DEKALB, ILL., March 7, 2023 – If you’re itchin’ like you’re on fuzzy tree or if your insides shake like a leaf on a tree, there may be good reason for that. You may be all shook up. If that’s the case, the recommendation for you is to go directly to Stage Coach Players’ (SCP) March production of the jukebox musical, All Shook Up. It is guaranteed to swing your blue suede shoes away. All Shook Up, featuring more than 20 songs from the Elvis Presley songbook, will run from March 16 – March 26, 2023, at DeKalb’s premiere community theatre, Stage Coach Players Theatre. SCP has been performing plays and musicals in DeKalb for more than 75 years!
The story begins in the mid-1950’s, somewhere in the Midwest. As a young guitar-playing man named Chad is being released from prison, Natalie, a young mechanic in a dull little town, dreams of adventure as she yearns for the one true love to take her away. Soon Chad will ride his motorcycle into town and change everything and everyone he meets.
All Shook Up, directed by Jan Kuntz (Elf The Musical) with musical direction from John Feken, is loosely based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and at its heart is a story of inclusion and acceptance. Melissa Roseberg, Bailey Wood and Zack Eckhardt team up to do the choreography.
Morgan Prentiss, last seen at SCP in Something Rotten, plays Natalie Haller. Grant Milam, who has been in several SCP musicals recently including The Drowsey Chaperone is Chad. Steven Meerdink (The Producers) is Jim Haller, with Monique Smith (The Crucible) Sylvia. Anaya Evans (The Drowsey Chaperone) is Lorraine; Eli Oleson (Something Rotten) is Dennis; and Blythe Schwaller (Mamma Mia) is Miss Sandra.
The rest of the cast is Riley Belick; Steven Bough; Deb Brubaker; Lori Brubaker; Josephine Carlson; Jill Danklefsen; Zack Eckhardt; Evan Ewing; Joel Ledbetter; Kayla Martin; Roberta Maxfield; Aaliyah McCormick; Maddie Mormino; Jackson Nielsen; Riley Powers; Rachel Schneider; Brad Shortridge; AJ Smith; Wendy Tritt; Karli Waldrep; Emelie Walton; Chris Welch; Mandy Wescott; and a special photography opportunity by Shadow “Elvis” Gentry on the Thursday evenings prior to the performances.
Originally produced on Broadway in 2005, one of the main themes in All Shook Up is that of acceptance, and Eli Oleson (Dennis) said that he hopes that message resonates with the audience, including, “Especially in a time when the world sorely needs it.”
Monique Smith, who plays Sylvia, added to that. “Love is love, and the world is changing. You can’t help who you fall in love with, no matter who they are.”
Kuntz said that even though the appeal of the songs of Elvis originally drew her interest in directing the musical, she dug deeper into the script and what she found was amazing. “The message of the acceptance of all kept me excited about the direction of the show.” Regarding the Elvis song “If I Can Dream,” she added, “I can’t give a lot away about the direction of the show, but the parallels between that song and Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech are undeniable.”
“Can’t Help Falling in Love,” was one of Elvis Presley’s biggest hits and has always been a fan favorite. Both director Jan Kuntz and Morgan Prentiss (Natalie) include it as one of their favorites. “Whether it’s love, or following a dream,” Prentiss said, “Each character in the show has a moment where they stand up for themselves and what they believe in.”
When asked what message she hoped the audience took away from the production, she added, “They all challenge the status quo, and I hope the audience walks out of the theatre feeling inspired to do the same.”
Luke Butler Improvements is the sponsor for All Shook Up. Performances are March 16 – 18, 2023 and March 23 – 25, 2023, with a curtain time of 7:30 p.m. along with Sunday matinees on March 19 and March 26, 2023, with a curtain time of 2:00. Tickets are $20 each or $18 for seniors and children aged 13 and under. Tickets are currently on sale through the box office phone at 815-758-1940. To purchase tickets, visit the online website at www.stagecoachplayers.com. You can also call the SCP box office at 815-758-1940. The box office will open Sunday, March 12, 2023.
Thank you for being understanding as SCP navigates COVID-19 guidelines. For this production, masks are suggested but not required. If the state of Illinois guidelines change, our guidelines will change also. Thank you for helping us keep our patrons, cast and crew safe.
