Pictured All Shook Up: Cheyenne Jackson and Jennifer Gambatese ( as Natalie ) . Photos by Joan Marcus
Cheyenne Jackson stands a good 6'1', has shiny black hair, steel blue eyes, muscles that show through his shirt, a butt that won't quit and swivel hips. Oh, he can sing, too. If that's your idea of a good time, you just might want to buy tickets for All Shook Up, the Broadway-bound musical in which Mr. Jackson is the male romantic lead. Jonny had a sneak peak at Mr. Jackson and believes he will set hearts of both sexes a-swooning.
As improbable as his name is, it's perfectly suited to the rabble-rouser he plays in All Shook Up, a musical that uses Elvis Presley hits to tell a tale of romance and rebellion in a mid-1950s Midwestern town. If it sounds a little bit like Footloose and Grease and Dirty Dancing and Orpheus Descending, it's because it is. It also borrows from Shakespeare's romantic comedies in which everyone is in love with the wrong person at intermission, only to have romance set right by the end of Act II.
Mr. Jackson's co-star is Jenn Gambatese, something of a looker herself with dark eyes, short-cropped light brown hair ( Jonny suspects she'll wear a longer hairpiece in the show ) , and a lithe figure. And she can sing, too, and sound perky, fresh and innocent ( all three of which Jonny assumes she really is ) .
All Shook Up plays the Cadillac Palace Theatre Dec. 19-Jan. 23 and then it's on to Broadway.
With their holiday concerts out of the way, the Windy City Slickers ( a division of Windy City Performing Arts ) are taking their act on the road, or at least as far as Milwaukee Avenue. The Slickers will offer a holiday revue at Davenport's this Sunday, Dec. 19, at 5 p.m. Arguably the kinkiest and kutest members of the Windy City Gay Chorus, the Slickers promise to be both naughty and nice. Reservations are required; ( 773 ) 278-1830, $20 cover plus two drinks. By the way, they warn that this is an adults-only show!
The fourth annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival has been slated for Jan. 6-16 at Theatre Building Chicago. More than 100 performances featuring 83 local, national and Canadian troupes will be offered. Ostentatiously missing from the line-up is GayCo, but perhaps they have other fish to fry this winter. Jonny doesn't know if any of the other performers at Chicago SketchFest are gay, lesbian, trans or whatever, but among the performing troupes are: The Mantasticks, Maximum Party Zone, Men of God, the Outsiders, the Perfect Gentlemen, Waste Management, Madame Funnypants and Meat. If one of those troupes isn't gay, it damn well should be!
Jonny has a suggestion for a stocking stuffer, and Jonny doesn't mean putting a pair of socks in your pants. If you're stuck for a last-minute gift for someone, consider Play Money from the League of Chicago Theatres. Play Money certificates come in denominations of $25, and may be used like cash at more than 70 Chicago-area theaters for the purchase of tickets. Among the participating playhouses are About Face, American Girl, Apple Tree, the Auditorium, Bailiwick, Chicago Shakespeare, Circle Theatre, Ford Center/Oriental, Goodman, Lifeline, Late Nite Catechism, Marriott, Next, Organic, Second City, Shubert, Steppenwolf, Trap Door and the Viaduct theaters. Play Money is good for one year from the date of purchase, and can be mailed directly to the recipient ( or to you ) . You can purchase Play Money at the three League of Chicago Theatres Hot Tix outlets, or online at Chicagoplays.com .
Jonny wishes all his dear readers the happiest and humpiest of holiday seasons. Remember to pace yourselves: Christmas follows fast on Thanksgiving's leftovers.
Silk Road Honored
American Theatre Magazine recognized Chicago's Silk Road Theatre Project as one of a dozen young American companies you need to know. 'Humbled to be the only Illinois company featured, Silk Road Theatre Project derives enormous pride in knowing that our dedication to expanding multi-cultural representation is now being associated with the great theater town that is Chicago,' the company stated in a press release.
