On-stage Shrek Is Revealed

It has been announced that Brian D'Arcy James will star as Shrek in the upcoming musical adaptation of the Dreamworks film. In addition, Chester Gregory II has been cast as Donkey and John Tartaglia as Pinocchio.

The actors join the previously announced Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona, Christopher Sieber as Lord Farquaad, and Kecia Lewis-Evans as The Dragon. Additional casting will be announced soon.

Shrek The Musical will open at the Broadway Theatre on Sunday, December 14, 2008. Preview performances begin on November 8, 2008, following a pre-Broadway run at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre, August 14 to September 21.

This production is an entirely new musical based on the story and characters from William Steig’s book Shrek!, as well as the DreamWorks Animation film Shrek.

The musical features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner, David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), music by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie and Caroline, or Change), and is directed by Tony Award nominee Jason Moore (Avenue Q and the recent Jerry Springer - The Opera in Concert at Carnegie Hall).

Shrek The Musical is DreamWorks Animation’s first venture in legitimate theater. The production was initiated when Sam Mendes, a big fan of the first Shrek film, suggested the idea of creating a musical to DreamWorks Animation’s Jeffrey Katzenberg around the time the second film was in production. The musical is being produced by DreamWorks Theatricals (Bill Damaschke, President) and Neal Street Productions, Ltd (principals Sam Mendes and Caro Newling).

Other members of the creative team include Tony Award-winning set and costume designer, Tim Hatley (Monty Python’s Spamalot, Private Lives), three-time Olivier Award-winning lighting designer, Hugh Vanstone (Monty Python’s Spamalot, Bombay Dreams, The Blue Room and Art), and sound designer Peter Hylenski (Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Cry-Baby). The choreography is by newcomer Josh Prince, and Tim Weil (Rent) is serving as music director.

For ticket information and more, visit www.shrekthemusical.com

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