Talent Machine’s All Shook Up
Elvis lives. You’ll find him — and his spirit — in The Talent Machine’s musical comedy All Shook Up, a compilation of two-dozen Elvis songs arranged to tell a story of rocky love.
Sparks fly when Chad — a guitar-playing, motorcycle riding, leather jacketed stranger — rides into a mid-century American town where good times have been outlawed. Natalie — and all the girls — fall in love with him, and the town rocks. But there are complications, as you’d expect in a play based on Shakespeare’s comedy of mistaken identity, Twelfth Night.
Playwright Joe DiPietro’s 2004 Broadway adaptation is built on youth. So it’s a good fit for Talent Machine’s mission of bringing together kids of different ages, backgrounds and communities and giving them an opportunity to shine on stage.
High-schoolers Isaac Simonaire and Tabi Thornhill lead an ensemble of 25 singing and dancing 13- to 18-year-olds.
Forget the story. Their verve and Elvis’ songs — among them Jailhouse Rock, Heartbreak Hotel, I Can’t Help Falling in Love, and Don’t Be Cruel — will get you “All Shook Up.”
Playing FSa Aug. 3-4 at 7:30pm; Su Aug. 5 at 2 & 6:30pm; and ThFSa Aug. 9-12, at 7:30pm & Su 2pm at St. Johns College Key Auditorium, Annapolis. $12 w/discounts; rsvp: 410-956-0512; www.talentmachine.com.