Press Release

Elvis style musical to get SA All Shook Up

The music of Elvis with the story of Chad as Shakespeare goes rock’n’roll

Matt Byrne Media will get South Australia All Shook Up with a rock’n’roll musical that features the comic style of William Shakespeare and the greatest hits of Elvis Presley.

The show will play the Arts Theatre from July 7 to 17, Elizabeth’s Shedley Theatre from July 22 to 24 and Renmark’s Chaffey Theatre on July 31.

The fabulous 50s style musical features the story of roustabout Chad who rides into a sleepy mid-West American country town, touches a broken down jukebox and it comes to life … so does the town.

Producer/Director Matt Byrne said All Shook Up was “a very funny, hip-shaking night of Elvis inspired dynamite.”

“Writer Joe DiPietro had adapted the script of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and fitted in more than 20 mega hits from the Elvis Presley songbook,” Byrne said.

“It’s a terrific script with wonderful colourful characters that could have stepped straight out of an Elvis movie with the wit and mistaken identities of a Shakespeare comedy.

“Chad meets town mechanic Natalie who dreams of hitting the opening highway in white leather jacket, finds a sidekick in Dennis and falls for the town cougar Sandra, as he turns the town on its ear!”

The Elvis hits keep coming with everything from Blue Suede Shoes, It’s Now Or Never, Follow That Dream, Fools Fall In Love, Hound Dog and Heartbreak Hotel, to even his latest hit A Little Less Conversation.

Musical Director Mike Pitman will lead the onstage band on guitar and Sue Pole will choreograph the big cast in a mass of hip-swivelling production numbers to ensure there’s a Whole Lotta Shakin Goin’ On!

The show will star charismatic newcomer Gavin Cianci as roustabout Chad, Melanie Smith as nifty Natalie who creates a male alter ego called Ed to get Chad’s attention, Gareth Wilkes as Chad’s nerdy sidekick Dennis and Heidi-Rae Abbey as town cougar museum manager Sandra.

Maggie Wood will play big-hearted honky tonk owner Sylvia, exciting new talent Rebecca Plummer will be her restless daughter Lorraine, with Dominic Hodges as Lorraine’s military school beau Dean.

Russell Ford will play Natalie’s widowed father Jim, Chris Bussey will stomp up a storm as the bombastic town Mayor Matilda and Byrne will hardly fire a shot as Matlida’s speechless love interest Sheriff Earl.

All Shook Up will play the Arts Theatre from July 7-10 & 13-17 at 8 p.m. and July 10 & 17 at 2 p.m., Elizabeth’s Shedley Theatre from July 22 to 24 at 8 p.m. & July 24 at 2 p.m., and Renmark’s Chaffey Theatre on July 31 at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.

Adults are $30.00, Concession $25 and Group Price are $28 and $22 for 10 or more. Bookings are available on 8262 4906, BASS or VenueTix or www.mattbyrnemedia.com.au Ring 85 86 1800 for Renmark tickets.

 

Here is some info on MBM's 2010 musical All Shook Up.

All Shook Up is a terrific show from writer Jo DiPetro (writer of I Love You You’re Perfect, Now Change) who has adapted Shakespeare's Twelfth Night to an Elvis style musical.

If you enjoy a good story, lots of wonderful music (all Elvis Presley songs), fantastic talent and a good time - this is the show! "All Shook Up" is set in 1955 and is about a hip-swiveling, guitar-playing stranger called Chad who comes to town to fall in love with a sweet young local girl called Natalie who dreams of leaving her sleepy town for the big smoke.

All the songs are Elvis Presley's, from Blue Suede Shoes to A Little Less Conversation This story of romance and dreams is based around the songs of Elvis Presley.

ALL SHOOK UP - Cast of Characters and Introductory Plot Synopsis

Somewhere in the midwest in the 1950s, Chad, a hip-swiveling, guitar-playing roustabout, is being released from prison ("Jailhouse Rock"). The warden doesn't appreciate a guy like Chad ridin' into town, playin' his music and excitin' the local women. With a sneer, Chad rides off.

In a nearby dreary little town, Natalie, a young mechanic, is dreaming of love and adventure. She yearns for one true love to take her away, but she doesn't realize that her best friend Dennis has a secret crush on her. Sitting in Sylvia's, the local honky tonk, the whole town sings the blues ("Heartbreak Hotel"). Natalie's widowed father Jim enters and joins in, until they're interrupted by the roar of a motorcycle: it is Chad, the most gorgeous man any of the women in this town have ever seen! Most swoon for him, but one unlucky girl has the displeasure of FAINTING before him, riding into town ("Roustabout"). Chad is in need of a mechanic and he's introduced to Natalie, who is instantly smitten ("One Night With You") and promises to fix his bike, wanting to hold him in her arms.

Chad asks about any excitement in town, but he's told that excitement is outlawed under the Mayor's strict rules: no tight pants, no public necking, and worst of all, NO LOUD MUSIC! Chad, incensed, promises to breathe some life into this sad, little town and he touches a broken-down jukebox, and it immediately comes to life ("C'mon Everybody"). So does the town ....

For all of those who are asking... WHAT PARTS ARE THERE?! There are a TON! And they're all GREAT!

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

NATALIE HALLER (Early 20's): a mechanic.

CHAD: a great-lookin', motorcycling, guitar-playing, leather-jacketed roustabout.

JIM HALLER (mid 40's-50's): Natalie's widowed father.

SYLVIA (mid 40's): the no-nonsense owner of SYLVIA'S HONKY-TONK.

LORRAINE: Sylvia's 16 year-old daughter.

DENNIS: a young, awkward, aspiring dentist. The role is as big as Chad’s.

MISS SANDRA: the beautiful, intellectual caretaker of the town's museum. Cougar town :-)

MAYOR MATILDA HYDE (mid 40's-50's): the town's conservative mayor.

DEAN HYDE: Matilda's 16 year-old son. He has grown up at a military boarding school.

SHERIFF EARL (mid 40's-50's): the law in town. A man of not many words.

PLUS A BIG BUSY CHORUS We need people 16 and over.

INFORMATION NIGHT

Monday, March 8 at St. Philip's Church at 19 Staffa Street, Broadview at 7.30 p.m.

AUDITIONS

Sunday, March 14 at Mighty Good Studios.

Group Audition 9 a.m.

Individual Auditions from 11 a.m.

REHEARSALS

We will rehearse Tuesdays and Thursdays at St. Philip's from 7.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. & Sundays at Mighty Good from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Rehearsals begin Tuesday, March 30 with a Read Through.

The Season is:

Arts Theatre July 7-17
Elizabeth's Shedley Theatre 22-24
Chaffey Theatre July 31

If Elvis auditioned for this show he'd get the lead, but the lead role is called Chad, and we need someone with real rock'n'roll charisma.

Call Matt on 041 933 5966 for details or email mbm@adelaide.on.net