Jailhouse Rock: The Musical

Jailhouse Rock: The Musical is a rock and roll musical based on the 1957 film of the same name. The musical tells the story of Vince Everett, a young man who is sent to prison for manslaughter.

The History of Jailhouse Rock

Jailhouse Rock is a 1957 American musical film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Elvis Presley, Violence, drugs, and sex were elements of the original story that had to tone down for the film. The film was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Sound ( Gordon E. Sawyer) and Best Cinematography ( Joseph A. Valentine).

The Characters of Jailhouse Rock

Jailhouse Rock: The Musical is a musical based on the 1957 film of the same name. The musical tells the story of Vince Everett, a young man who is sent to prison for manslaughter. In prison, he meets and befriends fellow inmate Hunk Huddleston, and together they form a rock band.

The musical features a number of iconic characters, including Vince Everett, Hunk Huddleston, Sherry Wilson, Nancy Collingsworth, and Judge Foley. Each character brings their own unique story and personality to the stage, making for a truly captivating show.

The Songs of Jailhouse Rock

Jailhouse Rock: The Musical is a stage adaptation of the 1957 film of the same name. The show features the songs of legendary musician Elvis Presley, who starred in the original film.

The story follows protagonist Vince Everett, who is sent to jail for unintentionally killing a man. While in jail, he meets Jerry Lee Lewis and they form a band. When they are released from jail, they start touring and become huge stars.

The show includes such classics as “Hound Dog,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” and of course, the title song “Jailhouse Rock.”

The Set Design of Jailhouse Rock

The set design for Jailhouse Rock was created by the same man who designed the set for West Side Story. It is a very different kind of set, however, befitting the different kind of story. The movie is much more Depression-era, so the set had to be designed to look like it was from that time period. The set for Jailhouse Rock is also much more sparse than the set for West Side Story. This is because the story takes place in jail and there are not a lot of places to hide things in jail. There are also not a lot of places for the characters to go. The set is designed to look like an actual jail, with bars and cells and a small courtyard.

The Costumes of Jailhouse Rock

The Elvis Presley movie Jailhouse Rock was released in 1957, and the iconic musical scenes in the film have gone on to become some of the most popular and well-known in all of cinema. The costumes worn by Presley and the other actors in these musical numbers have also become iconic, and have been referenced and imitated countless times over the years. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the most famous costumes from Jailhouse Rock, and explore how they’ve influenced fashion over the last 60 years.

The Lighting of Jailhouse Rock

Rock and roll, rebellion, and teenage angst fueled the flame of 1957’s Jailhouse Rock. The film’s story is based on Elvis Presley’s own career; a young musician who skyrockets to fame and struggles to keep his footing. Director Richard Thorpe masterfully crafts a film that drips with sex appeal and danger. Cinematographer Joseph LaShelle gives the film noir aesthetic an injection of Technicolor, using light and shadow to create an electric atmosphere.

Most Warner Bros. musicals at the time were shot on soundstages with lavish sets and artificial lighting. Jailhouse Rock broke from this tradition by shooting on location in Los Angeles, including interiors at the historic Los Angeles County Courthouse. LaShelle used natural light whenever possible to give the film a sense of reality and immediacy, enhanced by his use of color filters. Thorpe’s direction and LaShelle’s cinematography come together in the famous “Jailhouse Rock” number, where Presley’s character breaks into an impromptu dance routine in his cell. The sequence is brilliantly lit, with shafts of light cutting through the bars of the cell and bouncing off Presley’s sweaty body. It’s a moment that perfectly captures Presley’s raw sexuality and charisma, two qualities that made him a global superstar.

The Choreography of Jailhouse Rock

The original film Jailhouse Rock was groundbreaking in many ways, including its unforgettable choreography. The routine for the title song was originally choreographed by Alex Romero and though it was cut down for the final film, it still managed to wow audiences. Here is a look at how the original choreography for Jailhouse Rock came together.

Jailhouse Rock was released in 1957 and quickly became a sensation. The film follows the story of Vince Everett, a young man who is sent to jail after accidentally killing a man in a bar fight. While in jail, Vince meets Mick, a former musician who convinces Vince to start a musical career when he gets out of jail. The two form a band called “The Wailing Wailers” and release a song called “Jailhouse Rock.” The song becomes a huge hit, propelling Vince to stardom.

The original choreography for “Jailhouse Rock” was created by Alex Romero and featured 50 dancers. However, the final film only included 22 dancers due to budget constraints. The routine was cut down further for the film’s release in Europe, where it was decided that the dance would be too risque for audiences.

Despite being cut down, the choreography for “Jailhouse Rock” is still considered to be some of the best ever put on film. It is credited with helping to popularize rock and roll music and dance, and has been named one of the greatest movie musical moments of all time.

The Direction of Jailhouse Rock

Jailhouse Rock was a musical with a book by Richard Brooks, lyrics by Fred Tobias, and music by Elmer Bernstein. The musical was inspired by the 1957 film Jailhouse Rock.

The musicalopened on Broadway on October 26, 1995, at the St. James Theatre and closed on February 4, 1996, after 78 performances and 22 previews. The original Broadway production was directed by Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. It starred Michael Feinstein as Vince Everett and Priscilla Lopez as Peggy Van Alden.

The musical was well-received critically but did not do well at the box office, in part because of its dark subject matter. In his review for The New York Times, Ben Brantley wrote that “Mr. Brooks’s book seems to have been inspired in roughly equal parts by Tim Robbins’s filmBob Roberts and Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins.”

Brantley went on to say that “Jailhouse Rock isn’t entertaining because it wants to be entertaining: it’s entertaining because it can’t help it.”

The Reception of Jailhouse Rock

The original Jailhouse Rock film was released in 1957 to mixed reviews. Some critics praised the movie for its energy and vibrant on-screen performances, while others criticized it for its focus on violence and juvenile delinquency. However, the film proved to be a box office success, grossing more than $4 million dollars in its initial release.

Despite its mixed reviews, Jailhouse Rock was nominated for two Academy Awards: Best Sound and Best Original Song for the title track. The film also helped establish Elvis Presley as a major Hollywood star. In the years since its release, the movie has become something of a cult classic, with many fans appreciating its raw energy and rock ‘n’ roll attitude.

In 2007, Jailhouse Rock was adapted into a stage musical by actor-musician Jason Donovan. The show debuted in London’s West End and received generally positive reviews from critics. The musical ran for six months before closing in 2008.

The Legacy of Jailhouse Rock

Since its release in 1957, Jailhouse Rock has become one of the most iconic and timeless musicals of all time. The story of a young man who is sent to jail and then falls in love with music and becomes a star, has resonated with audiences for generations.

The film’s soundtrack, which features hits like “Jailhouse Rock” and “Don’t Be Cruel”, is still popular today and has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The film itself was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress in 1997.

In 2006, a stage musical version of Jailhouse Rock premiered in London’s West End. The show was well-received by audiences and critics alike, and went on to tour the UK before closing in 2008.

Jailhouse Rock remains an important part of American culture, and its legacy will continue to entertain and inspire audiences for many years to come.