Trigger Weddle, Presley DuPuis, Josian Brett, Chance Turnbull and Daniel Renz of Aspire Community Theatre joined E.J. Iannelli in the KPBX studio to talk about the organization's new production of All Shook Up.
All Shook Up is an Elvis- and Shakespeare-inspired jukebox musical about what happens when Chad (Logan Foster), a rock 'n' roll "roustabout," arrives in a stuffy small town. Aspire's new production of the show opens this Friday at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene.
Weddle is Aspire’s artistic director and the director of All Shook Up; DuPuis is Aspire’s resident music director as well as the show's music director. Brett and Turnbull play 16-year-old lovebirds Lorraine and Dean. Renz plays Dennis, best friend of the mechanic-turned-rebel, Jennie (played by Taylor Wenglikowski).
Accompanied by DuPuis, Turnbull and Brett performed the duet “It’s Now or Never” live in the Spokane Public Radio Performance space prior to the interview.
The actors talked about their own characters as well as the other characters in the musical's large ensemble-style cast. Both Weddle and DuPuis shed some light on the hip-gyrating choreography and the 11-piece band that will be performing each night.
All Shook Up includes dozens of songs from the Elvis songbook, including ”Blue Suede Shoes," "A Little Less Conversation," “Burnin' Love” and “Don’t Be Cruel.” Songs from the many Elvis films also make an appearance.
Renz and DuPuis closed the interview with a live performance of "It Hurts Me,” a song that featured heavily in Elvis' 1968 NBC Comeback Special.
Aspire Community Theatre’s production of All Shook Up opens this Friday (Feb.10) at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Coeur d’Alene. It runs there on select dates until Sunday, February 19.
For tickets and more information, visit the Aspire Community Theatre website or call (208) 696-4228.
