Photo Flash: West Orange High School Theatre Presents ALL SHOOK UP; Plays Thru 5/27

The nationally recognized, multi-award winning West Orange High School Theatre Department, under the direction of Mr. Ken Rush, will close their 2011–2012 season with the all-school presentation of the musical ALL SHOOK UP. The production, which opened on May 16, will play its final performances this weekend, May 25 thru May 27.

Recently on Broadway, the show was inspired by and features the songs of Elvis Presley. Into a square little town in a square little state rides a guitar playing roustabout who changes everything and everyone he meets in this hip swiveling, lip curling musical fantasy that'll have you jumpin' out of your blue suede shoes with such classics as "Heartbreak Hotel", "Jailhouse Rock", "Don't Be Cruel and fifteen more of the King's biggest hits.

This will be the last chance for West Orange audiences to see Seniors Jacob Waldron, Salvatore Vieira, Sara Bond, Ameena McKenzie, Heather Wood, and Alex Quinn perform on the high school stage before graduating and leaving to pursue their theatrical careers. This will also be the last time to see the technical achievements of Haile Ditieri, Lisa Pedraza, and Rickey Mahoney. Seven out of the nine seniors have been accepted into prestigious theatre programs in New York City, Philadelphia, Nashville, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi. Three of these individuals were offered full rides and every one of them has been offered sizeable scholarships. In addition to our seniors there are 48 freshman, sophomores, and juniors on stage and backstage.

This plans to be a great way to finish out what has been a wonderful and rewarding school year for the Fine Arts Department at West Orange. The play opened Wednesday May 16 will remaining performances on Friday May 25 and Saturday May 26 at 7:30pm with matinees on Saturday May 26 and Sunday May 27 at 2:30pm. Tickets are $12 for reserved seats and $10 for general admission. Reservations are not required but are suggested. So, dust off those leather jackets and get out your blue suede shoes and come out for an evening of fun, good music and dancing

From Ken Rush, Director of ALL SHOOK UP: 

"Back in the 1950's a young man came on to the music scene and took the world by storm. Today we refer to this young man as the "King of Rock and Roll" and the world knows him as Elvis Presley. Four years ago a young man appeared at West Orange High School and took the Theatre Department by storm and in four short years has made a name for himself as one of the top male high school performers in the state of Florida. Jacob Waldron has quite a following in our state including Facebook pages created by his fans. In two short months he will begin studying on a new stage located on the biggest stage in the world….New York City. To think it all started because he wanted to be involved in two time consuming programs during his high school career but only one coach/ sponsor was able to return his phone calls and emails. And I'm so glad I did.

Tonight you are going to see eight of our seniors who, including Jacob have brought local, state and national recognition to not only the Theatre Department , not only West Orange High School, not only Winter Garden but more importantly to the Orange County Public School System as well. Jacob, Salvatore Vieira, Sara Bond, Lisa Pedraza, Alex Quinn, Ameena McKenzie, Haile Ditieri, Heather Wood and Rickey Mahoney we thank you for all of your hard work and for all that you have done for our department and our school. Tonight we honor you, we thank you, and we wish you all the best. You guys have conquered this town now go out and conquer the entertainment world.

In two short months Jacob will enter the Collaborative Arts Program for the 21st Century (CAP21) - the professional acting training program in New York City. He has received the largest scholarship that this school offers. Sal Vieira, Alex Quinn and Ameena McKenzie will attend the Florida School of the Arts (Flo-Arts) in Palatka where all three have been awarded full rides for this prestigious program. Lisa Pedraza will be attending school at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) in Winston-Salem majoring in the School of Wig and Makeup Design. Sara Bond will be adding to her talented singing, dancing, and acting skills at University of West Florida. I am so proud of these individuals and all they have accomplished.

We have nine seniors graduating this month and 90% have been accepted into college programs and among the nine students they have brought in over $900,000 in scholarship offers. Remember their names; keep your programs because I know that you will be seeing and hearing their names and seeing their faces in the years to come as they go out and join the other West Orange Theatre alumni who are making their mark in the professional world of entertainment." 

Check out production shots from ALL SHOOK UP below!