UWRF University Theatre presents "All Shook Up"

Oct. 11, 2011—The UW-River Falls University Theatre will present "All Shook Up," a musical comedy featuring the music of Elvis Presley, Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 3-5. The play is based on a book by Joe DiPietro and on William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." The story takes place in 1955 in a small Midwestern town. 

Chad, a leather-jacketed guitar playing stranger, rolls into town on a motorcycle and things are "All Shook Up." A female mechanic with a dream is instantly smitten. The townspeople are out control as they are taken in by Chad's music and charisma. Emotions run wild as the characters are motivated by songs like "Love Me Tender," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Don't Be Cruel," "C'mon Everybody," "Follow That Dream," "Let Yourself Go," and "I Can't Help Falling in Love."  "The Power of Love" has captured the whole town. Directing the musical is James A. Zimmerman, professor of theatre, while J. Michael Roy, professor of music, is music director and Joe Keith, professional choreographer/actor and former UWRF student is choreographer. Actors include Taylor Evans (as Chad) of Buffalo, Minn.; Claudia Vazquez-Velez (as Natalie) of St. Paul, Minn.; Alexander (A.J.) Swanson (as Dennis) of North St. Paul/Oakdale, Minn.; Mark Yang (as Dean) of North St. Paul/Oakdale, Minn.; Sara Fuller (as Lorraine) of Vadnais Heights, Minn.; Ari Koehnen (as Sandra) of Minnetonka, Minn.; John Richardson (as Sheriff Earl) of Appleton; Brittany Oberstadt (as Mayor Matilda) of Inver Grove Heights, Minn.; Daniel Tuchtenhagen (as Jim) of River Falls; Kelsey Rients (as Sylvia) of Monroe; Marianna Sallman (as Henrietta) of Roseville, Minn.; and Olivia Main (as Warden) of Webster.  Thirteen additional UW-River Falls students play the parts of the chorus/townspeople. 

Join the excitement by coming to a performance of "All Shook Up" Oct. 27-29 and Nov. 3-5. All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Blanche Davis Theatre in the Kleinpell Fine Arts building at UW-River Falls. Tickets are $15/adults, $10/seniors (60+) and $5/students. The University Theatre Box Office in Kleinpell Fine Arts will be open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Oct. 17 and at 6:30 p.m. on performance nights. Prior to the Box Office opening, tickets can be ordered with a mail-in order form found at https://www.uwrf.edu/CSTA/UniversityTheatre.cfm.  For more information, contact the Box Office at 715-425-3114 or email andrea.scharfbillig@uwrf.edu.

Chad, an Elvis-like roustabout, excites a down-and-out group of townsfolk with his music and views on love, life, and freedom of expression in UWRF’s production of “All Shook Up.”  From left to right are Brett Gill, Marie Sallman, Olivia Main, Selena Houchins, Daniel Tuchtenhagen, Taylor Evans, Ari Koehnen, Claudia Vazquez-Velez, Christopher Adam, A.J. Swanson, Logan Arneson, and Sara Fuller.