'All Shook Up' opens tonight

Some good old-fashioned acting mixed in with music from the King of Rock and Roll.

That's a sample of what spectators can look forward to when the Palmerton Area High School Drama Club performs its spring musical, "All Shook Up," tonight through Saturday in the high school auditorium.

Show times are 7 o'clock this evening, Friday and Saturday. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for students and $8 for adults.

Refreshments and snacks will be available during intermission from the school's Future Business Leaders of America.

Brent Harris, Drama Club adviser, said the musical is loosely based on Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" and incorporates the timeless songs of Elvis Presley to keep the action moving forward.

Harris said the story revolves around Chad, a roustabout who has come to town, and Natalie, a hopeless romantic who passes her time working on motorcycles at her father's gas station.

The action is set in a Midwestern town where music and dancing have been forbidden, and Chad attempts to break that trend, Harris said. Natalie falls in love with him and will stop at nothing to win him over, even if it means alienating a few friends along the way.

There are a few other unlikely couples that get together, as well as a strict mannered mayor who tries to maintain order throughout, but might just have a reckless side of her own.

Students and the characters they portray include Abby-Rose Emes (Natalie Haller); Dalton Alexander (Dennis); Sean Gibson (Jim Haller); Eliza Good (Sylvia); Emel Rasim (Lorraine); Dan Russo (Chad); Kylee Tirado (Mayor Matilda Hyde); Sean Hall (Dean Hyde); Owen Mendes (Sheriff Earl); Macie Hourt (Miss Sandra), and others.

Harris said the students have "fallen in love" with this year's production.

"The music is all Elvis, but has been rearranged to fit a much more modern audience, which fits the student's perspective a bit better," Harris said.

"They have also done an incredible job of embracing the personalities of their characters, and bringing them to life."

Harris continued to sing the praises of his students.

"The music, dancing, and set design of this production have been a little more complex than in previous years, but students have been more than willing to step up to the plate and take on the challenge," he said.

"This has been especially evident in the last few days as the production comes closer and closer and the students continue working harder and harder to perfect their performances."

Harris noted this year has also seen an increase in alumni participation.

"Brandyn Miller has been highly active as a volunteer helping with set design and running rehearsals," he said.

"Jay Hall has also been tremendously helpful as a volunteer working with the students in the areas of vocal performance and acting."

Harris said over the last few years, the goal has been to increase the size and scale of the productions.

However, this year has been quite different, as the club has grown to capacity, and is excited to have made the improvements that they have seen in the past.

"This year's focus has not necessarily been on scale or size, but on quality and energy," he said. "We believe that this production will provide the audience with an incredibly well-rounded theater experience."

He added, "The music, dancing, story, scenery, lighting, acting and overall experience should leave audiences wanting more of 'All Shook Up.' We can't describe the level of excitement within the cast and crew to open the show, and think that audiences will feel that excitement as well when the curtain goes up."