Even though she had performed in Chicago, New York and the Twin Cities, things never came that easy for actress Seri Johnson.

That is until the role of a fun-hating mayor in a town in need of excitement came along.

"It was the right role at the right time," Johnson, 42, said.

Her ability to make uptight funny landed Johnson, formerly of Eau Claire, her largest leading role in the production of "All Shook Up" at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres in Minnesota. The musical kicks off Friday with a week of previews before debuting on the main stage Aug. 13.

"It was one of those easy casting decisions," said Michael Brindisi, part owner and artistic director of the new Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. "This part came along, and she came in with a hilarious character that knocked everybody out."

Set in 1955, "All Shook Up" is a jukebox musical about a young rabble-rouser named Chad, who is new in a town where loud music and public affection are banned by Mayor Matilda Hyde.

Chad's free spirit and rebellious spark turn the boring little Midwestern town into a place of excitement and love.

"It's kind of corny, but it's corny in all the touching ways," Johnson said. "It's like it's so cheesy that it's wonderful."

"All Shook Up," which is set to classic Elvis Presley songs, premiered on Broadway in 2005 and was performed 213 times before touring nationally.

It will be performed eight times weekly through Jan. 29 at Chanhassen.

"All Shook Up" will be Johnson's fourth show in three years at Chanhassen, which sees about 230,000 attendees per year. The honor of performing on the main stage for the first time is an accomplishment Johnson said she is extremely proud of. But it is one that took her quite awhile to accomplish.

"Being able to perform at Chanhassen is a rare opportunity," Johnson said. "It's just a great gift."

Johnson graduated from Eau Claire Memorial High School in 1986 and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in theater from UW-Eau Claire.

She then moved to Chicago and later to New York, where she spent 11 years working her way into the business and waitressing to pay her bills.

"As a young theater student you have a very idealized way as to the way it's supposed to work," she said. "I didn't really understand the business of it all. I knew that I had the heart of loving acting, but I learned more about the business side of it every year."

Johnson moved to the Twin Cities in February 2006 to be closer to home and continue pursuing her dream.

In a town like Chanhassen, Johnson said she knew she was going to have to make a name for herself.

"I knew I was going to have to audition more - three, four, five times - before they would even remember me," Johnson said.

After getting her first gig in "Respect: A Musical Journey of Women," Johnson later found herself in the productions "Married Alive" and "Nunsense," in which she eventually had to play all five nun characters and fill in for other actors on the spot because of illnesses.

"At the time ('Nunsense') felt like an overwhelming job," Johnson said. "But it ended up being the best experience ever. I learned a lot about myself during that time."

Hanson can be reached at 715-830-5832, 800-236-7077 or rob.hanson@ecpc.com.

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For reservations call 800-362-3515 or visit www.chanhassentheatres.com.