This musical love letter to Elvis makes the perfect Valentine's Gift! The show runs through March 2, 2025.
Elvis is in the building! You have until March 2, 2025, to head over to the iconic Engeman Theater to shake, rattle, and roll to "Heartbreak Hotel." Be forewarned: bring a pack of tissues. There was a reason Sean Cercone and David Abbinanti named their jukebox musical after Elvis's first No. 1 hit, "Heartbreak Hotel." The inspiration for that heartrending single came from a suicide note in a newspaper with the haunting words, "I walk the lonely street." Those prescient words are an apt metaphor for Elvis's alienated and isolated lifestyle brought on by his megastar celebrity status. Sadly, the King of Rock & Roll did not heed Jackie Gleason's 1956 warning, "Don't hide. Because if you do, you're going to be the loneliest guy in the world."
Cercone and Abbinanti based "Heartbreak Hotel" on a concept by Floyd Mutrux, one of the creators of the Broadway show "Million Dollar Quartet." That award-winning jukebox musical dramatized the December 4, 1956, serendipitous encounter when Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley came together at Sun Records' storefront studio in Memphis, Tennessee, for an impromptu jam session.
Throughout "Heartbreak Hotel," Elvis's younger self guides him through pivotal moments of his life; therefore, two powerhouse performers must be present for this musical to succeed. Thanks to the Wojcik Casting Team, Spencer Chase's stellar performance as the Young Elvis Presley and Joe Caskey's riveting portrayal of Elvis, the superstar, made this show a resounding success. Chase showcased his vocals during "Peace in the Valley," joined by Broadway star Pamela Bob, who aced her role as Gladys Presley, Elvis's loving and supportive mom.
Every time Caskey stepped on stage, he stole the show as he emitted the same superhuman energy and charisma we associate with the real-life Elvis Presley. Caskey mastered the King's voice, mannerisms, and signature hip swivels and demonstrated those skills during his outstanding renditions of "Heartbreak Hotel," "Hound Dog," and "Jailhouse Rock." An utterly heartwarming, unforgettable onstage moment happened when Caskey, portraying Elvis as the devoted father to his newborn daughter, Lisa Marie, cradled her in his arms and sang "Can't Help Falling in Love."
"Heartbreak Hotel" has a stream-of-consciousness, free-floating plot that ricochets back and forth through time and scans a quarter of a century, allowing the audience to enter the legendary world of one of the most recognizable and revered entertainers of all time. From his boyhood years, we see how his exposure to blues, gospel, bluegrass, and Southern country tunes inspired the musical revolution Elvis started when he updated those traditional genres. With America's racial inequality looming in the background, a sense of discord and uneasiness permeates the show. However, one of the most captivating moments in the musical takes place in 1943, when Young Elvis (Chase) and two Black musicians, Chuck (Troy Valjean Rucker) and Otis (Tarik Zeigler), sing the blues to "Baby, What You Want Me to Do." This pivotal scene showcased African-American music's all-pervasive influence on the impressionable young man from Tupelo, Mississippi.
The heartbreak message of this musical exploded full force for Elvis in 1958 with the death of his beloved mother and his induction into the United States Army, which brought his skyrocketing career to a crashing halt. During the 1960s, things took an even darker turn for the King when his manipulative, money-grabbing, gambling manager, Colonel Tom Parker, dragged his career down a deadly path by booking him starring roles in corny movies where he crooned cheesy songs. Broadway veteran William Thomas Evans gave an award-worthy performance as the despicable, shyster Colonel Tom Parker.
"Heartbreak Hotel" ends on a high note when Elvis, 33 years old, sexily clad in a tight-fitting black leather outfit, swayed, swaggered, and smashed it onstage during his 1968 NBC Comeback Special.
This jukebox musical has many showstopping numbers, including "You're the Boss," where Sarah Rose, portraying the iconic '60s sex symbol Ann-Margret, dances seductively around Elvis. Other notable performances were Matt Allen as Vernon Presley, Matthew Schatz as Sam Phillips, Michel Vasquez as Pricilla Presley, and Tarik Zeigler as Reverend Brewster.
During the electrifying finale, the audience gave a heartfelt standing ovation and howled with delight when Caskey came out wearing Elvis's signature white, sequined jumpsuit. Much of this show's success belongs to the award-winning director, choreographer, and show maker Paul Stancato. His expert direction, choreography, and adoration for Elvis reverberated with every beat of this precision-perfect production.
"Heartbreak Hotel" features over 40 of Elvis's greatest hits, including "That's All Right," "All Shook Up," "Love Me Tender," "Don't Be Cruel," "Are You Lonesome," and "Blue Suede Shoes." According to Stancato, "Each performer on stage is not only an actor but also a live musician, bringing Elvis's music to life in a raw, immediate, and deeply personal way." A special shoutout goes to Joe Caskey (Guitar), Jeff Gallup (Reeds), Troy Valjean Rucker (Reeds), Lena Richard (Reeds), Hailey Aviva (Reeds), Matt Allen (Trumpet), Noah Berry (Guitar), Chris Coffey (Drums), Luke Surretsky (Bass), Alan Mendez (Trombone), Katie Horner (Trumpet), Corey Mckinney (Guitar), and Kevin Lausche (Keyboard). The rest of the world-class ensemble includes Kyle Ahmeer Bethea, Bree Ogaldez, Danielle McKnight, Mallorie Sievert, and Sarah Rose.
The outstanding Creative Team includes Chris Coffey, Music Director; Kyle Dixon, Scenic Design; Dustin Cross, Costume Design; John Burkland, Lighting Design; Laura Shubert, Sound Design; Megan Cohen, Props Design; and Jeff Knaggs, Wig and Makeup Design.
Looking for that perfect Valentine's gift? Engeman's musical love letter to Elvis will please everyone! Tickets can be purchased by calling 631-261-2900, going online at engemantheater.com, or visiting the Engeman Theater Box Office at 250 Main Street, Northport.
Cindi Sansone-Braff is an award-winning playwright. She has a BFA in Theatre from UCONN and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is the author of "Grant Me a Higher Love," "Why Good People Can't Leave Bad Relationships," and "Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic." Her full-length Music Drama, "Beethoven, The Man, The Myth, The Music," is published by Next Stage Press. www.Grantmeahigherlove.com.
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