“It’s a Big, Bright, Beautiful World” this summer as community theater presents “Shrek the Musical”

The fairy tale ensemble practices dance steps for “Story of My Life” during a recent rehearsal.

Submitted by The Washington County Theatre

Washington County Theatre’s latest offering is Shrek the Musical, presented on July 24, 25, and 26 (details below) at the Salem Middle School Auditorium. It’s the story of how an unlovable ogre finds love when he least expects it.

Hannah Ingram, the show’s director, says Shrek the Musical is a complete departure from anything WCT has ever done.

“Our past shows have been more traditional. This one is kind of ugly, kind of goofy, loud, silly, things that you don’t expect to come from us. The music is so different from everything else that’s out there. It’s exciting!” Ingram explained.

Shrek the Musical, with books and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori, is based on the Oscar-winning 2001 DreamWorks Animation motion picture and the book by William Steig. The star-studded original production opened on Broadway in 2008 and was directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford.

“I Think I Got You Beat”: Donkey (Daniel Miner) separates the bickering Shrek (Jacob Dufour) and Princess Fiona (Lexus Light) as they compete with each other about their terrible childhoods.  

Cultures around the world share classic concepts about fairytale-type heroes and heroines, and those stock characters often engage in formulaic story lines. However, Shrek the Musical cleverly plays with those character archetypes and stories, surprising audiences with plot twists and familiar characters who act in unfamiliar ways. The show boasts leading characters who look and act very differently from how the hero and heroine are typically presented in a fairy tale.

Playing the title role in this production, Jacob Dufour said he’s enjoying the challenge. “One of the things I like most about Shrek is that he’s kind of an antihero. He isn’t trying to be a stereotypical fairy tale hero or impress anybody. He just wants to be left alone in his swamp.

“But when he’s forced out of his comfort zone or the going gets tough, he does the right thing. I think that’s why so many people connect with him. He’s flawed and rough around the edges, but he has a good heart,” said Dufour.

The “going gets tough,” as Dufour said, for the large group of fairy tale characters who are in Shrek the Musical. They are being evicted from their homes because Lord Farquaad, who owns the land, decides that Pinocchio, the Three Bears, and all the other fairy tale characters are not the right look for his neighborhood. Farquaad relegates the characters to the swamp where Shrek lives. When Shrek protests the invasion, Farquaad agrees to let the fairy tale characters back into their homes on the condition that Shrek bring him the Princess Fiona, so that Farquaad can marry her, thereby becoming a proper king.

The story line serves as a vehicle for the twin themes of the show: Shrek learns that self-acceptance can be a path toward a more complete, rewarding life. The narrative also stresses the power of individuality, when the fairy tale characters come to celebrate their uniqueness rather than fear being shunned for not fitting in.

Every actor who walks onto the stage during a show needs to understand his or her motivation. Here, Choreographer Daniel Main coaches the fairy tale characters on the emotions they should be feeling and transmitting to the audience during their big number, “Story of My Life.”

Rebecca McKinley, the Wicked Witch, said that a key difference between the animated movie and the stage production is the prominence of the fairy tale characters.

“In the musical, the fairy tale creatures have a lot bigger of a role and are used more like comedic relief. You feel bad for us because we’re dealing with all this. I’ve lost my home, so I’m just really, really angry. I’m not evil, I’m just upset. I was living my life, and then it all got turned upside down.”

Lexus Light plays the Princess Fiona in the production and agreed that the stage show develops the story’s characters more deeply than the movie.

“The show is brilliant. It shows us aspects of the characters we don’t see in the film. I love the character of Fiona. I’m not perfect in any way, and it’s really interesting to portray that in a character. Everything that she learned was in story books, fairy tales. And she gets out into the real world, and she’s not meek and proper at all. She’s very unladylike, as am I. So it’s a lot of fun,” said Light.

Assistant Directors for WCT’s production of Shrek the Musical are Charity Main and Juneau Main. Daniel Main serves as Music Director and Choreographer. Cast members wish to acknowledge the hard work by Connie Main, who is “leading the charge in costuming,” Jacob Dufour said.

Donkey is played by Daniel Miner, and Nathan Smith is Lord Farquaad. Saylor James is the Dragon, and Anistyn Sizemore plays Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy. Lilly Dawson is Pinocchio, Brooks Deaton plays the Big Bad Wolf, and the family of the Three Pigs is composed of Kara Blake, Zoey Wilson, and Shay Compton.

The cast also features Estin Roop (White Rabbit), McKenna Hedrick (Fairy Godmother), Darren Hurst (Peter Pan), Hayley Hurst (Ugly Duckling), Grace Snyder (Mama Bear), Avan Ewing (Papa Bear), Mia Long (Baby Bear), Miranda Smith (Mad Hatter), Langston Sparkman (Humpty Dumpty), Chelsea Cobb (Elf), and Grant Waters (Dwarf).

Sorin Strickland plays Young Shrek, Annie Walton is Mama Ogre, and Daniel Main is Papa Ogre. Sesley Cole plays Young Fiona, and Abbigail Ferguson is Teen Fiona. Ryland Sparkman portrays King Harold and Captain of the Guards, and Rachel Dufour is Queen Lillian. Callie Robbins is the Pied Piper. Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum are portrayed by Katlyn Wingler and Elle Strother, and the Three Blind Mice are Annie Walton, Amelia Hendricks, and Rachel Dufour. Daniel Main plays the Bishop.

The Knights and the Guards are played by Makayla Atkisson, Alexander Blake, Derek Jameson, Ryland Sparkman, and Jack Thixton. Alexander Blake also plays Thelonius. Araya Barger, Aubrey Berg, Myalynn Davis, Phoebe Ferguson, Abbigail Ferguson, Elle Strother, and Katlyn Wingler play the Rats. The Duloc Performers are Aislynn Compton, Rachel Dufour, Amelia Hendricks, Paisley Hoke, Annie Walton, Alex Wilde, Brecklyn Wilde, and Zoey Wilson.

Alex Wilde also plays the Greeter, and Amelia Hendricks is the Speaking Performer. The Fairy Tale Group is made up of Allison Barger, Araya Barger, Aubrey Berg, Ella Blake, Ruth Bowers, Patrick Bowers, Sesley Cole, Payton Cole, Aislynn Compton, Myalynn Davis, Tabitha Farnley, Phoebe Ferguson, Everleigh Fultz, Taylynn Gentry, Evalynne Grissom, Isabella Padilla, Graham Hoke, Archer Hurse, Sapphira Lathon, Scarlett Morgan, Aria Morris, Brigid Nance, Holly Paris, Lyllian Payne, Taitum Ransom, Sierra Reed, Callie Robbins, Lilly Roberts, Dahlia Scifers, Kiki Sneling, Myah Snider, Quinn Stingel, Clark Stingel, Sorin Strickland, Caspian Tullis, and Grant Waters.

Haizlee Arnold, Claire Barger, Zaiden Bohanon, Ameliah Camp, Aubrey Feist, Kamiren Feist, Tobias Ferguson, Winnie Heninger, Paisley Hoke, Reighlynn Hubbard, Alissa Hutt, Hattie Jones, Rozie Lanham, Atley Maudlin, Hadley Motsinger, Adeline Motsinger, Gaia Ratliff, Victoria Ratliff, Emersyn Russell, Madilyn Russell, Grayson Russell, Adalynne Schiffer, Adam Snelling, Liam Smith, Khaleesie Slone, Adaleah Stevens, Cody Thomas, Tanner Thomas, Ryder Underwood, Madison Vance, Kamryn Vance, Finley Weinsheimer, Kolbe Wilde, Grade Wilde, Alex Wilde, and Brecklyn Wilde make up the Village Group performers.

Quinn Stingel plays Bunny; Dahlia Scifers is Dish; Scarlett Morgan is Spoon; Everleigh Fultz plays Spinning Antelope; Archer Hurst is Cow; and Sapphira Lathon is Puss in Boots.

Those planning to attend a performance may purchase tickets in advance from any cast member until July 19, and at Salem Apothecary until July 23. Tickets will also be available at the door, which opens a half-hour before each show.

Performances are set for Friday and Saturday, July 24 and 25, at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, July 26, at 2:30 p.m., at the Salem Middle School Auditorium (Trueblood Performing Arts Center), 1001 N. Harrison Street. Tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for students; children four years old and under are free.

WCT’s production of Shrek the Musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), New York, NY. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI (www.mtishows.com).