June 29, 2009
MACOMB, IL – - Good news rock and roll fans…Elvis has been sighted in Western Illinois University’s Hainline Theatre, where his timeless songs are playing. The new musical comedy “All Shook Up,” with the book by Joe DiPietro, based on the plot of William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Friday, July 2-3 and Thursday-Saturday, July 9, 10 and 11 in Hainline Theatre – - Western’s second Summer Music Theatre production.
It’s Summer 1955, and Natalie, played by sophomore Anna Cline (Grafton, WI), a musical theatre major, is a young woman in an American Midwest town with dreams of hitting the road. Chad, played by junior Lee Bussie (Round Lake Beach), a musical theatre major, is a charismatic rebel in a black-jacket, who loves rock and roll and stops at the town garage because his bike needed repair.
Natalie, the mechanic, immediately falls for Chad, who says he has had a lot of women, but only travels with men. Hair under a hat and a beard made of motor oil, Natalie transforms herself into “Ed,” Chad’s sidekick. Chad eventually falls in love with “Ed”/Natalie. He brings rock and roll to the two, which changes lives forever. But there’s more mixing and mating going on in the town.
The musical features such classics as “Heartbreak Hotel™,” “Burning Love™,” “Love Me Tender,” “Can’t Help Falling in Love™,” “Jailhouse Rock,” “Blue Suede Shoes™,” “A Little Less Conversation,” “Hound Dog™,” “Don’t Be Cruel™” and, of course, the title song, “All Shook Up.”
Playing Natalie’s father, Jim Haller, is senior Dan Reem (Macomb), a music business major;
portraying Sylvia is senior Erin Glasnovich (Rio, IL), a musical theatre major;
cast as Lorraine is junior Alexandra “Alex” Palkovic (Peoria, IL), a musical theatre major;
Mayor Matilda Hyde is played by 2nd year MFA student Susan Brummet (Hollister, CA), theatre-acting;
Sheriff Earl is played by 1st year MFA student Chad Tallon (Essex, IL), theatre-acting;
Dean Hyde is played by sophomore Blake Davy (Morris, IL), a musical theatre major;
Sandra is senior Lily A. Blouin (Anchorage, AK), musical theatre major; and
Dennis is senior Josh Huppert (Oswego, IL), musical theatre major.
Choreographer is 2nd year MFA student Ashlee Edgemon (Greenwood, IN), theatre-acting;
Scene Design is 2nd year MFA student Shana J.A. Joslyn (Effingham, IL), theatre-design;
Lighting Design is Professor Tim Kupka, head of lighting design;
Costume Design is Bonnie K. Jacobs, costume shop supervisor;
Sound Design is senior Jacob Schenk (Rockton, IL), theatre – comprehensive production; and
Technical Director is Michael Klippert, theatre and dance staff.
Cheyenne Jackson, who played Chad in “All shook Up” on Broadway, won the 2005 Theatre World Award, which is the oldest award given for a debut performance in New York City, as well as one of the oldest honors bestowed on New York actors.
Individual show tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens age 62 and older and $10 for children 12 years old and younger. Call the Hainline Theatre Box Office, (309) 298-2900, between noon-5 p.m. weekdays.
For more information, contact Western’s theatre and dance department at (309) 298-1543.
Copy By: Bonnie Barker
