In Littleton, The King is alive — and better than ever

‘All Shook Up’ musical raising the roof at Town Hall

The musical All Shook Up, featuring the music of Elvis Presley, is blowing the roof off Town Hall Arts Center in Littleton with a thunderous mix of music, choreography and delightful characters. Directors Kris Graves and Rebekah Ortiz are joined by music director Andrew Fischer and choreographer Christopher Lengerich for a winning recipe for awesome musical theatre knocking it out of the park at every turn.

Set in the Midwest in the 1950s, All Shook Up opens with Chad (Nick Rogers), a rebellious roustabout, being released from jail. Chad is pure hunk with a rock ‘n’ roll guitar and hips that swivel 360 degrees.  While in need of a mechanic for his motorcycle, he meets Natalie (Megan Schraeder) who immediately falls hard for Chad. Natalie is oblivious to the fact that her best friend Dennis (Michael Spahn) is secretly in love with her. Jim (Damon Guerrasio), Natalie’s widowed father, falls for Sandra (Faith Siobahn Ford) a local museum owner. In the meantime, Dean (Elton J. Tanega), the son of the town’s mayor, Matilda (Jennifer Burnett) falls for Lorraine (Nicole Siegler) who happens to be the daughter of Sylvia (Arabella Beaubrun), the owner of a local watering hole. You get the drift – it’s a massive love-in wrapped around tunes that the audience knows and adores.

Without giving anything away, everybody ends up with the right person in the end, although there are times when it seems unlikely. The script includes a dash of hidden identity: Natalie masquerades as a guy named Ed, and Chad questions his masculinity when he falls hard for Ed. It is two-and-a-half hours of hilarity interspersed with the ultimate star of the show, the music of Elvis Presley.

Nick Rogers as Chad | in the Town Hall Arts Center production of ‘All Shook Up’ | Photo: RDGPhotography

Every song is a winner and some of the highlights include, “Jailhouse Rock,” “Love Me Tender,” “It’s Now or Never,” “Follow that Dream” — and especially the emotionally moving final number in Act One “Can’t Help Falling in Love.” These are just a few of the musical jewels featured in All Shook Up, and you don’t have to be a die-hard Elvis fan to find yourself humming along and enthusiastically clapping throughout.

The entire cast could not be better, starting with Rogers as Chad carrying the production with his perfectly coiffed slicked-back hair and triangular sideburns. He plays the role of Chad with humor and conviction never missing the opportunity to capture the famous songs with his extraordinary vocal capabilities. It’s worth mentioning that he was on ABC’s American Idol receiving the much-coveted Golden Ticket that took him all the way to Hollywood.

With extraordinary comedic timing, Burnett lets loose as Mayor Matilda and delivers a side-splitting performance. As Sylvia, Beaubrun delivers a soulful “There’s Always Me” in the second act that nearly stops the show. Other standouts in the cast include Schraeder as Natalie, Spahn as Dennis, Tanega as Dean and Siegler as Lorraine. Each one of them offers spot-on characterizations and impressive vocals. And it is a perfect ensemble carrying the action from scene to scene with thrilling singing and strong dance moves.

As directed by the duo Graves and Ortiz, the production moves swiftly and dynamically from beginning to end. They have captured the right amount of over-the-top humor along with credible storytelling so that the performance rings true throughout. Their use of the space, including the aisles, is perfect for the large cast and enhances the overall production.

The choreography by Lengerich is always enthusiastic and is performed energetically by the entire company. As musical director, Fischer has achieved remarkable interpretations of classic songs and strong vocals from the entire cast. A special mention must go to the musicians, and conductor Donna Debreceni, for their contribution to the overall musical experience. The production is physically appealing with scenic design by M. Curtis Grittner and costume design by Lorie Jewell.

Town Hall Arts Center is alive and well with the memory of Elvis Presley. All Shook Up is a tremendous tribute to The King and one that provides two and a half hours of pure, unadulterated entertainment.