Vail Christian High School musical is a modern tale of love, with a twist

Imagine a musical that combines the music of Elvis Presley with inspiration provided by Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” The result is a tale of mistaken identity, hidden love triangles, characters evolving and changing through music, humor and self discovery. “All Shook Up” is classic Shakespeare with a jukebox twist.

“It’s about falling in love and discovering who you are,” said Emma Adams, a senior who plays Natalie, adding that it has “incredible music and dancing to keep your attention.” 

Natalie is a girl with a big heart and spirit who disguises herself as a man to gain the attention of new-to-town Chad — a hip-swiveling, guitar-playing roustabout who has just left a weekend in the jailhouse to rock. 

Set in a small, conservative 1950s Texas town, the plot kicks off when the rebellious, guitar-playing Chad rides in on his motorcycle and starts shaking things up, literally and figuratively. He brings rock ‘n’ roll, love triangles, and a wake-up call to a town that has outlawed “loud music, public necking, and tight pants.”

“Chad gets everyone in the town all shook up,” sophomore Wyatt Hansen said.

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In “All Shook Up,” just about everyone falls in love with the wrong person … at first.

“It’s all part of the ride — and in the end, it’s not about who you’re pretending to be, but who you discover you really are,” said Melinda Carlson, the director.

The music inspired the creative team behind “All Shook Up” to capture the essence of 1950s Texas. Art teacher Heidi Cofelice led the prop and set class to recreate a charming small town square that evolves as the story unfolds.

Student choreographers Kyra Amass and Kylie Kirkham worked with local professional Colin Meiring to give the story its essential pulse. Students learned everything from the Lindy Hop to Jitterbug and Jive. 

“Our students have had a blast stepping into these characters and rocking out to songs like ‘Jailhouse Rock’ and ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love,'” Carlson said.

Elijah Beckett, a sophomore, added that “it seems really immersive because everyone worked together toward one goal. The sets and costumes are amazing. The music is challenging but we have worked hard and it sounds great”.

It’s campy, high-energy fun with big hair, big hearts, and a message about being true to yourself. Think “Grease” meets Shakespeare … in blue suede shoes.

“These are classic tunes that everyone loves. It’s the type of play that leaves you smiling and singing all the way home,” Adams said.