MARCH 19, 2009 ISSUE
Watauga High School Presents Musical All Shook Up April 2 to 4
The cast of All Shook Up rehearses a musical number called “C’mon Everybody” in the Watauga High School auditorium. WHS drama and choral students present the musical Thursday to Saturday, April 2 to 4. Photo by Bill Barbour
The Watauga High School drama and choral departments team up to present the musical All Shook Up—a 1950s version of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night set to the music of Elvis Presley—from Thursday to Saturday, April 2 to 4, at the WHS auditorium at 7:30 p.m. each night.
In the play, Natalie (played by junior Jessica Presnell) is a young Midwestern woman with dreams of hitting the road. When motorcycle rebel Chad (Will Barbour) rolls into town, Natalie and every other girl in town falls for the leather-jacketed rock-n-roller. To spend more time with Chad, Natalie, a mechanic, disguises herself as “Ed” by covering her hair with a hat and smearing motor oil on her face.
In Twelfth Night fashion, plenty of he-loves-her-she-loves-him action and cases of mistaken identities ensue. Chad falls for the town’s museum hostess, Miss Sandra (Jordan Rucker). Miss Sandra falls in love with Natalie, who is disguised as Ed at the time. And Dennis (Cam Haas), Natalie’s geeky best friend, has secretly been in love with Natalie for forever.
“We loved the 1955 feel to it, and we loved the way that the Elvis music had been sort of reconfigured with the story line,” said Sarah Miller, WHS drama teacher and director of the musical. “It’s just wonderfully conceived.”
Chorus teacher Lisa Combs is the musical director for the production. Shauna Godwin, a former WHS Playmaker and student of Northwestern Dance Studio, is the lead choreographer.
The cast features more than 60 WHS drama and choral students, and the musical includes some 24 choreographed musical numbers. And a live band comprised of students and community members will accompany the cast.
“I’m so excited to have a live band to back up all this Elvis Presley music,” Miller said. “It will have a real exciting rock-n-roll feel.”
Combs said the musical is “pure fun and out-and-out energy. The audience will recognize all the songs in the show,” she said. Sophomore Cam Haas, who plays Dennis, said, “It’s interesting how the songs fit perfectly, but it makes perfect sense in the script.”
Barbour said he enjoys the harmonies of the musical numbers and the contemporary feel of the play.
Reserved seating tickets will go on sale for $10 on Thursday, March 26, in the WHS lobby from 11:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will be available at the door on the nights of the show. For more information, call 828-268-0760.
Want To Go?
Date: Thursday through Saturday, April 2 to 4
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Watauga High School auditorium
Cost: $10
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