Every two years the intrepid minds at Howe Sound Secondary bring forth a new musical performance. This year students are hoping Squamish residents will join in the fun and let loose at their own high school musical, All Shook Up.
This funny, edgy jukebox musical combines Shakespeare's Twelfth Night with parts of the more modern film Footloose and Elvis Presley's hits to create an intense love and lust octagon. Opening night is Wednesday (April 28), and the students eager to show Squamish what they have to offer.
"We try to do something different every time," said producer Whitney Franklin. "Our last two were Disney ones so we changed it up a bit and went with a bit more rock and roll for a different audience."
All Shook Up uses popular Presley songs to fuel a fairy tale about a pleasure-challenged small town during the Eisenhower era.
Chad, a blue-eyed, hip-swivelling, guitar-strumming roustabout, arrives in a small Midwestern town that is smarting under an inhibiting "decency proclamation" instituted by its uptight mayor.
"No public necking no tight pants and no loud music."
Chad rebels and teaches the squares how to swing. This means the hormones of just about everybody - from a sweet young garage mechanic to her lonely, widowed dad - start percolating and love crosses forbidden boundaries of age and gender.
Director Janice Carroll is on her eleventh musical production with five-year producer veteran, Franklin. ?They held auditions in December and every one who auditioned was given some sort of role.
According to Caroll, the talent pool was so deep that most lead roles are double cast, with different students performing on alternating nights.
"We have a lot of talent this year so we wanted to give more people an opportunity," said Carroll.
All Shook Up crams as many familiar songs as it can into its two acts with deliberately corny, oft-repeated segues of dialogue.
Caroll said the performances are made all the better since this group of students is particularly close.
"They like each other a lot and sometimes we have to work a little to keep them on task but it creates a real group cohesiveness," she said.
Grade 11 student Gabriela Verdicchion is cast as Sylvia, the owner of the local "honky tonk." Verdicchion has already been cast in seven musicals and loves the vibe of this production.
"We're so dedicated to the show and it takes a lot of perseverance," she said, "but it's amazing. They've kind of become my family so it's great to come here all the time and rehearse with all your friends.
"Right now we're just tightening things up, going through scenes and getting ready for everything."
Organizing all 52 cast members is choreographer Jennifer Carney, a local dance instructor who also choreographed the production of High School Musical two years ago.
The cast has been working diligently over the past four months, and is trying to iron out any hiccups before opening night. Last week they performed their largest dance number in front of Don Ross Secondary and five elementary schools to promote the show and get rid of some jitters.
"We're feeling good, we know it's going to be a good show and we can't wait," said Verdicchio. "Now we just want to perform for everyone."
Nightly performances will run April 28 to May 1 and May 5 to 8. Tickets are $10 for children and seniors and $12 for students and adults, and are available at Billie's Bouquet, Stylezone or the HSSS office.
