A nationally recognized youth theatre company is bringing its high-energy talent to Leesburg next weekend for a one-day-only performance of All Shook Up, a jukebox musical set to the music of Elvis Presley.

Center Stage Company, a program for middle and high school students, will take over the Melon Patch Theatre on Saturday, July 12, with performances at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

“We’ve been working to get more youth involved in the Leesburg area,” Lavonte Rogers, owner and artistic director of Center Stage Company, says. “This show has a lot of its cast from our local community, and it’s exciting to see that kind of engagement.”

Lavonte, a longtime Lake County resident who has directed, choreographed and costumed over 80 productions across Central Florida, said the company attracts serious young talent, including one student who flew in from Washington, D.C., just to take part in the summer intensive.

“It’s a testament to the quality of shows we’re putting out,” he says.

The production — a blend of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and the music of Elvis — features a full-scale, two-and-a-half-hour musical created in just 10 days. The fast-paced program challenges students with long rehearsals, intricate choreography and full technical execution, culminating in a professional-level show.

“These are high schoolers and honestly, they’re more professional sometimes than adults,” Lavonte says. “They’re here to work and they put on a quality performance.”

All Shook Up follows Chad, a motorcycle-riding, guitar-strumming drifter who stirs up a conservative small town with his charisma and a playlist of Presley’s biggest hits. Themes of love, transformation and self-expression unfold in a heartwarming and hilarious ride.

The partnership with Melon Patch Theatre and Leesburg Sunrise Rotary has also allowed several local students to participate through scholarships, giving access to youth who might not otherwise be able to afford the camp.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students with ID, with no additional online fees. Group rates for 15 or more are available through the Melon Patch box office at (352) 787-3013.

“Just because it’s a youth production doesn’t mean you should count them out,” Lavonte says. “This is a show you don’t want to miss.”

Photos by Cindy Peterson