Dear beloved guests,
When first taking on the (enormous) task of directing the show Shrek! The Musical, I experienced various stages of panic, excitement, self-doubt, excitement, repeat. Any student that has ever taken my acting class can vouch that I am a huge fan of playwright David Lindsey-Abaire and he did not disappoint creating a hilarious and clever script for a story we’ve all come to love. Jeanine Tesori, probably the most prolific female theatrical composer of our time with five Broadway shows and six Tony nominations, wrote music that kept me saying “this has to be the best song in show” every time I listened to the next track. However, with brilliant writing comes majestic technical feats. Conquering dragons, dancing rats, and princesses in towers are all accompanied by a large green mythical creature (wearing a few pounds of prosthetic makeup).
Beginning in 2008, Shrek! The Musical ran on Broadway for 400 or so performances. At the time, it was one of the most expensive shows to open at an estimated whopping $25 million. Since then, it has been reiterated and made able to tour the world. Beginning in 2024, the production will make another professional North American Tour. We are lucky to have the opportunity to produce this show before the rights are pulled for the tour.
At first glance, the story is, well, silly. There’s magical creatures and chaos in Duloc that all seems to culminate to a giant flatulence battle. That’s comedy I suppose. But if we take a closer look at the story, Shrek has so much more to offer. The story is one of love and acceptance. We are advised by Donkey that we are better off in life with a friend by our side. We learn from Fiona that the best version of ourselves is the true one. Magical creatures remind us to live out loud and that “what makes us different makes us strong.”
Shrek! The Musical has something to offer everyone. I hope you find yourself in the theatre today ready to laugh, feel moved by student’s bravery, and maybe even sing along. The entire cast, crew, and Performing Arts Department has poured countless hours into this show and we are very proud of the final product. Now, buckle in and enjoy the show!
With love,
Ashley Cooper
