Staff Reports
Niagara Gazette
LEWISTON —
There’s so much happening in the production of “All Shook Up,” that director Randall Kramer has warned his cast to watch out when they walk on stage tonight.
The musical comedy, premiering at 8 p.m. tonight at Artpark, has so much going on that he has warned them they might get caught up in the action.
“I told them ‘every time you enter on stage, there's somebody on stage that s going to be doing something that’s going to throw you off,’ ” he said. “That’s just the way the show is. It’s really fun to watch.”
The show, which was written by the Grammy-winning Joe DiPietro, who was recently honored for his musical “Memphis,” and who also authored “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” has followed the popular trend of taking beloved music and writing a plot around the songs. Kramer applauded the author’s creative manipulation.
“The Elvis songs that are in there are put into the script so well, you’d swear they were written for the show,” he said.
The musical comedy takes some of its tangled love-story from Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” but the location is a small American town in 1955. The plot revolves around Natalie, who works as a mechanic in her father’s auto shop and longs for an exciting love interest after her sister gets married.
A leather-jacket wearing, hip swiveling rebel named Chad motorcycles into town and seems to be just the ticket, but she can’t get his attention. Several failed attempts lead to confusion and then love — all to the beat of 24 legendary songs including “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Love Me Tender,” and “Jailhouse Rock.”
Two-time Emmy Award-winning actress, Sally Struthers, plays the role of Mayor Matilda Hyde. Western New York native Chris Critelli is said to channel the spirit of “The King” in his Elvis-inspired role of Chad. Carey Anderson brings her extensive Broadway and Off-Broadway experience to the role of Natalie.
The production is choreographed by Lynne Kurdziel-Formato whose past teamwork with Kramer as director brought the memorable ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ ‘Beauty and The Beast’ and ‘Aida’ to Artpark’s stage.
Artpark’s 2010 Broadway Musical production will again feature actors with prominent Broadway and national tour experience as well as local actors. Artpark veterans include Keith Ersing, Jared Loftin and Courtney Markowitz.
Artpark will present eleven performances of ‘All Shook Up’ beginning with the premiere at 8 p.m. today. Shows continue at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. There are also 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday. Additional shows are at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Aug. 19; 8 p.m. Aug. 20; and 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Aug. 21. A finale performance will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 22.
Tickets for ‘All Shook Up” are $25 to $45 for adults. Children’s tickets are priced between $12.50 and $22.50 for those ages 12 and under. Special group packages are available through the Artpark Box Office. For information and tickets call Artpark’s box office at 754-4375 or visit artpark.net.
