The Sheboygan Theatre Company will officially begin the Seventy-Sixth Season with the opening of “All Shook Up” on Friday, September 25. Perfect for the whole family, it’s a big Broadway, Rock and Roll Musical inspired by and based on all the songs of Elvis Presley. This makes it a great opener for a year of shows sponsored by The Stefanie H. Weill Charitable Fund and Acuity for the Arts.

Like “Mamma Mia!” before it, “All Shook Up” was created completely differently from standard musical comedies. Rather than write a book and compose songs which are related to and further the plot, author Joe DiPietro gathered all the hits of the King of Rock and Roll and conceived a story into which he could fit the music and lyrics of a slew of Gold records.

Given that pop tunes are predominantly about love, “All Shook Up” tells a mythical tale of blossoming romance. A great –lookin’, motorcyclin’, guitar-playin’, leather-jacketed roustabout arrives in a Midwestern town and turns the whole place upside down. But though mystical love soon fills the air, problems develop as triangles abound. One character is attracted to another, while he or she is interested in a third, who in turn loves a fourth and so on. But as in every romantic fairytale everything gets sorted out in the end and, though the entire populace is all shook up, they’re much better off for it.

Audiences will thrill to every hit song Elvis ever recorded, including “Jailhouse Rock,” “Love Me Tender,” “Heartbreak Hotel,” “Hound Dog,” “It’s Now or Never” “Don’t Be Cruel,” “Can’t Help Falling In Love, ” “One Night With You,” “Fools Fall in Love,” “Devil in Disguise,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Little Less Conversation,” “All Shook Up,” “Let Yourself Go,” “The Power of My Love” and “That’s All Right.”

“We’ve never had dancing like this on our stage,” said Director of Theatre Ralph Maffongelli. “And the great part about it is that all the people in the show are local. These are friends, neighbors, relatives, students, teachers, colleagues and co-workers up there singing and dancing their hearts out.”

As an added feature of the show there will be guest appearances at several performances. Opening night will see Rev. John Knowles of Unity Church play the part of the Warden, while Mayor Bob Ryan of Sheboygan will take the same part on Saturday, September 26. Then at the Sunday matinee Pastor Julia Hollister, Minister of Christian Education at First Congregational Church, will be the warden, followed by her husband, Pastor Jim Hollister on Thursday, October 1.

Sponsored by Wilson Mutual Insurance Company, "All Shook Up" will open Friday, September 25, and be performed each evening through Saturday, October 3, with the exceptions of Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. There is also a matinee on Sunday, September 27. The production will be presented at the Leslie W. Johnson Theatre, 2820 Union Avenue, Sheboygan, with evening shows at 7:30 p.m. and the matinee at 2:00 p.m.

Admission is $20.00 for adults, $16.00 for seniors sixty and over and $10.00 for youngsters through high school and college students. Tickets are available at the Theatre Company office in the Community Recreation Department, 607 S. Water Street, or at the theatre box office 45 minutes before curtain of each performance. Season Tickets guaranteeing admission for all five shows are still available at $55.00 for adults and $27.50 for students. To learn more visit www.sheboygantheatercompany.com and then call 920/459-3779 to reserve tickets or for further information.