Highland Stage to get 'All Shook Up'

The Highland Stage is set to stage its annual Summer musical All Shook Up at Vernon Township High School August 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10.

All Shook Up is a new musical comedy built around a number of songs made famous by Elvis Presley. It's not a biographical review. It takes place in 1955, somewhere in middle America, where one girl's dream and a surprise visit from a mysterious leather-jacketed, guitar-playing stranger help a small town to discover the magic of romance and the power of rock & roll. Among the 24 songs featured in the score are classics like "Heartbreak Hotel," "Love Me Tender," "Don't Be Cruel," "Can't Help Falling in Love," and of course "All Shook Up".

The cast is led by Michael Majewski as the roving Roustabout Chad, who is recently sprung from the Jailhouse for causing too much of a commotion with his Rock and Roll. When his motorbike needs some repair he winds up meeting Natalie, played by Zoe Novak, who is a local mechanic at her dad's garage in the dreariest town in America. She decides she will stop at nothing to hit the open road with the new leather clad stranger. Hilarity ensues as identities are mistaken and the town residents all start hopelessly falling in love with all the wrong people. The other characters include Mike Tlatelpa as Dennis, Lindsey Renna as Miss Sandra, Nathan Fitch as Jim, Lia Pila as Sylvia, Reyna Whitty as Lorraine, Ryan Spadafina as Dean Hyde, Joe Perry as Sheriff Earl and Paloma Lupino as the pious Mayor Mathilda Hyde.

The rest of the cast includes Jillian Abbood, Aiden Becker, Rebecca Benowitz, Sarah Benowitz, Elisabetta Bracer, Cora Brennan, Rebekah Bruesehoff, Caleb Burns, Emmalyn Burns, Kylie Burns, Kevin Colarusso, Sean Colarusso, Alex Colon, Cassee Commoreto, Matthew Compa, Joe Cordiero, Abby Crane, Jill Crane, Sofia Crane, Isabella Cruz, Caterina Dorsey, Tori Evanchick, Langdon Frey, Lucy Frey, Kaitlyn Gallaugher, Kaitlyn Gilmer, Mia Grizzuti, Sophia Grizzuti, Darios Hartlage, Tessa Heidt, Megan Hertlein, Kylie Imbimbo, Blair Lanza, Sebastian Leak, Kaya Lehrer, Celeste Levy, Elisabeth Lynn, Jessica Lucas, Kaitlin Kawko, Coco Metcalf, Bella Perez, Caroline Perry, Jessica Perry, Jason Pritchett, Lilly Radell, Jack Reilly, Joselyn Sanchez, Justin Shea, Kelsie Shinall, Emilia Smaldino, Sadie Smaldino, Ava Tlatelpa, Damian Vince, Kailey Vogel and Lindsey Vogel.

This musical represents the company’s annual Summer Theatre Project. The show is directed by Heather Burns, musical direction is by Faith Anderson and choreography is by Renee Ziegler-Schmidt. The full pit orchestra will be led by Jon Hartlage and lighting Design is by Matthew Mitra. Maggie Hayes is the company Stage Manager. Performances are Friday and Saturday, August 2, 3, 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 8, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 for Adults and $10 for seniors/children and students with ID. On Thursday, Aug. 8, senior citizens pay only $8. All tickets can be purchased at the door.