A casting notice reveals that the readings — produced by Dreamworks Animation/Neal Street Productions — will be presented July 23-Aug. 3. Avenue Q's Jason Moore will direct the readings of Shrek, which features music by Tony Award winner Jeanine Tesori and a book and lyrics by recent Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay Abaire.

The casting notice is seeking actors "of all cultural backgrounds" for the roles of Shrek, Donkey, Lord Farquaad and Princess Fiona.

The most recent reading of Shrek was held Feb. 23.

As previously announced, Tony Award winner Tim Hatley (Private Lives, Spamalot) will handle sets and costumes while Tony-nominated Hugh Vanstone (Spamalot, Bombay Dreams) will cover lighting for the eventual full production of the musical.

Based on a William Steig children's book, the green ogre-with-a-heart character has been featured in "Shrek" and "Shrek 2"; the third chapter, "Shrek the Third," is scheduled to be released in theatres May 18.

DreamWorks Animation's first venture in legitimate theatre, the developing production was initiated by Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sam Mendes when the studio made a first-look deal with Mendes' producing entity, Neal Street Productions, Ltd.