Elvis is a jukebox musical based upon the life of Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley

Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....

, conceived and directed by Jack Good

Jack Good (producer)

Jack Good is a pioneering former TV television producer, musical theatre producer, record producer, musician and painter of icons.-Career:...

 and Ray Cooney

Ray Cooney

Raymond George Alfred Cooney, OBE is an English playwright and actor. His biggest success, Run for Your Wife, lasted nine years in London's West End and is its longest-running comedy. He has had 17 of his plays performed there....

. The original cast included Shakin' Stevens

Shakin' Stevens

Shakin' Stevens, also known as "Shaky" is a platinum selling Welsh rock and roll singer and songwriter who holds the distinction of being the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s . His recording and performing career began in the late 1960s, although it was not until 1980 that he saw...

, who later became one of the top selling UK singles artist of the 1980s.

Production history

The original West End production opened on November 28, 1977 at the Astoria Theatre in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

. The musical tells the story of Elvis Presley's life and career, from the beginning until his death. Elvis was portrayed by three actors: Tim Whitnall

Tim Whitnall

Tim Whitnall , is a British actor, musician, playwright and screenwriter probably best known for his portrayal of the alien Angelo on the British CITV sitcom Mike and Angelo....

 as Elvis in his early years; Shakin' Stevens

Shakin' Stevens

Shakin' Stevens, also known as "Shaky" is a platinum selling Welsh rock and roll singer and songwriter who holds the distinction of being the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s . His recording and performing career began in the late 1960s, although it was not until 1980 that he saw...

 as Elvis in his army and movie star years; and P J Proby as Elvis in his Las Vegas years.

The Original Production Team 1977:

Producer and co-devisor - Ray Cooney

Ray Cooney

Raymond George Alfred Cooney, OBE is an English playwright and actor. His biggest success, Run for Your Wife, lasted nine years in London's West End and is its longest-running comedy. He has had 17 of his plays performed there....

Director and co-devisor - Jack Good

Jack Good (producer)

Jack Good is a pioneering former TV television producer, musical theatre producer, record producer, musician and painter of icons.-Career:...

Designer - Patrick Robertson

Lighting - David Hersey

David Hersey

David Hersey is a lighting designer who has designed the lighting for over 250 plays, musicals, operas, and ballets. His work has been seen in most corners of the globe and his many awards include the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design for Evita, Cats, and Les Misérables, the Drama Desk Award for...

Costumes - Rosemary Vercoe

Sound - Autograph

AV - Ray Millichope

Musical Director - Keith Strachan

Keith Strachan

Keith Strachan is a British composer and theatre director. He co-wrote the song "Mistletoe and Wine", which got Cliff Richard the 1988 Christmas number one...

Musical Supervisor and co-writer - Harry Robinson

Assistant director - Annabel Leventon

Choreographer - Carole Todd

Cast

P.J. Proby

Shakin' Stevens

Shakin' Stevens

Shakin' Stevens, also known as "Shaky" is a platinum selling Welsh rock and roll singer and songwriter who holds the distinction of being the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s . His recording and performing career began in the late 1960s, although it was not until 1980 that he saw...

Tim Whitnall

Tim Whitnall

Tim Whitnall , is a British actor, musician, playwright and screenwriter probably best known for his portrayal of the alien Angelo on the British CITV sitcom Mike and Angelo....

Helen Baker

Tanith Banbury

Anna Macleod

Yael O'Dwyer

Richard Ashley

Paul Felber

Stephen Leigh

Richard Piper

Shaun Simon

Musicians

Keith Strachan

Keith Strachan

Keith Strachan is a British composer and theatre director. He co-wrote the song "Mistletoe and Wine", which got Cliff Richard the 1988 Christmas number one...

 (MD)

Sean Mayes

Sean Mayes

Sean Mayes was a British pianist and writer.Born in Stone Allerton, Somerset, Mayes was schooled in Bristol. He won a place at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he obtained a degree in philosophy....

Mario Ferrari

Des Henly

Barry Pike

Ronnie Caryl

Ronnie Caryl

Ronnie Caryl is an English musician. Over the years Caryl has worked alongside Phil Collins, plus David Hentschel, Michel Polnareff, Lulu, Stephen Bishop, Eric Clapton, Gary Brooker, Maggie Bell and John Otway.-Biography:...

Bob Efford

Roy Truman

Paul Urwin

Mike Harding

Tony Hepworth

Mark Hutchins

Phil Todd

Musical numbers

• Tupelo Mississippi Flash
• Blue Suede Shoes
• Are You Lonesome Tonight?
• Yesterday
• World Without Love
• Mystery Train
• Tiger Man
• Loving You
• I Wanna Hold Your Hand
• All Round The World
• Six-Five Special
• How Great Thou Art
• King Creole
• Dixieland Rock
• A Lot Of Livin' To Do
• Wear My Ring
• Ready Teddy
• (Let's Have A)Party
• Trying To Get To You
• Too Much
• (Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear
• Such A Night
• Don't
• Good Luck Charm
• Return To Sender
• Big Hunk Of Love
• My Baby Left Me
• One Night
• Treat Me Nice
• Mean Woman Blues
• Hound Dog
• Jailhouse Rock
• American Trilogy

1996 PRODUCTION

Bill Kenwright Ltd mounted a modified production in 1996 at the Prince Of Wales Theatre. P.J. Proby and Tim Whitnall again starred in the lead roles. This was directed by Keith Strachan and Carole Todd. Various song changes were made to the initial 1977 production. After a short run in the West End the show continued to tour the UK until 2000