Irreverently fun for the whole family, Shrek proves that beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre.
July 31 – August 2 & August 5-8, 2015 at The Theatre in the Park.
Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical is a TONY Award-winning fairy tale adventure featuring all new songs from Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Caroline or Change) and a sidesplitting book by David Lindsay-Abaire. Shrek brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage, and proves there’s more to the story than meets the ears.
“Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek…” And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude, and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand…and his name is Shrek.
More info at theatreinthepark.org.
Director: Tim Bair
Vocal Director/Conductor: Marsha Canaday
Choreographer: Kacy Christiansen
Stage Manager: April Lynn Kobetz
Assistant Stage Manager: Catherine Lewis
Assistant Stage Manager: Molly White
Costume Designer: Julia Ras
Props Coordinator: Bill Christie
Scenic Designer: Tim Bair and Jayson Chandley
Shrek: Robert Hingula
Princess Fiona: Jessica Alcorn
Lord Farquaad: Kipp Simmons
Donkey: Omari Collins
Young Fiona/Villager/Dragon Tail: Reilly Donnelly
Teen Fiona: Sugar Plum Fairy/Gingy/Village Girl/Rat: Darcie Hingula
Tweedle Dum/Mama Orge/Dragon/Cow: Kim Kershner
Ugly Duckling/Blind Mouse/Sun & Moon/: Ali Watson
Fairy God Mother/Blue Bird/Villager: Shannon Lowe
Wicked Witch/Queen Lillian/Dish & Spoon: Melissa Hingula
Mama Bear/Dragon Voice/Villager: Renee Blinn
Papa Bear: Thelonious/Antelope/Villager/Guard: Ryan Casey
Baby Bear/Duloc Dancer/Dragon: Meagan Edmonds
Shoemaker’s Elf/Blind Mouse/Villager/Rat/Duloc Dancer: Karen Edwards
Pinocchio/Dragon: Preston O’ffill
Pig Straw/Papa Ogre/Off-Stage Dragon Knight Singer: Aaron Redburn
Pig Sticks/Duloc Dancer/Guard/Villager/Rat: Ashley Shaefer
Pic Bricks/Villager/Puss-n-boots: Kimberly Arzoian
Big Bad Wolf/King Harold/Bunny/Dragon Knight: Hunter Hawkins
Peter Pan/Duloc Dancer/Rat/Guard/Dragon: Marshall Hopkins
White Rabbit/Duloc Dancer/Guard/Villager/Giraffe/Rat: Brett Rawlings
Mad Hatter/Pied Piper/Duloc Dancer/Guard: Meredith Hollan
Rapunzel/Blind Mouse/Duloc Dancer/Dragon/Villager: Brianna Woods
Little-Bow-Peep/Villager/Fiona Stand-in: Sarah Montoya
Young Shrek: Harrison Hawkins
Farquaad’s Father/Villager: John Ras
Little Boy Blue/Villager/Rat/Duloc Dancer/Dragon Knight: TBD
Dragon Head/Captain of the Guard: Jayson Chandley
Bishop (At White Theatre): Scott Slobotsky
Bishop (at TTIP): TBD
Synopsis provided by Music Theatre International.
Act I
Opening like a storybook, our musical adventure begins with a large ogre named Shrek narrating the story of his seventh birthday. As he narrates, the storybook comes to life and we see Shrek’s parents telling the seven-year old version of himself that it is time for him to venture out into the world on his own. As he does, his parents’ warning that everyone will hate him because of his hideous looks proves to be true, and he is forced to live alone, embittered, and angry in a swamp. Before our eyes Shrek grows up, the adult ogre now stepping into the story he was previously narrating (“Big Bright Beautiful World”). His lonely solitude is interrupted one day, however, when all of the Fairytale Creatures of the land show up to his swamp, banished there by Lord Farquaad (“Story of My Life”). Not at all pleased to have his home invaded, and encouraged by the Fairytale Creatures, Shrek decides to travel to see Lord Farquaad in order to regain the privacy of his swamp (“The Goodbye Song”). Along the way, he rescues a talkative Donkey from Farquaad’s guards, and after much begging on the Donkey’s part (“Don’t Let Me Go”), Shrek reluctantly allows him to tag along.
Meanwhile, in Duloc, we are introduced to Lord Farquaad, a tiny terror who is torturing Gingy, the Gingerbread Man, into revealing the whereabouts of a princess he wishes to marry so that he may finally be a true king. Gingy claims Princess Fiona is locked in a nearby tower, surrounded by lava and a dragon. Lord Farquaad decides to have a festival to draw the name of a Duloc citizen that will have to fetch Princess Fiona for him. As the crowd gathers (“Welcome to Duloc”/”What’s Up Duloc?”), Shrek and Donkey arrive and Lord Farquaad demands that in return for the deed to the swamp Shrek must find and bring back Princess Fiona.
While Shrek and Donkey set off, the lights come up on seven-year old Fiona, stuck in her castle and dreaming that she will one day be rescued by one a prince (“True Love’s First Kiss”). As she grows into a teenager, and then a headstrong woman, she never loses her faith in her fairy tales (“I Know It’s Today”). As Shrek and Donkey continue on their journey, Shrek becomes increasingly annoyed with Donkey’s constant chattering (“Travel Song”). Somehow though, deep down, a friendship has begun to form. After crossing the lava-bridge, and arriving at the castle, Shrek sets off alone to rescue Fiona while Donkey encounters a ferocious female Dragon (“Forever”). When Shrek reaches Fiona, she tries and fails to get him to play out romantic scenarios similar to all those in her storybooks, and at last he is forced to drag her off. Reunited with Donkey they must then escape angry Dragon. Fiona is thrilled to finally have her rescuer fighting for her (“This Is How A Dream Comes True”). Shrek traps the Dragon and the trio makes it to safety, where Fiona is appalled to find Shrek is an ogre and not Prince Charming. Shrek explains that he is merely her champion; instead, she is to wed Lord Farquaad. As the sun begins to set, Fiona becomes apprehensive, insisting that they rest and that she spend the night alone. Donkey and Shrek stay awake and as Shrek finally opens up to his new friend for the first time, we see Fiona transformed into an ogress, alone in the moonlight (“Who I’d Be”).
Act II
The next day, Princess Fiona rises, and excited about it being her wedding day, dances around singing (“Morning Person”). When she inquires about her groom-to-be, Shrek and Donkey let the “short” jokes fly, and then Shrek begins to mock her childhood circumstances. Each thinking his/her own childhood is worse, the two begin a contest of one-upmanship that culminates in a battle of disgusting bodily noises. (“I Think I Got You Beat”). Through this, their pasts are revealed to one another, and a friendship is kindled.
Meanwhile, back in Duloc, Lord Farquaad plans his wedding, and he reveals his own sordid heritage (“The Ballad of Farquaad”). As Shrek and Fiona’s newfound camaraderie grows into love, Donkey insists, with the help of the Three Blind Mice, that Shrek should tell Fiona how he feels (“Make a Move”). Before he can though, the sun begins to set, and Fiona once again rushes away to bed. Refusing to give up on the thought, Donkey goes to the barn where Fiona has retreated, only to discover that she turns into an ogress at night due to a curse placed on her as a child by a witch. She tells Donkey that only a kiss from her true love will return her to love’s true form. Alone, Shrek tries to summon the courage to express his feelings (“When Words Fail”), and when he finally goes to tell Fiona, he overhears the end of her conversation with Donkey, completely misunderstanding her description of herself as an ugly beast as a reference to him. Hurt, he storms off.
The next day, transformed back to her human form, Fiona decides to tell Shrek about her curse (“Morning Person (Reprise)”). When Fiona tries to explain, however, Shrek rebuffs her. Farquaad and his army approach to claim Fiona, who now upset herself, not only agrees to the marriage, but also insist that it take place before sunset. Donkey tries to appeal to Shrek, but Shrek rejects him, angry that Donkey would talk about him with Fiona behind his back, and declares he will return to his swamp, alone (“Build A Wall”).
Elsewhere, while the Fairytale Creatures, evicted from the swamp, head for their new home, they decide they’ve had it with Farquaad’s discriminatory treatment (“Freak Flag”). With a newfound confidence, they decide to return to Duloc and take on Lord Farquaad. Back at the swamp, Donkey and Shrek argue until Shrek is convinced that Donkey and Fiona weren’t talking about him. Each one forgives the other, and Donkey convinces Shrek that Fiona cares about him. They rush to Duloc, and Shrek is able to stop the wedding just in the knick of time. He finally finds the words to express his feelings, declaring his love to and for Fiona (“Big Bright Beautiful World (Reprise)”). Caught between love and her desire to break the curse, Fiona tries to escape the event, but the exiled Fairytale Creatures storm the wedding and protest their banishment. Amidst the protests, the sun sets, turning Fiona back into an ogress in front of everyone. Farquaad is disgusted, but insists the marriage is already binding, claiming he will lock Fiona in a tower and continue to rule as Duloc’s true King. Shrek whistles for the Dragon he met earlier, and she swoops in, destroying Farquaad in one fiery breath. Finally free of Farquaad, Shrek and Fiona admit their love for one another and share a kiss. Fiona’s curse is broken and she takes her true form: an ogress. At first, she is ashamed of her looks, but Shrek declares that she is still beautiful. Shrek and Fiona begin a new life together, as everyone celebrates what makes them special (“This Is Our Story”). They all live happily ever after (“I’m a Believer”)
