Shrek JR

Musical

Writers: Jeanine Tesori David Lindsay-Abaire

Overview

Show Information

Category
Musical
Number of Acts
1
Genres
Comedy
Settings
Multiple Settings, Fantasy/Imaginary
Time & Place
The fairy tale land of Duloc. Time unspecified.
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Recording
Dancing
Some Dance
Ideal for
Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Elementary School, Ensemble Cast, Large Cast, Middle School, Star Vehicle Male, Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA)
Casting Notes
Mostly female cast
Includes child, early teen, late teen characters

Synopsis

Shrek the Musical is a one-of-a-kind, hilarious fairy tale in which curses are reversed, monsters get the girls, donkeys and dragons find love, and princesses are beautiful in all shapes and sizes. Grumpy, gruff, green ogre Shrek lives alone in his swamp. The world is fearful and mocking of him, and he is more than happy to leave the world to itself, in turn. Suddenly, his hermit existence is thrown open, when a group of homeless fairytale characters — Pinocchio, the Gingerbread Man, the Three Little Pigs, and more — burst upon his swamp, seeking refuge from the persecution of the cruel, vertically-challenged Lord Farquaad. Shrek seeks out Farquaad, who offers him a deal: if Shrek rescues the Princess Fiona (whom Farquaad wishes to marry for her crown), then Farquaad will ensure the return of Shrek’s swamp by returning the Fairytale Creatures to their homes. In a desperate attempt to regain his swamp’s hermetic peace, Shrek enters the world for the first time in his life. He travels to Princess Fiona’s prison, rescues her from a fire-breathing dragon, and then – scariest of all – is forced to get to know the princess as he tries to bring her back to evil Farquaad to the determinedly unsocial ogre’s dismay, Fiona is very different from what he expected a princess to be. She may even provoke Shrek’s most novel experience yet: Love. With dazzling sets, whimsical puppetry, high-energy dance numbers, and laughs by the minute, Shrek the Musical transforms the contemporary children’s book and popular animated feature film into a stage musical that is sure to entertain and make audiences believers in happy endings for all.

Lead Characters


Shrek JR guide sections