Breaking News: Cheyenne Jackson Replaces Jarrod Emick as Star in All Shook Up!

Producer Jonathan Pollard announced today that actor Cheyenne Jackson, originally hired as understudy to the role of Chad, will play the role in the world premiere of ALL SHOOK UP, the new musical comedy based on the songs of Elvis. Jarrod Emick, who had previously been announced in the role, was replaced when final contract terms could not be agreed upon.

Speaking with BroadwayWorld.com this afternoon, Cheyenne expressed his great joy about this news. "I'm over the moon and it hasn't really sunk in yet because it all happened so fast, and it's everything that I've ever wanted! I'm a little delirious at the moment because I haven't slept, I've just been walking around my apartment smiling because I couldn't be any happier to have this opportunity!"

"Both the producers of ALL SHOOK UP and Jarrod Emick's representatives believed a deal would be made, however, in the end we simply could not agree on the terms. The entire production team regrets that Jarrod won't be with us, as we have great respect for his ability and wish him well. We also feel incredibly fortunate that we didn't have to look very far for his successor. Cheyenne Jackson, who was hired as his understudy, is a star on the rise whose talent and assets will have a prime opportunity to be discovered in ALL SHOOK UP," said lead producer, Jonathan Pollard.

Cheyenne Jackson's Broadway credits include Aida (Radames standby) and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy understudy, Trevor Graydon understudy). Most recently he starred off-Broadway in Altar Boyz at the 47th Street Theatre. Regional credits include West Side Story (Tony), The Most Happy Fella (Joey), Hair (Berger), Grease (Danny), Carousel (Billy Bigelow), Children of Eden (Cain), Anything Goes (Billy), Kismet (The Poet) and the title roles in The Rocky Horror Show, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

ALL SHOOK UP, the new musical comedy based on the songs of Elvis, begins previews Sunday, February 20, 2005, and opens Thursday, March 24, 2005, at Broadway's Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway at 47th Street). Directed by Christopher Ashley, with a book by Joe DiPietro, music direction and arrangements by Stephen Oremus, and choreographed by Ken Roberson, ALL SHOOK UP receives its world premiere in Chicago in a five-week, pre-Broadway engagement at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre, December 19, 2004 to January 23, 2005.

ALL SHOOK UP also stars Jenn Gambatese, Tony Award nominee Jonathan Hadary, Leah Hocking, Curtis Holbrook, Nikki M. James, John Jellison, Alix Korey, Mark Price and Sharon Wilkins in a cast of 28 that features Justin Bohon, Justin Brill, Paul Castree, Cara Cooper, Randy A. Davis, Jennie Ford, Trisha Jeffrey, Michelle Kittrell, Anika Larsen, Michael X. Martin, Karen Murphy, John Eric Parker, Justin Patterson, Jenell Lynn Randall, Michael James Scott, Jenny-Lynn Suckling and Virginia Woodruff.

A new musical comedy set in 1955, ALL SHOOK UP is not a biographical revue. ALL SHOOK UP is a burnin' new musical comedy that tells the story of a small town girl (Gambatese) who dreams of hitting the open road, and the guitar-playing stranger (Jackson) who brings romance, rebellion and rock 'n' roll into her life. ALL SHOOK UP features such Elvis Presley classics as "Heartbreak Hotel," "Burning Love," "Love Me Tender," "Can't Help Falling in Love," "Jailhouse Rock," "Blue Suede Shoes," "A Little Less Conversation," "Hound Dog," "Don't Be Cruel," and of course, "All Shook Up." Get ready to be ALL SHOOK UP!