|
 |
Seattle Goes Green: Shrek the Musical Makes World Premiere Aug. 14
By Andrew Gans
14 Aug 2008
 |
|
Brian d'Arcy James as Shrek
|
| photo by Andrew Eccles. © 2008 DreamWorks Theatricals. | Shrek the Musical — based on the story and characters from William Steig's "Shrek!" and the blockbuster DreamWorks Animation film of the same name — makes its world premiere Aug. 14 at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre.
Directed by Jason Moore (Avenue Q and the Carnegie Hall Jerry Springer — The Opera), the production will officially open at the Washington venue Sept. 10. Performances continue through Sept. 21.
Following its out-of-town tryout, Shrek will arrive at New York's Broadway Theatre Nov. 8 with an official opening scheduled for Dec. 14.
Brian d'Arcy James, the singing actor who was recently seen in the Off-Broadway musical Next to Normal, plays the title role of the lovable green ogre in the new musical with Cry-Baby's Chester Gregory II as Donkey, Avenue Q Tony nominee John Tartaglia as Pinocchio, Tony winner Sutton Foster (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Young Frankenstein) as Princess Fiona, Christopher Sieber (Monty Python's Spamalot) as Lord Farquaad and Kecia Lewis-Evans (The Drowsy Chaperone) as the dragon.
The ensemble comprises Haven Burton (Legally Blonde, Rent), Jennifer Cody (Urinetown, The Pajama Game), Ben Crawford (Les Misérables), Bobby Daye (The Color Purple, The Lion King), Ryan Duncan (Altar Boyz), Sarah Jane Everman (The Apple Tree, Wicked), Aymee Garcia (Avenue Q), Leah Greenhaus, Justin Greer (The Producers), Lisa Ho (A Chorus Line), Chris Hoch (Spamalot, Die Mommie Die!), Danette Holden (Jackie Mason's Laughing Room Only), Jacob Ming-Trent (Epic Theatre Center's Widowers' Houses), Carolyn Ockert-Haythe (The Pajama Game, Wonderful Town), Marissa O'Donnell (Annie in 30th anniversary tour of Annie), Denny Paschall (Chicago, Beauty and the Beast), Greg Reuter (Spamalot), Adam Riegler (York Theatre Company's I and Albert), Noah Rivera (Wicked), Heather Jane Rolff (Wanda's World), Jennifer Simard (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Rachel Stern (High Fidelity, Tarzan), Dennis Stowe (The Apple Tree, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), David F.M. Vaughn (Doctor Doolittle national tour) and Keaton Whittaker.
Shrek, according to a press statement, "is an entirely new musical based on the story and characters from William Steig's book 'Shrek!,' as well as the DreamWorks Animation film."
Pulitzer Prize-winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole) penned the lyrics and libretto (based on the kid-lit character created by William Steig), and Tony Award nominee Jeanine Tesori (Millie, Caroline, or Change) wrote the music.
DreamWorks Theatricals is co-producing with Sam Mendes' Neal Street Productions Ltd.
Josh Prince has choreographed the production, which features musical direction by Tim Weil, set and costume design by Tim Hatley, lighting design by Hugh Vanstone and sound design by Peter Hylenski.
Tickets for the Seattle run are available by calling (206) 625-1900 or by visiting www.5thavenue.org. For Aug. 14-Sept. 9 performances, tickets are priced $25-$80; for Sept. 10-21 performances, tickets range $31-$90.
Tickets for the Broadway run are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.
Visit www.shrekthemusical.com for more information.
 |
|
Shrek stars Sieber, Gregory II, Foster, James, Lewis-Evans and Tartaglia.
|
| photo by Joan Marcus |
Contact Us | Advertise | Privacy Policy
Send questions and comments to the Webmaster
Copyright © 2009 Playbill, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
|