Alan Hoskins
Thursday, February 19, 2009
College Advancement
Elvis Presley won't be in the building but his music certainly will as the Kansas City Kansas Community College Department of Theatre performs the highly acclaimed musical "All Shook Up" Thursday through Sunday, March 5-8.
From "Jailhouse Rock," "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Hound Dog" to "Blue Suede Shoes," "Don't Be Cruel" and "All Shook Up," the Performing Arts Center on the KCKCC campus at 7250 State Avenue will be rocking with more than 20 of Presley's greatest hits at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens and will be available at the door or in advance by calling 913-288-7106.
Directed by Dr. Charles Leader, "All Shook Up" is set in a square little town in a square little state where a guitar-playing, motorcycle-riding roustabout with long black hair, leather jacket and blue suede shoes changes everything in a hip-swiveling, lip-curling musical fantasy written by Joe DiPietro and inspired by and featuring the songs of the King of Rock 'n Roll.
Kipp Simmons, a veteran professional whose credits include the American Heartland, New Theatre Restaurant, Unicorn and Theatre in the Park in Kansas City; the Apollo, Apple Tree and Bailiwck Repertory theatres in Chicago; and the national tour of "School House Rock Live!" will star as Chad, the guitar-wielding roustabout.
He'll be joined by Shea Coffman, who will portray the same role (Dean Hyde) he played at last year's performance of "All Shook Up" at the New Theatre Restaurant. Coffman has also appeared in productions at the Unicorn, American Heartland, Just Off Broadway and Off Center theatres and will next be appearing in "Bare," a pop opera at the Unicorn.
Joining them in the cast are KCKCC drama students Tracy Thomas of Wyandotte, Donnie Morgan of Washington, Chris Daniel of Piper, Jeff Mason of Leavenworth, Skye Reid of Baldwin, Karen Hannah of Salina Central, Charisse Presley of Grandview and Dr. Janice McIntyre, a KCKCC Humanities professor.
Members of the ensemble include Fred Rucker and Demetrius Hodges of Wyandotte, Sparkle Jones, Vanessa Hall and Jasmine Robinson of Turner, Megan Buchanan of F.L. Schlagle, Ronnita Shaw and Sharell Hall.
Musical direction is by Lenora Rennert with set and costume design by Kelly Vogel, lighting and property design by Randy Winder, choreography by Sharell Hall, technical direction by Brian Lechner and sound direction by Ian Corbett. Bethany Kolman is stage manager with assistance from Dan Barbuto and Katie Myers.