In Meadow Brook Theatre’s upcoming production of “All Shook Up,” Chad (Nick Cortazzo) shakes things up among some uptight small-town residents when he arrives with his guitar, playing Elvis tunes.

“Chad is a roustabout who has music inside of his heart,” said Cortazzo, a Pittsburgh native who lives in New York City. “He travels to little towns and communities and spreads joy, love and music.“

The people in this unnamed town are “stuck in their ways” until Chad shows up, Cortazzo said. The musical follows the plot of (Shakespeare’s) “Twelfth Night,” he noted. “It’s a big love web triangle. Everyone’s in love with everyone.

“Natalie (Mirabella Ziegler) is a mechanic in her dad’s garage. Her dad, Jim (Danny Gurwin), is getting over the death of his wife. He eventually falls in love with Sandra (Kassandra Aguilar-Haddock).

“Sylvia (Milika Cherée) runs the bar in town, and she has a daughter, Lorraine (Lauren M. Smith), who falls in love with Dean (Chase Williams), son of the mayor Matilda (Amy Hillner Larsen). She is strict, and everything needs to be her way. She doesn’t allow dancing, hip gyrating.”

Natalie falls in love with Chad. But Chad is in love with Sandra, who owns the town museum. Sandra is in love with Ed (Natalie in disguise). “She puts on a hat, draws with grease a fake beard and becomes Ed. She disguises herself so she can get close to Chad because he doesn’t give her the time of day,” Cortazzo said.

Audiences must wait till the end of the show to see who winds up with whom, Cortazzo said.

There are 24 Elvis songs throughout the show. Cortazzo sings most of them, “but we spread the wealth,” he said. “Everyone gets their chance to shine.”

The show starts with “Jailhouse Rock,” the first act ends with “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and the second act starts with “All Shook Up.” The last song is “Burning Love.”

“The show was on Broadway in early to mid-2000s, and after that, they did a little reworking before launching the national tour,” Cortazzo said.

During his freshman year in high school, he played Dennis, who is portrayed by Jackson Cole Cook in this production.

“It’s fun to revisit the show in a different role 12 years later,” Cortazzo said. As the lead, he’s in almost every scene. “It’s a heavy lift, but it’s a fun challenge.”

Cortazzo graduated in musical theater in 2021 from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, Ohio. He moved to New York and toured with “Hairspray” as Link Larkin from 2022-23. After that, he performed in regional theater productions. From 2023-24, he was part of the first national tour of “Hadestown.”

This is his first time at Meadow Brook.

“I didn’t know anyone in the cast before coming here,” he said. “It’s been great getting to know new people. Most of the leads (except actors playing Natalie and Dean, who are OU students) are from New York. The ensemble is primarily OU students.

“I hope everyone dances the night away with us!”

The show opens Wednesday, Jan. 7 and runs through Feb. 1 at the theatre on the campus of Oakland University, 378 Meadow Brook Road, Rochester.

“All Shook Up” is directed by Travis W. Walter with choreography by Jacob ben Widmar and music direction by Eric Shorey. Scenic design is by Jen Price Fick, assistant scenic design by Annie Eloise Findlay, lighting design by Matt Fick, assistant lighting design by Ash Ritter, costume design by Whitney Locher, wig design by Chad Harlow, assistant costume design by Trish Brown, sound design by Kyle Jensen and assistant sound design by Lorelei Preiss. The dance captain is Emily Ann Stys, and the assistant dance captain is Naomi Jarvis. Brittanie Nichole Sicker is the stage manager and Ellen Marie Peck is the assistant stage manager.

Tickets range from $40 to $48 and are available by calling the Meadow Brook Theatre box office at 248-377-3300 or going online to ticketmaster.com. Student discounts are available at the box office. Groups of eight or more should call 248-370-3316 for group pricing.