By James Smithwick and Orion Christy<\/p>\n
One for the money, two for the show, three to make ready, and four to go! Daytona State\u2019s Mike Curb College of Music, Entertainment and Art presented the spring musical \u201cAll Shook Up,\u201d inspired by the music of Elvis Pressley, and book by Joe DiPietro.<\/p>\n
The show ran on select nights from Feb. 22 through Mar. 2 in the Gillespy Theater, at the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach.<\/p>\n
The musical comedy is based on William Shakespeare\u2019s 1602 play \u201cTwelfth Night\u201d, and is built around more than 20 Elvis Pressley hits, like \u201cLove Me Tender,\u201d \u201cBlue Suede Shoes,\u201d \u201cTeddy Bear\u201d and \u201cJailhouse Rock.\u201d<\/p>\n
The production, under the direction of Samantha Stern, swung from upbeat rocking to tender romance without missing a beat. The show played to full houses practically every night of its run, and delighted audiences of all ages.<\/p>\n
The musical revolves around a series of love connections set into motion by the just paroled rabble-rouser Chad, played by James Ryan Harrington, as he arrives in the play\u2019s dreary little town setting. As the show progresses, the audience is introduced to Natalie, masterfully portrayed by Jensen Lesarbeau, and Kelvin Oats\u2019 Dennis, forming the first of many love triangles, some of which required a scorecard for keeping up.<\/p>\n
The ensemble cast provided wonderful backing vocals, and flamboyant dance routines supporting an almost flawless main cast. Scene stealers included the delightfully talented Deborah Reshard as Sylvia, the single mother and proprietor of the town\u2019s honky tonk. Her solo performance of \u201cThere\u2019s Always Me\u201d could move a brick wall to tears.<\/p>\n
Dr. Norton Christeson, the show\u2019s Musical Director and Assistant Chair of the Mike Curb College of Music, Entertainment and Art said the show didn\u2019t go on without its specific challenges. \u201cThe band was totally disconnected from the stage visually, except for one small video monitor, which only I could see, so it was a tremendous challenge for the players, who only had a couple of audio monitors to respond musically to what was happening onstage.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was extremely impressed with how well the singers did, and the instrumentalists, being totally removed from each other for the entire run. We\u2019ve never done that before,\u201d said Christeson.<\/p>\n
The set, though minimalist in construction, played open on three sides to the audience, and featured jukeboxes, a tunnel of love float and a custom motorcycle lent to the show by Strokerz Custom Motorcycles of Daytona Beach.<\/p>\n
As the show\u2019s ensemble cast performed the show\u2019s final number, \u201cBurning Love,\u201d the crowd was on its feet, literally begging for more.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, as the music director, it was probably the biggest challenge I\u2019ve faced in my 28 years of doing musical theater here at DSC,\u201d said Christeson. The labor of love, challenging as it was to pull off, was an incredible and obvious success.<\/p>\n
For a complete schedule of theater events, go to www.daytonastate.edu\/thearts\/ or call the News-Journal Center box office at (386) 226-1927 during normal box office hours.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One for the money, two for the show, three to make ready, and four to go! Daytona State\u2019s Mike Curb College of Music, Entertainment and Art presented the spring musical \u201cAll Shook Up,\u201d inspired by the music of Elvis Pressley, and book by Joe DiPietro.<\/p>\n
The show ran on select nights from Feb. 22 through Mar. 2 in the Gillespy Theater, at the News-Journal Center in Daytona Beach. Continue reading Daytona State can’t help falling love with ‘All Shook Up’ musical<\/span>