A fantastic fairytale adventure, ”Shrek the Musical,” opens Oct. 5 at Cottage Theatre. With book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, and music by Jeanne Tesori, Shrek was first produced on Broadway in 2008. The family-friendly musical is the fifth production of Cottage Theatre’s 2018 season.
Based on the Oscar-winning animated film, Shrek the Musical is an irresistible blend of adventure and romance, guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages. The unlikely hero is a hulking green ogre named Shrek, who suddenly finds himself on a life-changing quest through the ”Big Bright Beautiful World.” Spurred by his desire to reclaim his swamp from a gang of fairytale interlopers, Shrek strikes a deal with the cruel (and vertically-challenged) Lord Farquaad. If Shrek rescues Princess Fiona, then Farquaad will give the evicted fairytale misfits their homes back so Shrek can reclaim his. Joined by a wisecracking donkey, Shrek eventually frees the beautiful (if slightly temperamental) princess from a tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon. Much to his surprise, Shrek discovers there is more to this unusual princess than meets the eye! Irreverent and full of fun, Shrek the Musical proves that beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre.
Cottage Theatre’s production of Shrek the Musical is directed by Keith Kessler, with music direction by Keri Davis, and choreography by Janet Rust. Costume design is by Rhonda Turnquist, lighting design by Amanda Ferguson, and set design by Tony Rust. The production features Mark VanBeever as Shrek, Melissa Miller as Princess Fiona, Matt Arscott as Donkey and Joshua Sayre as Lord Farquaad, supported by a large cast of 30 actors.
”Shrek the Musical” runs for 15 performances at Cottage Theatre from Oct. 5 through Oct. 28. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are available online at www.cottagetheatre.org, by phone at 541-942-8001, or in person at the Cottage Theatre Box Office, 700 Village Drive, Cottage Grove. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth (ages six to 18). Recommended minimum age for children is six years old, given the length of the show. Box Office hours are Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and one hour before performances. All seating is reserved and advance purchase is recommended.
