Local theatre to stage large-scale "Shrek the Musical" this summer

The Washington County Actors Community Theatre has announced auditions for its upcoming summer production of Shrek the Musical, an ambitious, large-scale show that organizers hope will draw strong participation from performers across all age groups and bring sizable audiences to its July performances.

Based on the 2001 animated film Shrek, the musical follows a reclusive ogre whose quiet life is disrupted when a group of exiled fairy tale characters invade his swamp. In an effort to reclaim his home, Shrek agrees to rescue Princess Fiona for the scheming Lord Farquaad. Along the way, he is joined by the fast-talking Donkey, and the journey challenges each character’s understanding of identity, acceptance, and belonging. The story blends satire of classic fairy tales with contemporary humor, while its musical numbers expand on the emotional arcs of its iconic characters.

The stage adaptation, featuring music by Jeanine Tesori and a book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, premiered on Broadway in 2008. It received multiple Tony Award nominations and has since become a frequent choice for community theatres, in part due to its recognizable title and opportunities for large ensemble casts.

For director Hannah Ingram, the production represents a significant step forward. While she has been involved in theatre for most of her life, Shrek the Musical marks her full-length directorial debut.

“I started doing theatre when I was five years old, so I technically have been doing this for about 22 years,” Ingram said. “I took a short break in middle school, but I have about 20 years of active experience and have been in, I believe, almost 40 shows.”

Ingram previously directed the one-act play Sorry, Wrong Number in 2024, an experience she said helped spark her interest in directing on a larger scale.

“While this is my musical directorial debut, I previously directed a one-act play in 2024 called Sorry, Wrong Number,” she said. “That experience, along with being around and helping with various other productions over the years, really sparked my interest in exploring the directorial side of theatre.”

She acknowledged that the scale of Shrek presents new challenges, particularly in managing a large and varied cast.

“My biggest challenge will likely be the cast size; I had a cast of less than 15 in Sorry, Wrong Number and to go to a production that could potentially include 30–70 people (or more since we are including kiddos) could be challenging to me as I want to ensure every performer, child and adult, get the most out of this experience,” Ingram said.

She added that she will be supported by a team that includes music director Daniel Main and assistant directors Charity Main and Juneau Main.

“Luckily, I have an incredible team… I trust them completely to help navigate this process and celebrate our collective wins,” she said. “I am most excited to get into rehearsals where I hope to get to know everyone and create a comfortable space for the cast to express their personalities through these larger-than-life characters.”

Ingram said the choice of Shrek was intentional, both for its novelty to local audiences and its potential to attract participation.

“I chose Shrek mainly because it is a show our theatre has never done before,” she said. “I wanted a new production for our community that offered plenty of opportunities for both adults and children to shine. Additionally, I am hoping the name recognition of Shrek will help attract larger audiences to support our hard working actors.”

Auditions will be held at Gary W. Hartsook Hall, located at 405 N. Shelby St., with multiple sessions based on age group and role.

Auditions for the roles of Shrek, Fiona, Lord Farquaad, and Donkey will take place April 26 at 1:00 p.m. and are open to performers age 18 and older. Those auditioning for these roles will prepare character-specific material: Shrek will sing “Big Bright Beautiful World” or “Who I’d Be,” Fiona will perform “I Know It’s Today” or “Morning Person,” Lord Farquaad will present “The Ballad of Farquaad,” and Donkey will sing either “Don’t Let Me Go” or “Travel Song.” General auditions for ages 12 and up will follow April 26 at 4:00 p.m.

Auditions for children ages 5–11 are scheduled for May 5 and 6 at 5:30 p.m.

All general auditionees will perform “Story of My Life,” though participants may indicate interest in specific roles on their audition forms.

Performances are scheduled for July 24, 25, and 26. A $20 production fee will be due at auditions, and organizers state that all who audition will be cast, reflecting the production’s large ensemble needs.