Quotable Quotes: A Little More Conversation with All Shook Up
WHAT: Opening night
WHERE: The Copacabana nightclub
WHEN: March 24, 2005
"It's great to be open, and I'm ready to party."—Director Christopher Ashley
"She said Elvis would be proud. And I said, 'OK, that's all I needed to hear. Reviews, shmeiviews."—Cheynne Jackson on backstage visitor Priscilla Presley
"We finally really gelled it last week and now this day is happening. It's kind of surreal and magical and wonderful."—Jenn Gambatese
"This is the best opening I've ever had in all of my years of openings. And I think this one's going to run, which would be really nice! I haven't been in a hit since Pirates of Penzance. That's a long time ago."—Alix Korey
"It's like these songs needed to be in a musical. They were screaming out."—Nikki M. James about the Elvis catalog
"As we all start to feel these things inside of us coming out, love, happiness, freedom, everyone gets their blue suede shoes."—Curtis Holbrook on the colorful footwear in the show
"It's a dreary town in the Midwest, but it has to be a musical comedy version of a dreary town, where it's kind of infused with Elvis energy. So we took his swagger and used that as a way to sculpt the buildings. And then everything in town is made out of something else. It's a collage from shoe boxes or license plates or hub caps."—Set designer David Rockwell explains the logic behind his work
"It's a dream. She was in there someplace just waiting to get out."—Leah Hocking on playing a va-va-voom character
"Those blue suede shoes, baby. You gotta get 'em. You don't have blue suede shoes, you're not cool."—Sharon Wilkins on the epitome of Elvis fashion
"The great thing about this show is it doesn't take itself too seriously. With a show like this, it's all about a sense of humor."—Mark Price
"Musicals are living, breathing organisms and you need to put them in front of an audience so you really learn what works, what doesn't."—Librettist Joe DiPietro
"Old guys like me don't get to have great big kisses all the time and all that and profess their love. It's just a gift. It's just a joy to do that."—John Jellison on the rampant love at first sight in the show
"I sing backstage. Even though I don't have to and they don't pay me any more. I sing backstage."—Alix Korey on extra efforts
"They're both very experienced in Broadway shows, but this is their first big lead. They've already got a real depth of technique, but also they're so willing to be lead, what's bad about that? They kind of look at you, 'Whatever you like, we're there to give it to you.'"—Director Christopher Ashley on leads Jackson and Gambatese
"Sometimes I look around, and I can't believe it. This is what I do! It's very exciting, especially to be originating a role like this."— Jenn Gambatese
"It's about love. How can you go wrong? Everyone wants to be loved. I do."—Sharon Wilkins on universal themes
"I keep finding myself saying that there was something about Elvis himself and not his music, the passion inside of him that really came across and spoke to people."—Curtis Holbrook on The King
"Are you kidding with this cast? It's amazing! It's a blast! It's amazing to look forward to come to work everyday."—Mark Price
"It's a thrill. I feel lucky to be allowed in. I feel like: they let me play."—Jonathan Hadary
Interviews by Paul Wontorek
Compiled by Alixandra Liner