Cheyenne Jackson Dons Leather Jacket to Star in All Shook Up, Replacing Jarrod Emick

By Kenneth Jones, October 29, 2004

Producer Jonathan Pollard announced Oct. 29 that actor Cheyenne Jackson, originally hired as understudy for leather-jacketed outsider Chad in All Shook Up, will now create that lead role in the commercial world premiere of the new musical comedy that uses songs made famous by Elvis Presley. Jarrod Emick, who had previously been announced in the role, was replaced when final contract terms could not be agreed upon. Emick recently played Peter Allen's lover in The Boy From Oz on Broadway, and first shook up musical theatre when he took home a Tony Award as Joe Hardy in the most recent Damn Yankees. "Both the producers of All Shook Up and Jarrod Emick's representatives believed a deal would be made," said lead producer, Jonathan Pollard. "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..."

Jackson recently appeared in a developmental summer 2004 run of the new boy-band musical spoof, Altar Boyz. His Broadway credits include Aida (Radames standby) and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy understudy, Trevor Graydon understudy). Regionally, he appeared in 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.

"A new musical comedy set in 1955, All Shook Up is not a biographical revue" about Elvis, the producers stress. Rather, it's "a burnin' new musical comedy that tells the story of a small town girl (Jenn 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." The show will feature 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."

Broadway previews begin Feb. 20, 2005, at the Palace Theatre. Opening is set for March 24, 2005. Directed by Christopher Ashley, with a book by Joe DiPietro, music direction and arrangements by Stephen Oremus, and choreography by Ken Roberson, All Shook Up gets its world premiere in Chicago in a five week, pre-Broadway engagement at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, Dec. 19-Jan. 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.

(Spotlight/Article, Source: Playbill)