All Shook Up

All Shook Up, a musical "inspired by and featuring the songs of Elvis Presley" is making it's debut at Rocklin High School. The musical takes place in the 50's (musicals from the 50's usually make me want to gag...because they suck...usually, like "Grease"), however it redeems itself by stealing the plot line of Shakespeare's "A Twelfth Night" (or for of those of you who have seen "She's The Man"). So it has a girl who falls for a guy, so she pretends to be a guy, to be close to the guy that she likes. All around this couple other couples are "falling in love left and right". ...my opinion of musicals in general is that they are the young, stupid cousins of theatre. That sounds rude but just look at plays like "Bye Bye Birdie" in comparison to plays like "Doubt". But musicals are BIG and LOUD and they attratch attention...and money, usually. But this musical is better than that (than Bye Bye Birdie) and it's genuinely a solid musical. But speaking of "Bye Bye Birdie" and of money. Finnish Temperance Hall (as well as the Jubilee) has lost funding because of California's current "economic crisis". And because the arts are always the first to go Finn Hall's last play is this summers "Bye Bye Birdie" production. I therefore encourage everyone to go see or try out for it because it's the last opportunity you will get. Go see my dad in "Kiss Me Kate" please!
We are loosing community theatre and now even our school's theater is at risk. The district is cutting funding and has singled out the "VAPA electives" as candidates for cuts (instead of cuttign an equal 10 percent of every program). For people like me Theatre is what we do. It is our sports, our extra curriculars, our speech and debate, our mock trial, our clubs, our Saturday nights...But it is at risk (more so than football) and this year we at the theater find ourselves onstage smilling into an audience of five to ten people. Last year's Suessical attratched full houses, I hope this year people will "come out to support" too. This musical isn't just about the big and loud, it has discrimination issues and real heart...
Shows are:
Feb. 10th, 11th, 12th and 19th, 20th, 21st