The fairytale creatures will make their big premiere in “Shrek The Musical,” on the Garage Door Theater Stage in Pilot Point.
In an unexpected twist, “Shrek” the movie and the musical will debut this weekend, as the 2001 movie re-releases into theaters nationwide to celebrate its 25 anniversary.
“It's just kind of serendipitous; it's crazy,” said Kailey Rice, Starbright Center for the Arts founder.
With a cast and crew of over 30 people, the musical will be the largest Starbright production to date.
“Susan Higgins, musical director, and I did the first ever musical at the Garage Door Theater back in October of 2019, so it seems appropriate we should team up again to direct the first big musical at Starbright,” Director Clark Bawcom said via email. “We are both honored to do so.”
Few can say they’ve dreamed of playing an ogre.
However, for Calvin Russell, it’s been a dream since he was a freshman in high school.
Russell, who plays Shrek, saw similarities between the character and himself.
“He's always been an outcast, and I was always the artsy kid growing up, so I kind of related to Shrek a little bit,” Russell said.
Starring opposite him as Shrek’s love interest is Princess Fiona, played by Rice.
Like Russell, Rice has wanted to play Fiona ever since she auditioned for the role as a teen and wasn’t selected.
“I remember thinking if I ever get the chance again, I'm going to go for Fiona,” Rice said. “So since then, I've had more singing, more dancing, more acting lessons. That's when I felt like I was ready. I thought the directors agreed.”
It’s a big moment over 10 years in the making, for both Rice and Russell.
“We get to live our younger people dreams,” Rice said.
With a cast and crew of over 30, the costume department has prepared about 70 costumes to accommodate both costume changes and different characters.
On that team is Maegan Jasbring, who also plays both the dragon and a tap-dancing rat.
“It has been a very big undertaking, and we've managed to put together a good show in the six, eight, or so weeks we've been rehearsing without really adding any additional rehearsal time to what was originally scheduled,” Jasbring said. “We've had a lot of people who've been in and out due to other personal commitments or commitments with school, because we do have a very young cast. So the fact that we've still been able to take on a production of this nature and be able to pull it off, I think, is fantastic.”
Joining Jasbring as a tap-dancing rat is Aaliyah Sanchez in her first Starbright production. She will also play the Wicked Witch, one of the three blind mice, a Duloc doll and a part of the dragon ensemble.
“It's just been such a fun experience, especially because everyone here is so welcoming and kind,” Sanchez said. “They all helped me make sure I got my lines right and made sure that I was feeling welcomed.”
Lauren Kent has been part of the theater for three years and finds joy in watching it grow.
In this musical, Kent will play one of the Duloc dolls, Baby Bear, Farquaad's dad, young Fiona, a tapdancing rat and the bluebird.
“It's such a fun show; I just like how every show has its own feeling, its own style, and its own memories,” Kent said.
There to fill in the gaps is Basil Gist, who stepped in to help support his friends' production by playing characters such as the guards and a bishop.
Friends Mak McGlothin and Hera Neyman met through the theater.
McGlothin stepped in to fill the roles of one of the three little pigs and a tap-dancing rat, and Hera plays the Ugly Duckling and a Duloc doll.
“I'm really excited to hear the audience laugh at all of the insane amounts of jokes we make in this show,” Hera said.
Gracing the stage alongside his daughter is Jeff Neyman, who plays Shrek’s high-energy and funny best friend, Donkey.
“Any opportunity to share the stage with her, I jump at,” Jeff said. “This is our third show now together, so, really, I just wanted to be in the show. I was very surprised when they called me for Donkey, but always honored.”
The opening weekend is at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday with a matinee 2:30 p.m. Sunday followed by performances at 7:30 p.m. May 22-23 and 2:30 p.m. May 24.
Tickets can be bought online at starbrightmpa.com.
“We hope the audience really enjoys this magical show,” Bawcom said via email.
