The Royal Players to Stage ALL SHOOK UP This August

The Royal Players and WW and Anne Jones Charitable Trust present All Shook Up the Musical at the historical Royal Theatre, 111 S. Market Street in downtown Benton, AR.

"All Shook Up" is set in 1955 in a Midwestern town devoid of music and love, when a roustabout by the name of Chad (Alexander Harding Chandler) rides in on his motorcycle. His bike needs a mechanic and that's when he meets Natalie Haller (Hannah Hill), the best female mechanic around. Natalie has been dreaming of her one true love and falls head over heels for Chad, not realizing that her best friend, Dennis (Mark A. Burbank), is in love with her. It doesn't take long for Chad to realize that this town is in need of some excitement, but fun has been outlawed by Mayor Matilda Hyde (Sarah Clayton). She keeps her son, Dean (Jacob Jackson), in tow by sending him to military school, and absolutely forbids him from getting romantically involved with Lorraine (Kyra Griffin), a girl from the "wrong side of the tracks." Even the town's Sheriff, Earl (Joshua Grandon), can't get in a word edgewise in her presence. As Chad seeks to shake things up with his bible of rock-n-roll, the citizens begin to show signs of life. Natalie's widowed father, Jim (Johnny Jackson), falls in love with the museum caretaker, Miss Sandra (Cassandra Lovell), while the owner of the Honkey Tonk, Sylvia (Desiree Grisley), falls in love with him.

Elvis Presley tunes make up the score, including "Teddy Bear/Hound Dog", "Blue Suede Shoes", and "Don't Be Cruel."

While a comedy, the musical also touches racial and class tensions of the 1950s. Rounding out the cast in the ensemble is Paul Johnston, Randall Earnest, Brian Christopher Roberson, Mason Newberry, Nathan Clay, Michael Allison, Kelton Ramsey, Libby A. Smith, Leslie Tate, Angela Morgan, Savannah Price, Georgeann Burbank, Katie McCallister, Abby Windsor, Vivianne Flora, Donna Jo Pelle, Isabelle Marchese, Destiny Marchese, Rylee Christen Bolls, Hayden Griffis and Christian Waldron.

Director Frank O. Butler. Musical Director Dawne Carroll. Choreographer Anna Bowman. 1st Assistant Director Angela Morgan. 2nd Assistant Director Matthew Burns. Cast and crew are from Pulaski, Saline, and Grant Counties.

Showtimes are August 10th-12th at 7pm, August 13th at 2pm and the following weekend August 17-19 7pm and August 20th at 2pm. Tickets are $12.00 for Adults, $10.00 for Seniors and $5.00 for students (ages 3-college age with valid student ID) Tickets can be purchased online at www.theroyalplayers.ticketleap.com beginning July 17th, 2017 and reservations can be made at 501- 315-5483.

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