The ALL SHOOK UP Diaries: It's A Busy Weekend for the Cast

Rehearsals got under way last week for Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre's big musical for the summer of 2015: All Shook Up. With a cast of Nashville theater veterans - joined by some of the region's brightest up-and-comers - you can rest assured that the rehearsal process will be just as much fun as the show itself. Throughout the next couple of weeks we'll be sharing "diaries" from members of the cast and crew in anticipation of opening night on July 23.

Leading lady Jennifer Richmond had a challenging day, to say the least on Friday: "I was terrible in rehearsal [Friday], because I was stressed and distracted by trying to buy a car...since mine needs a new engine. The deal fell through, so unfortunately I'm back to bumming rides from my castmates and director, but I hope to come in Saturday focused. At least DeVon and I used our time wisely at one point and got off book for a scene. Also, Janie [Chaffin] bought us lunch on Friday, which was so nice and came at a perfect time since it was a stressful day and I forgot to bring lunch and it was one less thing I had to worry about.

"Also, yesterday I found out that I have a high credit score - which was shocking - but that and lunch were the two positives in my day. Oh, and I forgot my makeup, but Martha let me use hers."

On Friday, Jenny Wallace Noel was looking forward to her first rehearsal call over the weekend: "I have only been called to rehearsal for 30 minutes so far and I didn't really do anything. So, I have been rehearsing at home."

Jenny Norris-Light, who's been dealing with the cold that has plagued castmembers, offered "graphic" photographs of her affliction, along with pictures of her beloved Neti pot: "Do you think your readers would be interested in my adventures with my Neti pot that I've used several times today in an attempt to flush out my turn with the 'cast cold.' I almost drowned myself twice. It was very dramatic."

It was a busy weekend at the Barn, with choreographer Pam Atha putting her cast members to work Saturday and Sunday, learning her fancy footsteps for the show, while musical director Michael Holmes was drilling the show's music into the minds of his charges.

Harley Seger's report from Saturday: "Another day here at the barn. DeVon is in another tank top and we welcomed another dog (choreographer Pam Atha's) to our rehearsal process. We are having a blast getting ready for the next show brought to you by Chaffins Barn Dinner Theatre/ Kennel."

Daron Bruce, DeVon Buchanan, Karissa Wheeler and Harley Seger shared some photos with us, showing the cast and crew hard at work on crafting the summer's hottest musical at Chaffin's Barn...

About the show: Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre - Nashville's venerable entertainment center, which for 49 years has been the theater home to thousands of actors, directors, technicians and artists - has announced the creative team and cast for this summer's eagerly anticipated production of All Shook Up, slated to run July 23-August 30.

Nine-time First Night Award winner and Chaffin's Barn artistic director Martha Wilkinson will lead the creative team, which also includes 2012 First Night Honoree Pam Atha as choreographer, and well-known Nashville musician Michael Holmes as music director.

DeVon Buchanan, who last summer starred in the Barn's production of Ain't Misbehavin' and who will be choreographing the upcoming Street Theatre Company mounting of Heathers the Musical (with Wilkinson directing), leads the cast as Chad, with Jennifer Richmond (last onstage in Nashville Rep's production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike) playing Natalie.

Other principals in the cast include 2014 First Night Honoree Daron Bruce, director of theater at Hume-Fogg Academic High School, as Jim Haller; Charlynn Carter, last onstage at the Barn in Good Ol' Girls, as Sylvia; 2014 First Night Most Promising Actor Nick Fair, opening this week in Shrek the Musical for The Renaissance Players, as Dean; 2015 First Night Most Promising Actor Harley Seger,, who earlier this year starred as Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins at Christ Presbyterian Academy, as Lorraine; Jenny Norris Light, currently onstage in The Keeton Theatre's Guys and Dolls, as Miss Sandra; Steven Kraski, who starred in John Chaffin's original mystery Cliffhanger at CBDT, as Dennis; Jenny Noel, who leads the theater department at Franklin's Battle Ground Academy, as the mayor; and Sawyer McCoy Wallace, who can currently be seen in Street Theatre Company's Dogfight, as Sheriff Earl.

The ensemble for All Shook Up includes Brooke Mihalek, Kari Smith (artistic director at Brentwood's Towne Centre Theatre and faculty member at Lipscomb University's Department of Theatre), Elizabeth Walsh (now onstage at Chaffin's Barn in Nobody's Perfect), Christen Heilman Runyon (last seen in Circle Players' The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Curtis LeMoine-Reed (last seen in The Andrews Brothers and A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline at The Gaslight Dinner Theatre in Dickson) Austin Olive (seen earlier this year in Ragtime the Musical, Picnic and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, all for Circle Players) and Alex Pinero.

ABOUT THE SHOW:

All Shook Up is a 2004 American jukebox musical with Elvis Presley music and with a book by Joe DiPietro. The story is based on William Shakespeare's 1602 playTwelfth Night. The musical had a developmental staging at the Goodspeed Musicals May 13-June 6, 2004, with most of the Broadway cast, except for Manley Pope in the lead role of Chad. Christopher Ashley directed, with choreography by Jody Moccia. The musical had a tryout in Chicago from December 19, 2004, through January 24, 2005. After the tryout, changes were made to the finale and to add "a more specific instrumental and vocal voice" for Chad. The musical premiered on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on March 2, 2005 and closed on September 25, 2005 after 213 performances and 33 previews. Directed by Christopher Ashley, with choreography by Ken Roberson, the original Broadway cast included Cheyenne Jackson (Chad), Jenn Gambatese (Natalie Haller/"Ed"), and Jonathan Hadary (Jim Haller).

Among the Elvis Presley songs included in the score, in addition to the title tune, are "Jailhouse Rock," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Roustabout," "One Night With You," "Follow That Dream," "Teddy Bear," "Hound Dog" "That's All Right," "Love Me Tender," "Blue Suede Shoes," "Don't Be Cruel," "Can't Help Falling in Love," "A Little Less Conversation," "If I Can Dream," "Fools Fall in Love" and "Burning Love."

ABOUT THE LEADS:

DeVon Buchanan, a native of Nashville, has been doing theatre since the age of 12. He graduated from Nashville School of the Arts and then went on the journey of his career. He has been in such productions like In The Heights at Westchester Broadway Theatre in New York and The Wiz at Arkansas Rep Theatre in Little Rock, Arkansas. Credits also include: Ain't Misbehavin' at Chaffin's Barn and Memphis at Street Theatre Company. He is trilled beyond measure to share the story of Twelfth Night through song and who better to do it than Elvis Presley.

Jennifer Richmond made her Nashville Rep debut earlier this season as Nina in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and her other Nashville credits include Bianca in Othello for Nashville Shakespeare Festival; Carol in Blackbird Theatre Company's Oleanna; Kate/Lucy in Street Theatre Company's Avenue Q; Maybelline in 3Ps Productions' Long Way Down, for which she won the First Night Award as Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play; SexTape for Nashville Playhouse; Kingfisher Days for Tennessee Women's Theatre Project; Becky Shaw and Outside Paradise, both for Actors Bridge Ensemble; Nellie in Floyd Collins and Sally Bowles in Cabaret, for Boiler Room Theatre; and Lufthansa in Boeing-Boeing and Corrie Bratter in Barefoot in the Park, both for Chaffin's Barn.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM:

Martha Wilkinson is the artistic director of Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre and is the winner of nine First Night Awards for outstanding leading and supporting performances in a musical. Her appearances in Nashville Rep performances include Company, Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors, Pump Boys and Dinettes, The 39 Steps, Steel Magnolias, Sweeney Todd (2008 and 2014), The Underpants, Noises Off and Dearly Departed. She was also seen as Little Edie in the REPaloud reading of Grey Gardens, the musical. She was named by both The Tennessean and Nashville Scene as best actress for her performance as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd in 2008.

Pam Atha (choreographer) is a theatre professional both on and off stage. She has been choreographing and directing dance and musical theatre around town for many years. Recent credits include choreography of Company and Cabaret at Nashville Rep, Ain't Misbehavin' at Chaffin's Barn as well as performing in Good Ol' Girls. Also, she choreographed Alice in Wonderland with Disney Musicals in Schools, choreographed Avenue Q and The King and I at Nashville's Hume Fogg Academic High School, and choreographed Elephant and Piggie and James and the Giant Peach at Nashville Children's Theatre. She is a First Night Honoree, having been recognized as a member of the First Night Class of 2012.

For reservations for All Shook Up, call the CBDT box office at (615) 646-9977. For further information about the rest of the Chaffin's Barn season, go to www.dinnertheatre.com.

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