All Shook Up

**All Shook Up** is a 2004 American jukebox musical with Elvis Presley music and with a book by Joe DiPietro. The story is based on William Shakespeare's 1602 play Twelfth Night.

## 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 from December 19, 2004, through January 24, 2005. After the tryout, changes were made to the finale and to add "a more specific instrumental and vocal voice" for Chad. The musical premiered on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on March 2, 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 (Chad), Jenn Gambatese (Natalie Haller/"Ed"), and Jonathan Hadary (Jim Haller). It has been performed in the USA at regional theatres, colleges and high schools.

## Synopsis

### Act 1

Somewhere in the midwest in the 1950s, Chad, a hip-swiveling, guitar-playing roustabout, is being released from prison ("Jailhouse Rock").

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 ("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.

Chad inquires about excitement in the town, and soon discovers the Mamie Eisenhower Decency Act, outlawing "Loud music, public necking, and tight pants." Chad then seeks to incite some rebelliousness in the citizens ("C'mon Everybody"). While Natalie fixes Chad's motorbike, Chad seeks to inspire her to take to the open road ("Follow That Dream").

After Chad exits, Natalie, in an attempt to look more attractive to Chad, puts on the only dress she owns—a tattered old one she uses to clean car engines. Chad asks Dennis to become his sidekick and Dennis accepts. Soon, glamorous Sandra appears, and Chad is instantly in love with the museum owner ("One Night With You" —reprise). Chad tries to smooth-talk her, but she resists ("Teddy Bear/Hound Dog").

Later that day, at Sylvia's Honky Tonk, Natalie enters in her greasy dress, and Lorraine has her change into one of her dresses—it is clean and cute and Natalie looks lovely. She rushes off in pursuit of Chad. When Sandra enters, and Jim also falls for her, even after having just agreed upon the benefits of being alone in life with Sylvia ("One Night With You"—reprise).

Dean, the son of Mayor Matilda, enters to tell Lorraine that he thinks she's beautiful. Lorraine is thrilled. Chad then convinces them that they would be a "sweet little couple" ("That's All Right"). But Sylvia interrupts, and Dean rushes out. Later that evening, Dean tells her the terrible news: they're about to be separated, his mother having just told him he's being sent back to military academy. Hopelessly in love, Dean and Lorraine decide to run off together ("It's Now Or Never").

Chad, Dennis and Natalie later meet at her garage, but Chad is soon distracted by the appearance of Sandra, inciting another love ballad ("Love Me Tender"). Natalie is intrigued by Dennis' new hunting cap, and comes up with the idea of dressing like a Chad-like figure to become "one of the guys" ("Love Me Tender" -Reprise).

As Chad bemoans Sandra's lack of attraction to him Dennis comes up with an idea. He volunteers to take a Shakespearean sonnet to her. Chad agrees. But before Dennis leaves, a leather-jacketed roustabout rides into town ("Blue Suede Shoes"). It is Natalie, dressed as 'Ed'. Chad is excited, and he immediately asks Ed to be his new sidekick. After a short argument between Dennis and an out-of-character Ed, Dennis agrees. Jim then suddenly enters, and for fear of being recognised by his/her own father, Natalie/Ed then rushes off.

Jim tells Chad that he's in love with a woman who doesn't love him back. Chad then gives Jim a much-needed lesson in coolness ("Don't Be Cruel").

Ed arrives at the museum and gives Sandra the sonnet. Sandra is so moved by the sonnet that she finds herself drawn to this strange-looking young man ("One Night With You"—reprise). Ed tries to leave, but Sandra is intent on seducing him ("Let Yourself Go").

Mayor Matilda is cracking down on the immoral behaviour that is now running rampant through the town. She comes upon a couple kissing, and she's stunned to see that it's her precious Dean kissing Lorraine. Dean and Lorraine run off into the night. Matilda promises to throw Chad in jail for what he has done. Ed tells Chad that in order to avoid jail, he should hide in the abandoned fairgrounds just outside of town. Chad runs off, and Ed runs off after him. Jim, now dressed like Chad, enters and asks Sylvia if she's seen Sandra. Sylvia tells Jim that he's crazy to fall for a woman like that, and Jim admonishes Sylvia for having grown cold and bitter. Jim gives Sylvia a very surprising kiss, and a stunned Sylvia suddenly falls for him. Soon, everyone in town find themselves escaping to the fairgrounds, searching for someone to love ("Can't Help Falling in Love").

### Act 2

In the midst of the abandoned fairgrounds, the citizens of the town are restless and randy ("All Shook Up"). Dennis comes upon Natalie, who's still dressed as Ed, and Dennis reveals that he's upset about the way Chad treats her ("It Hurts Me"). But Natalie insists that Chad is the only guy for her.

In an attempt to win Chad, Natalie convinces Chad to teach her (as Ed) how to seduce a woman ("A Little Less Conversation") but in the process, Ed winds up kissing Chad. Chad is stunned and Ed runs off as Jim enters. Chad reaffirms his masculinity ("Power Of My Love"). Jim and Chad suddenly realize they are both in love with the same woman. Sandra enters, lustfully looking for Ed. Jim confesses his love for Sandra, but she doesn't even remember meeting him. As the heartbroken Jim slinks off, Ed enters, and after a short argument, Sandra agrees to leave Ed with Chad. Angered with his discovery of Sandra's feelings for Ed, Chad is about to hit him, but he realizes that he can't. Ed gives Chad some "alone time", and Chad realizes that he has feelings for his new sidekick ("I Don't Want To").

In another part of the fairgrounds, Mayor Matilda enters, followed, as always, by the silent Sheriff Earl, and she vows to bring the roustabout down ("Devil In Disguise").

A heartbroken Jim wanders about and runs into Sylvia, who is wearing her best Sunday dress. He wonders what she's doing out there this time of night, and she confesses her newfound feelings for him ("There's Always Me"). Despite the circumstances, Jim can't handle this revelation, and he rushes off.

In another part of the grounds, Dean and Lorraine plan to catch the morning train out of town, but Chad convinces them to stay and fight for their love ("If I Can Dream").

In the centre of the fairgrounds, Matilda gathers the townspeople together to both find her son and arrest Chad. But Chad enters, as does Dean with Lorraine.

Earl speaks for the first time and professes his love for Matilda. In her newfound acceptance of young love, Dean and Lorraine are allowed to be together, and Jim realizes its actually Sylvia that he's loved ("Can't Help Falling In Love -reprise"). Chad confesses his love for Ed, but he then he takes off his hat and reveals to everyone that he is actually Natalie. Chad confesses that it was actually the character of Ed he liked, not Natalie, so he leaves the town. Dennis and Sandra realize a common love for Shakespeare and subsequently fall in love with each other ("One Night With You"—reprise).

Left alone with her father, Natalie sings of her falling in love with Chad ("Fools Fall In Love").

The last scene is a triple wedding (Jim and Sylvia, Matilda and Earl, Dennis and Sandra), with flower girl/bridesmaid Lorraine. Chad interrupts the wedding and declares his love for Natalie, though Natalie decides to not marry him and hit the open road. However, after some persuasion, Natalie agrees to make Chad her sidekick. The brides and grooms marry and everyone celebrates falling in love ("Burning Love").