sexuality.