The reason for the cancellation, according to a recent press statement, is to allow the Shrek creative team to "complete some final changes before the opening. There is not enough stage time during the current preview schedule to implement and rehearse the changes planned."
No other performances will be affected for the new musical, which officially opens Dec. 14.
Patrons who have purchased tickets for the canceled Dec. 2 performance should contact point of purchase: Telecharge.com (212-239-6200) or the Broadway Theatre Box Office at (1681 Broadway at 53rd St).
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 Avenue Q Tony nominee John Tartaglia as Pinocchio, Tony winner Sutton Foster (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Young Frankenstein) as Princess Fiona, Tony nominee Daniel Breaker (Passing Strange) as Donkey and Christopher Sieber (Monty Python's Spamalot) as Lord Farquaad.
The ensemble comprises Cameron Adams, Haven Burton, Jennifer Cody, Ben Crawford, Bobby Daye, Ryan Duncan, Sarah Jane Everman, Aymee Garcia, Leah Greenhaus, Justin Greer, Lisa Ho, Chris Hoch, Danette Holden, Marty Lawson, Jacob Ming-Trent, Carolyn Ockert-Haythe, Marissa O'Donnell, Denny Paschall, Rachel Resheff, Greg Reuter, Adam Riegler, Noah Rivera, Heather Jane Rolff, Jennifer Simard, Rachel Stern, Dennis Stowe and David F.M. Vaughn. 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. Jason Moore directs.
Song titles include "Big Bright Beautiful World," "Story of My Life," "The Goodbye Song," "Don't Le Me Go," "I Know It's Today," "What's Up, Duloc?," "Travel Song," "Donkey Pot Pie," "This Is How a Dream Comes True," "Who I'd Be," "Morning Person," "I Think I Got You Beat," "The Ballad of Farquad," "Make a Move," "When Words Fail," "Morning Person" (Reprise), "Build a Wall," "Freak Flag" and "Big Bright Beautiful World" (Reprise).
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, costume and puppet design by Tim Hatley; lighting design by Hugh Vanstone; hair and wig design by David Brian-Brown; and sound design by Peter Hylenski.
Tickets are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.
The production will also offer a daily rush lottery system, The Duloc Ticket Lottery, at Shrek's Swamp Shoppe, located on the third floor of M&M's World in Times Square (1600 Broadway). "Starting at 9 AM each morning," a press release states, "patrons are invited to enter a lottery drawing to purchase a limited number of rush tickets priced at $26.50 to that day's performance. Names will be drawn at random for 16 rush tickets at 10 AM. There will be a limit of two tickets per person and winners must be present with valid identification at the time of the drawing to purchase their tickets. On two show days, both drawings will take place at 10 AM, but patron's can only enter one drawing."
Visit www.shrekthemusical.com for more information. For more information, visit www.shrekthemusical.com.
