The Paris production is directed by Ned Grujic, choreographed by Philippe Bonhommeau and adapted into French by Stéphane Laporte.

The cast is led by Michel Lerousseau in the title role with Nathalie Lhermitte as Fiona, Guillaume Beaujolais as Lord Farquaad and Julien Plantier as Donkey. Charlotte Hervieux, Tess Hédreville, Mathilde Libbrecht, Alexandre Bernot, Bastien Jacquemart, Benjamin Conil, David Koenig, Gregory Amsis, Julien Salvia, Lucie Riedinger, Ludovic-Alexandre Vidal, Maureen Diot, Sophie Boucheron, Fabrice Pochic and Fred Colas complete the cast.

Italian producer Lorenzo Vitali is responsible for bringing the show to Paris. His previous productions in the French capital city include Fame, Hair, Hairspray and Young Frankenstein.

Shrek The Musical opened on Broadway on Dec. 14, 2008, and ran for 441 performances and 37 previews. It opened in London at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on June 14, 2011, where it is still running. It is also currently touring the United States. The show - based on the 2001 Dreamworks animation film and on William Steig's eponymous book - "tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon, rescues a feisty princess and learns that real friendship and true love aren't only found in fairy tales."

For more information, visit www.casinodeparis.fr.

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Stéphane Ly-Cuong is a Paris-based freelance writer and director ([email protected]).