The long running, globe-trotting, highly costumed, crowd-pleasing Broadway musical Shrek has made it to the Eureka Springs High School auditorium stage as Shrek the Musical Jr. for a one-weekend-only engagement on May 8 and 9.
Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, based on the Dreamworks Animation motion picture and the book by William Steig, Shrek Jr. is an irreverently fun show with a powerful message for the whole family.
When ESHS Theater Department head, Donesa Mann, was asked how the group chose to bring the popular story of Shrek to life, she replied, “Honestly, the students had to talk me into it. I was not a fan of the movie, and I was hesitant to take on such an expensive, costume heavy show, but the students’ excitement and fondness for the show convinced me it would be worth the work. From the first day of auditions, I knew it was a great fit for our students and audiences.”
With a host of over-the-top roles for an expandable cast, there was definitely a part for everyone.
Shrek The Musical Jr. follows the character Shrek (played by James Cooley), an ogre who learns the hard way that “people hate the things they cannot understand” and lives alone in a swamp to avoid the hurtful actions of those who are scared of him. That is, until fairytale misfits including Pinocchio, the Ugly Duckling, the Wicked Witch, Peter Pan, the Three Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf are banished to “his” swamp by the villainous Lord Farquaad (Atticus Shock), a tiny terror with big ambitions. He offers Shrek a deal to make his swamp right again: simply rescue the feisty princess Fiona (Aubrey Huntley) from a tower guarded by a fierce dragon (Allison Schemensky and Elizabeth Hamblin).
On the quest, Shrek gains an unwanted partner, Donkey (Harley Cooper and Elizabeth Young), and the two set off on the journey of a lifetime filled with adventure, romance, and hilarity.
“This is a challenging musical to produce because the audience has a preconceived idea of how the characters should look and sound, due to familiarity with the movie,” Mann said, “but our wardrober, Jennifer Hatch, amazingly recreated the numerous zany characters, as well as using her expertise in vocal instruction to teach them the songs.
“Much of the choreography was developed by Mallory Butler and a few of the students. This production crew, headed by senior, Amadeus Cummings, also makes good use of opportunities for creative lighting and effects.”
Experience it all during your visit to Duloc (ESHS Auditorium, 2 Lake Lucerne Road) to see the results of “True Love’s Kiss.” The production, sponsored by Bank of 1889, takes place Friday, May 8 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 9 at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets at the door or online at the school store (OSP.osmsinc.com/p/PD802-304) are $10 adult, $2 student, and are reusable for all three shows. For more information, contact Donesa Mann (870) 480-6464.