All Shook Up in Philly this week!- Page 2

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 2:41pm

Believe me...I wish I felt the same way about it as most of you here in this thread.

For whatever it's worth, a very good friend of mine saw the tour with me, and he'd also seen the Broadway production. He found the Broadway version to be surprisingly fun, and had almost nothing but good things to say about it. BUT, he was utterly embarassed and bored by the tour. According to him, the set has changed quite significantly, songs are in different places, alterations have been made to the book and costumes, etc. After initially being a fan, he wasn't any happier with the tour than I was.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 3:06pm

ASU is the worst show in broadway history.

[misto625]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 6:01pm

No way is the above statement true. From what I have heard, In My Life beats it. And what about all those shows that have lasted less than 10 performances?

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 2/22/07 at 6:14pm

As far as I'm concerned, a show's quality has NOTHING to do with it's number of performances.

...although ASU isn't the "worst" show I've ever seen. As I said, just the dumbest.

[misto625]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 12:05am

I still think as far as quality goes, All Shook Up is above many others. I actually think All Shook Up is a better show than Hello, Dolly!

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 1:09am

I also think it is a fantastic show! I LOVED the broadway production, and if it hadn't played the Palace theatre and played a smaller venue like, The Al Hirchfield (sp?) theatre it would still be running today.

I also think it is better than most shows (including Hello Dolly. Although I don't see how you can compare the two.) It is a helluva lot better than Grease or Mamma Mia!.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 6:53am

"I also think it is a fantastic show! I LOVED the broadway production, and if it hadn't played the Palace theatre and played a smaller venue like, The Al Hirchfield (sp?) theatre it would still be running today.

I also think it is better than most shows (including Hello Dolly. Although I don't see how you can compare the two.) It is a helluva lot better than Grease or Mamma Mia!. "

I agreed on the Palace being too big.
If it had played a smaller theater, it would still be there.

I think the Broadway production was amazing.
I loved it, I got to see it twice.
The tour is good, for what it has become.
It just seems like the heart of the show
Has missed something in translation.
Its still a good show, its just missing
A bit of magic from the Broadway production

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 6:59am

Clumsy's review from 2-21-07:

I had a pretty open mind going in last night, having seen the Broadway production twice and adoring it. I got there and it was nice to see the curtain was the same. Bought a program book, which features a collage about the Broadway production, it was nice to see a nod to them. A nice picture of Cheyenne and Jenn was in that collage.

The show itself was pretty great. It was different as everyone has said. The opening being Jailhouse Rock was pretty well-received; it was a much more jumping start than the original opening of the Broadway production. The scene between Lorranie, Dennis and Natalie before Heartbreak Hotel was great. I liked that Lorranie finds outs that Dennis likes Natalie, it was very cute.

Performances were pretty fantastic. Jenny Fellner was such a fantastic Natalie/ED, her "One Night with You" and "Fools Fall in Love" was so great: Her voice is so fantastic. Jenn was adorable, spunky and amazing, and Jenny was those things as well. Her change into Ed on stage was different, but okay with me.

Joe Mandragona was hysterical as Chad, he acted alittle different than Cheyenne did in the original production: Cheyenne was very suave and cool, as was Joe, but Cheyenne seemed to have more vibrato than Joe. Joe sang the role great. His attitude was great, and his suaveness was great. Very good performance.

Jannie Jones was no Sharon Wilkins, but she had a pretty great voice. She did the role well, but I missed Sharon’s loudness and attitude. Sharon’s “There’s Always Me.” brought down the house, Jannie’s was pretty good, and got the audience to its feet, but nothing like Sharon.


Brian Sears was a pretty great Dean, he was goofy and charming, goofier than Curtis, but he sang the role very well. His “Son, you’re a black man” reaction was hysterical. He was very good. He had the chance to be in the original cast for like a week.

Dennis Moench was a great Dennis, he didn’t seem as high-pitched or loud as Mark Price, but he was pretty funny. He was taller than Joe, so every time Joe would say “Little man.” I would laugh because Joe was shorter than Dennis. “It Hurts Me” was great! He has such a great voice. Mark Price was just so hysterical, this guy had Dennis down.

Valisia Lekae Little was a pretty good Lorranie; she had a deeper voice than Nikki, which made her seem older than she appeared. Nikki was cute and a powerhouse, Valisia was a great singer, but I liked Nikki’s acting of Lorranie better. “That’s’ All Right” was pretty fantastic, she has a great voice. Good performance none the less.

Susan Anton is a freaking giant. She towered over Joe. Susan was pretty good, but I missed Leah and even Jenny Lynn’s snooty-yet sexy-yet upscale. Susan’s “Let Yourself Go” was very good, but Leah will always be Miss Sandra. Her height kind of was distracting.


Wally Dunn was a good Jim Haller, I loved when he came out “Chad-ified”, it was hilarious. I think he was good, but again, Jonathan Hadary had that balance between the comedy and the seriousness, as did Wally, but it just seemed more authentic when Jonathan did it.

Beth Glover sounded like Judy Garland on crack, it was hysterical. She was a complete 180 from the campy shrillness of Alix Korey. The changes to “Devil In Disguise” were pretty funny, but not sure it was needed, but was very hysterical. She had a very nice voice as well, and was hysterical during the reveal about Dean’s father.

The ensemble lacked the personality of the Broadway cast; no standouts like Michelle Kittrell, Anika Larsen, Justin Patterson, Brad Anderson, Trisha Jefferys, Karen Murphy and Cara Cooper were on Broadway. They could dance very well, but they lacked the personality [I attribute that to the elimination of the lines of some of the ensemble.] My favorite moment for them was during the reveal about Dean, when Matlida says “Son, You’re a black man.”. One ensemble member did the brother sign


Overall, it was a nice night. Some good performances and the music is still amazing. I met Jenny, Brian, Susan, and Joe. They were very nice, and one crew guy recognized me for my All Shook Up love on here. It was pretty awesome. I may get some of my friends together and go back. With all the changes, some things are a miss from the Broadway production, the heart of the show has changed, but it is a pretty good show none the less. Its just I missed the Broadway production and it was a difficult to see the changes or a scene lacking the magic from Broadway.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 9:27am

That's a fantastic review Clumsy! I'm going to see the show when it gets to Atlanta in April. I loved the broadway production so I hope I don't hate the tour. lol. From what you posted, the changes seem okay...except for Jailhouse Rock being the opening number, that I may not like.

[liotte]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 10:54am

With all the changes, some things are a miss from the Broadway production, the heart of the show has changed, but it is a pretty good show none the less. Its just I missed the Broadway production and it was a difficult to see the changes or a scene lacking the magic from Broadway.

I think that your love and admiration of Cheyenne and Jenn (which is evident in every single post you have about a favorite show or actor or anything on this board) definitely colors your perspective of the tour.

I think that there were many other things amiss in the show, a few WTF moments for sure, but the heart of the show was still there and what made me still love it. Can't Help Falling In Love and the revelation scene are 2 of my favorite scenes and really show the heart, and it gives me that happy feeling I had whenever I saw it on Broadway.

I have seen the tour 6 times now (3 in Boston and 3 in Ft Lauderdale), saw it on Broadway 26 times. Will see it 5 more times in Philly this weekend.
Can't wait for tonight!

Updated On: 2/23/07 at 10:54 AM

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 12:58pm

"I think that your love and admiration of Cheyenne and Jenn (which is evident in every single post you have about a favorite show or actor or anything on this board) definitely colors your perspective of the tour. "

I do love Cheyenne and Jenn.
And as you have mentioned its evident.
I did however enjoy the show.
It was still VERY good
I love the scenes you mention as well.
And the music is amazing.
Liotte, I just adored the OBC.
Its hard for me to think All Shook Up
And not think Jenn, Cheyenne, Mark, Nikki, etc.
BUT, I did enjoy the tour and the show.
Joe and Jenny were fantastic. I enjoyed them very much.
I loved the new scene between Lorranie, Dennis and Natalie.
To me, the heart was also the personality that the actor brought to the role, the ensemble of the OBC was fantastic, they had different personalities and seemed like indiviuals, and you ploted their journey as well as the leads.


I'm sorry if you think
I'm just a big freaky All Shook Up OBC
But, I did enjoy the tour very much,
I didn't bash a thing in my review,
I gave my opinon and I enjoyed it,
It had the great message and enjoyement, but,
I just can't forget my OBC love for All Shook Up.

Updated On: 2/23/07 at 12:58 PM

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 8:08pm

I've been listening to the original cast recording.
I adore the music so.

Hope Liotte is having fun.
:-]

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 9:10pm

Caught the show last fall in Louisville, KY and would have to count it among my "guilty pleasures." The tour is well worth seeing.

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 9:39pm

Mixed-review from The Evening Bulletin
Merriam Theater Gets 'All Shook Up'

[liotte]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 11:41pm

Had a great time tonight, I smiled throughout the entire show.

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 11:55pm

I saw the show when it came to East Lansing and I really enjoyed it. I had an understudy for Susan Anton's character who was good, but I really wanted to see how Susan would handle the role.

[liotte]

Posted: 2/24/07 at 11:43am

I would love to see Betsy as Miss Sandra!

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 2/24/07 at 7:48pm

I think I may go see the tour again tomorrow night before it closes in Philly.

[liotte]

Posted: 2/24/07 at 11:37pm

Another couple of fun shows today! I'm glad I get to see it again tomorrow, this weekend is going by so quickly!

[almostxfamous]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 1:13am

I saw the tour last night. It was pretty fun, and cousin and aunt, loved it. The book definetely could've handled more work. I had an understudy for Sylvia, Aurelia... Williams, I believe?I don't have my playbill near me, but she was absolutely AMAAZING. My cousin actually said the guy who played Chad reminded her of Johnny Bravo.

The cast was wonderful. Dennis Moench was a favorite, as was the guy who played Dean. I had a lot of fun.

[BroadwayPenguin2]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 1:18am

Saw the show tonight!

Fantastic cast! I do wish that I got to see Aurelia as Sylvia though.

Leads were great. Set was great.

All in all, a fun night at the theatre. :)

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 1:29am

I can't wait for it to get to Atlanta! But my only worry is Jailhouse Rock being the opening number...how does that work? Someone please explain!

[liotte]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 10:33am

NLS, if all you have seen is the broadway show, you will see lots of changes. Jailhouse Rock is the first number in the show, Chad was in jail and he is released at the beginning. Tis all.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 1:40pm

Mother's Younger Brother: I saw the tour back in Wisconsin, and I also thought it was probably the dumbest show I'd ever seen. So you're not alone.

Jenny Fellner (sp?) reminded me SO much of Celia Keenan-Bolger.

[NathanLaneStalker]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 1:55pm

I have only seen the broadway production (which I LOVED) so I hope that I will like the changes. I don't think I will be crazy about the opening number being Jailhouse Rock...we'll see. Thanks liotte!