Combination of Shakespearean Plots and Characters with Iconic Elvis Tunes is Unbeatable.
by Eric Marchese
Is there a more eclectic show, at least in terms of source materials, than “All Shook Up”?
The 2004 jukebox musical by Joe DiPietro features the Elvis Presley songbook, with DiPietro drawing inspiration for his story and characters from Shakespeare’s comedies in general, and “Twelfth Night” in particular.
The extensive Elvis playlist includes the title number, “Jailhouse Rock,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” “It’s Now or Never,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fools Fall in Love,” “Love Me Tender,” and many more.
Shakespeare and Elvis? Definitely eclectic.
The show takes a look at a small, unnamed U.S. town, circa the ’50s, that literally gets “all shook up” when a leather-clad, hip-swiveling, guitar-playing roustabout rides in, his presence having an immediate effect on everyone.
Now, Yorba Linda Spotlight Players is about to unveil a new production, with troupe leader Charna Lopez directing and choreographing.
A Director’s Take on a Show She Knows Well
Lopez, who has directed the show once before with her high school students, says, “It’s essentially Elvis meets Shakespeare. It is the iconic classic rock ’n’ roll music of Elvis Presley with a creative storyline loosely based on some of Shakespeare’s comedies – ‘Twelfth Night,’ ‘As You Like It,’ ‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ and ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream.’”
In her previous experience directing “All Shook Up,” Lopez says she “had so much fun – it really surprised me how much I enjoyed the material.”
“I knew I wanted to take another stab at it with an older cast, who I knew could handle some of the material in a different way,” Lopez said. “The show has such heart, humor, and timeless music that I knew it would be a fun inaugural show for our community.”
Lopez said that among the good challenges in directing the show “are the locations. I love utilizing a black box theater and finding creative ways to establish that we are in different locations without having a complete set change.”
“It’s also been fun to task the cast with helping to create the vision of where we are and what we’re doing without a giant elaborate set behind them,” Lopez said, acknowledging set designer Kimberly Young’s work.
How the Troupe’s Cast Figures In
“It has been such a pleasure leading a cast with such a varied level of theatrical experience. I spent years watching young students create memorable relationships and experiences with their cast members and fellow students.”
This time around, she said, “it has been just as joyous, if not more so, to see adults doing the same thing. Theater is magic.”
In casting the roles, Lopez found what she wanted and needed: “We have performers who have years of performance experience under their belts and some that haven’t been on the stage in over 20 years. It’s been so exciting to see the process for all, and the cast has definitely supported each other throughout.”
The cast is headed by Lorenzo Cid as Chad, Naomi Groleau as Natalie Haller, aka “Ed,” Blase Maffia III as Dennis, Olivia Thomas as Miss Sandra, and Ryan Lloyd as Jim Haller, with Katie Hamilton as Sylvia, Brooklyn Vizcarra as Lorraine, Falit Bakshi as Dean Hyde, Karen Rymar as Mayor Matilda Hyde, and Jimmy Hippenstiel as Sheriff Earl.
Brayden Bittel, Gabriela Paul, Joey Miranda, Analia Sellers, Brayden Skoglund, and Maddie Young make up the dance ensemble, while Laura Brenes, Gabriela Gomez, Sarah Lucey, Katie Jo McCauley, and Noah Reitz comprise the ensemble.
Lopez calls this “a fun show to cast because as our inaugural production, we definitely wanted a mix of performers. We were hoping that we would have some awesome community members come out to participate, as well as seasoned performers to create a fun, energetic group of people.”
Rounding out the production and design team are scenic designer Kimberly Young, costume designer Elise Lamm, lighting designer Crystal Shomph, sound designer Carlos San Roman, stage manager Annabel Hillstrom, and assistant stage manager Emmerly Melvin.
A Playlist That’s Center Stage
With music playing such a central role, music director Christopher W. Smith’s contribution is significant.
As Lopez said, “The use of music in this show definitely has purpose and holds a strong through-line. Considering this is a jukebox musical with all Elvis Presley music, the show relies on many of the iconic tunes to move the story forward. It’s exciting to hear different versions of the classic Elvis hits with revised or enhanced orchestrations.”
“A favorite of mine is the mash-up of ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Teddy Bear,’ and ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ is probably my favorite song in the show for its purpose. It has a gorgeous reprise that is mashed up with ‘Fools Fall in Love’ in the second act, which is very moving.”
That song, she said, “follows the overarching theme of love in so many different ways and is just a gorgeous song to begin with – definitely a song that I feel encapsulates the theme of the production.”
Another example is “One Night With You,” which Lopez said is another song “that recurs throughout the show and signifies something very specific happening within the plotline each time the cast sings it. It’s fun to see the song pop up throughout the show as the story gets more complicated.”
Themes That Resonate
Lopez said the primary themes are “love, acceptance, friendship, new beginnings, self-revelation, finding one's self-worth and value, and the power of music.”
To enhance these themes or bring them to the attention of her audiences, Lopez said that “storytelling is always the biggest part of any show for me. Whether it’s in the scene work, the choreography, or the music, I try to focus on storytelling to bring the themes of the show to life.”
Lopez summarized it this way: “finding your self-worth and value is a huge theme that resonates with what we like to promote at our theater company – especially with our aspiring younger performers.”
Eric Marchese has written about numerous subjects for more than 39 years as a freelance and staff journalist for a wide variety of publications, but he is best known as a critic, feature writer, and news reporter covering theater and the arts throughout Orange County and beyond.
‘All Shook Up’
Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center
4802 Lakeview Ave., Yorba Linda, CA
October 11-20, 2024
(714) 223-2864, ylspotlight.org
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