All Shook Up Changes

[landryjames]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 6:28pm

As a lover of All Shook Up, not sure how I feel about these changes. But I will reserve final judgement until I see the show. From Playbill's The Leading Men article posted today (9/6):

Christopher Ashley, who shepherded this joyous jukebox musical by Joe DiPietro to Broadway, is also directing the tour: "There's an electricity to Joe. He's sexy and an excellent actor. When he auditioned, the first thing he did was his lip crept up and he started to snarl. It was endearing and hilarious. Cheyenne was extraordinary in this role, but Joe's special in his own way, and has made me kinda reconceive this show." "Jailhouse Rock" used to be a fantasy number that the mayor had about Chad in Act II, but Mandragona says, "Now it opens the show and has Chad getting out of jail from the previous town. And there's three times as much dancing [choreographed by Sergio Trujillo]." Also, Natalie used to change into her alter ego, "Ed," offstage, but now the audience will watch her disguise herself to the tune of "Love Me Tender."

Link:


Leading Men, All Shook Up

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 6:34pm

Sounds good. Jailhouse Rock was incredibly random on Broadway. Having the number in the begining sounds like a better idea.

Posted: 9/6/06 at 6:45pm

it was only random because it was a fantasy off of the mayor's line, and the mayor wouldnt have imagined them all having fun in jail. if a line from Chad had led into the fantasy sequence it would have made much more sense.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 7:27pm

so when exactly with Natalie sing "Love Me Tender"? in the middle of the 1st act or something? and how will her character be introduced in the show- will another song be taking the place?
hmmm...

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 7:47pm

Interesting...can't really say how I feel about the changes, because I feel like I need to see them before I make any opinions, but it's interesting he decided to re-do some of these scenes.

[misto625]

Posted: 9/6/06 at 10:05pm

I loved the way the show opened with Love Me Tender and One Night With You. This is going to be weird.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 12:37am

Landryjames, thanks for posting a link to my Playbill.com column.

Due to space, I couldn't include everything. Also, I didn't want to pull focus too much away from Joe, who's the subject, but here are a few more details for 'All Shook Up' fans:

* Ashley said they had always wanted to have 'Jailhouse Rock' in the show, but it felt shoehorned as Matilda's fantasy in Act II. Opening the show with it seemed more organic to the plot.

* 'Devil in Disguise' has been moved to Act II, and will be more of a production number.

* The tour will be using basically the same set you saw on Broadway. But one scenic effect they won't be reprising is Chad's entrance on a motorcyle, through the 'hills.' Chad already will have been introduced in the opening number.

If anyone's in Milwaukee, we look forward to any reports ...

[misto625]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 12:45am

Aww I loved the entrance through the hills. So then how does Natalie enter when she sings "Roustabout"?

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 10:49am

Well, I look forward to seeing the changes. Most shows I get upset when changes are made, but this one could really benefit from them. Jailhouse Rock was 'completely random'. 'Devil in Desguise' could have had a whole lot more flair. It sounds exciting. I'll definitely buy tickets to the tour now.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 11:00am

"* The tour will be using basically the same set you saw on Broadway. But one scenic effect they won't be reprising is Chad's entrance on a motorcyle, through the 'hills.' Chad already will have been introduced in the opening number. "

Aw, that was so awesome.

And I miss Alix Korey something terrible. Stupid LA.

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 11:06am

It was awesome, but when I saw it, It worked for Chad and not for Natalie. A stage hand had to come out and move the Cycle An automated effect like that might be unpredictable on the road.

[landryjames]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 11:07am

Wayman Wong--Thanks for the additional info.

Now to get Suspicious Minds added into the show!

[liotte]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 11:22am

I'll report back after I see it in Boston in a few weeks!

Posted: 9/7/06 at 1:28pm

Wow. I kind of like those changes, but I'll miss ROUSTABOUT.
I loved that number.
But no one can make that entrance better than Cheyenne.
I'll miss LOVE ME TENDER though.

[timote316]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:07pm

Does it say Roustabout and Love Me Tender were cut?

I highly doubt Love Me Tender would be cut, since it almost perfectly set up Natalie's feelings.

[landryjames]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:17pm

It was never said that either song was cut.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 2:27pm

neither songs are cut. Roustabout is shorter due to the lack of automation (ie: the rolling hills)

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/7/06 at 3:29pm

I was looking forward to seeing the motorcycle effect, oh well. I might have to journey over to ATL to see this show.

[SakeDad]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 3:22am

Roustabout and Love Me Tender are NOT cut! (this is how rumors start...read the article before you post about it). Both Chad and Natalie's entrances have been staged so you won't miss the roilling hills seen on Broadway. Devil in Disguise is now a HUGE production number not to be missed. As far as missing Leah as Matilda let me assure you that Beth Glover is AMAZING in the role!
There is not ONE weak cast member! Not only is it a great cast for the tour but all of them would kick butt on Broadway any day of the week.
I can't say this enough....this is NOT the same show as on Broadway...it's 1000 times BETTER!! All the things that should have been on Broadway have been put in the tour. While there is no automation (which gets cut in most cities anyway) the sets move seamlessly and the transitions are smooth. You'll be very impressed by the cast and show whether you saw the Broadway company or not!!
Hope to see you all waiting outside the stage door!

Posted: 9/9/06 at 10:36am

I'm glad to hear those songs werent cut. I read the arictle, but when someone mentioned Roustabout's entrance being cut, I thought that meant the song was cut as well. I'll be there in Philly, and I trust you, SakeDad, because you've been with these people and know more than I or anyone else on here about the current status of the tour. True, I'll be alittle biased due to my feelings toward the original Broadway cast, and I am happy to see the tour moving in a good direction, and the changes seem like they'd help, not hinder this production. I look forward to going to the Merriam in 07 and checking this "newer" version of "All Shook Up" out and hope to leave singing and dancing like I did exiting the Palace back in 2005.

[liotte]

Posted: 9/12/06 at 7:54am

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/101967.html


Do we now have Miss Susan instead of Miss Sandra??

[MissNY]

Posted: 9/12/06 at 9:13am

I would guess its just a typo

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 9/12/06 at 11:47am

It's a typo....SHe remains Miss Sandra

[little_sally]

Posted: 9/12/06 at 1:26pm

I really liked ASU when I saw it on Broadway but I thought it needed a stronger opening. This new change is perfect.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 9/13/06 at 7:07am

"As far as missing Leah as Matilda let me assure you that Beth Glover is AMAZING in the role!"

I thought Leah played Miss Sandra. Alix Corey was Mayor Matilda.

I'm still looking forward to the tour, but am very skeptical about the changes. Even though the "Jailhouse Rock" number seems random where it originally was, I think it's better to have that song where it is rather than use it to open the show. The show as it was began on a lighter, softer note...the image of a small town girl with big dreams suddenly swept off her feet by a stranger to the town.

So will there just be dialogue ("I'm gonna hop on my motorbike, etc...") between Natalie and her friend (forgot the character's name) in the beginning of the show?

I kind of wish everything was just being left where it was with very minimal changes. I'm going to be seeeing the show in a couple of weeks - I'll let you guys know how it works out.