Nothing shakes up a town like someone new who doesn't conform.
In Wagon Wheel Theatre's production of "All Shook Up", a Midwest town is scandalized when an Elvis Presley-like heartthrob shows up on a motorcycle, fresh out of jail.
The musical features 25 of Presley's songs, from the more well-known like "Jailhouse Rock" and "Heartbreak Hotel" to lesser-known numbers like "If I Can Dream" and "There's Always Me".
Jake Klinkhammer, who played Munkustrap in "Cats", plays the role of Chad. His character was modeled after Presley. The name Chad was taken from the role Presley played in "Blue Hawaii" when Presley was at the peak of his film career, Klinkhammer said in an interview Monday afternoon. While Chad in "Blue Hawaii" was more of a bum, Klinkhammer said Chad in "All Shook Up" is more of a roustabout.
Some people have compared "All Shook Up" to "Footloose", Klinkhammer said, but "All Shook Up" is more adult. When the musical starts, Chad is just getting out of jail. He rides a motorcycle, which wasn't as widely accepted back in the 1950s as it is now, Klinkhammer said.
Caitlin Mesiano plays Natalie in "All Shook Up". One of the smalltown folks, Natalie is a total tomboy. She lost her mother while growing up, and spent most of her time in her dad Jim's auto repair shop. Natalie dreams of getting out of the small town.
When Chad arrives, Natalie wants to know who he is. Finding him gorgeous, Natalie thinks Chad might be her ticket out of town. She starts to fall for him.
"All Shook Up" also is based partly on William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night".
In "Twelfth Night", Viola, is shipwrecked on the shores of Illyria. She loses contact with her twin brother, Sebastian, whom she thinks is dead. Masquerading as a young man named Cesario, she enters the service of Duke Orsino. Orsino uses Cesario as an intermediary to tell Olivia about his longing for her. However, Olivia thinks Viola is a man, and she falls in love with him instead. In turn, Viola falls in love with the Duke, who also believes Viola is a man, and who regards her as his confidant.
In "All Shook Up", to be closer to Chad, Natalie, who already is a tomboy, tries to get close to him by pretending to be a boy instead of a girl. To her surprise, it works.
Dennis, played by Nick Laughlin, has been in love with Natalie forever, but Natalie considers Dennis to be just a friend.
"He aspires to be a dentist," Laughlin said of Dennis. "He's very nerdy. He got accepted to dental school. He's in love with Natalie. He tries to tell her."
Unfortunately, Dennis is easily confused. Wanting to fit in, Dennis becomes Chad's sidekick for about half the show.
"He's just a hopeless romantic nerd who wants to be a dentist," said Laughlin.
Klinkhammer said the plot of "All Shook Up" is very easy to understand. The characters are very recognizable.
"I feel the show is really about the music," Klinkhammer said.
The Presley songs cover his career from start to finish, Klinkhammer said. Mesiano said the songs didn't have to be changed to fit the story, the lyrics work perfectly with the plot. Laughlin said the songs are arranged differently and have well-written harmonies.
In the plot, Klinkhammer said, there's cross dressing, mistaken identities and love notes.
There are additional subplots in the show.
Sandra is the new museum curator in town. A bombshell, Chad and Jim both fall for her. Like Olivia in "Twelfth Night", however, Sandra falls for Ed, Natalie's male alter ego.
During the show, Chad finds out that excitement is outlawed under Mayor Matilda's laws. The mayor's son, Dean, who is white, meets Lorraine, Sylvia's African-American daughter, and the two fall in love. Sylvia owns the local honkytonk.
Mesiano said there's a character in the show who mirrors something in everyone's life. There's a lot of self-discovery in the show. Lorraine and Dean offer a forbidden-love story that captures the heart of the show, she said.
"It's not your typical jukebox show," said Klinkhammer. "It has a lot of heart. It's really funny. We're excited to put it in front of an audience, that's for sure."
"It's plain funny, totally entertainment," said Mesiano.
Even a person who might not like the theater will like "All Shook Up", said Laughlin.
It has a great book and great music, said Klinkhammer. The show starts out amazing, and the set design by David Lepor is great.
"It's dirty, gritty and has a carnival feel," he said. "It plays against our characters."
When the audience first sees the town, it and the costumes are drab. When Chad shows up, color blooms.
While the show isn't about Presley, the three actors interviewed Monday afternoon all agreed it is about his music.
For Laughlin, who grew up listening and loving Presley, it's been great working on the show. Mesiano said she knows even non-Presley fans who love the show. Laughlin said through the show, you realize how much heart is in Presley's music.
"I feel non-Elvis fans will understand him better," said Laughlin.
"We're all glad the show exists," Klinkhammer said."It's a show for everyone," Mesiano said.
"It's a newer show," she said. "It's not really been produced around here. I think the town will want it back," said Laughlin. "And we're all very passionate about it. It has so much heart."
"Come have fun. The band is epic! They're incredible," said Klinkhammer.
Laughlin said, "It's definitely a show you can stomp your feet to."
