The University of Limerick’s Musical Theatre Society will be taking their blue suede shoes to the TUS Millenium Theatre this April with their production of All Shook Up.
A much-loved, jukebox musical, written by Joe DiPietro and jam packed with Elvis Presley hits, All Shook Up brings audiences back to the ‘50s with its high energy and comedic web of romance and mistaken identities.
Set in an American town where all music is banned, the ensemble cast of characters can’t help falling in love as guitar-playing drifter Chad rolls into town and has everyone all shook up.
Speaking to Limerick Voice two weeks before curtains, director Jason Ronan said the show is “coming along really well”.
Mr. Ronan, who is no stranger to Limerick audiences through his own involvement in local theatre, said: “We’re blessed to have a really strong cast and a really good committee behind us. Nothing has been a problem; they just take to it so naturally.”
“It’s like they have decades of experience on stage, which made my job so much easier,” he continued, adding: “The performers we have have played leads up around the country with different musical societies and I’m just really lucky to have people of that caliber in UL.”
Mr. Ronan said it was “a testament to what the society has built over the last number of years since it was founded”.
Musical director Jean Wallace echoed this sentiment, saying: “It is such a joy of a show, first of all, but it just so happens that the ensemble and the front line are incredibly strong and bring so much exuberance and enthusiasm to it.”
She continued: “It’s like no production of the show that I’ve seen, so I’m really excited for people to see it.”
Ms. Wallace said she is happy with how rehearsals are coming along: “We’re at the point now where all of it is up and moving together, so you have all of the dance scenes and the singing coming together.”
This stage of rehearsals is “always where things kind of start to go wrong before they go fully right,” she explained.
“These are my favorite rehearsals because it’s when I get to see everything they’ve been doing… and it all comes together.”
Sally Fox, a former chairperson of the society, is taking on the role of leading lady / dude in the production.
“We’ve been having a ball here,” she explained. “We started rehearsals in January and it’s just been great. There’s such a good group of us and we have such great production teams. We’re having so much fun.”
She describes her character, Natalie, as a “tomboy” – which is fitting given the character’s wacky choice to dress up as a man for most of the show.
“She’s got a good heart,” Ms. Fox added.
MIC student Nathan Canning is Chad , the “roving roustabout” who Natalie falls in love with at first sight.
His advice for anyone thinking of coming to see the show? “Be excited, and be prepared for some good music.”
Ms. Fox describes the production as “so much fun”.
“It’s such a funny show… there’s lots of colour, great music (Elvis music – so everyone loves it!), and it’s just a really great story with great talent and a great cast,” she added.
“Please come!”
UL Musical Theatre Society’s production of All Shook Up will be on stage at the TUS Millenium Theatre from Thursday, April 2nd to Saturday, April 4th.
Tickets are available here.