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SYNOPSIS:
Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure, featuring all new songs from Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie; Caroline, or Change) and a sidesplitting book by David Lindsay-Abaire. Shrek brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there's more to the story than meets the ears.
"Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek...." And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand... and his name is Shrek.
Shrek presents a treasure trove of creative opportunities, including costumes, sets, puppets (there is a fire-breathing dragon after all) and more! Irreverently fun for the whole family, Shrek proves that beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre.
Character Breakdowns:
SHREK: A mean, crusty old ogre who prides himself on being the fiercest of the fierce but is really just a sweet soul who has been treated badly by the world. This role requires a broadly comic physical performance with moments of grounded vulnerability.
DONKEY: Sassy, smart-mouthed talking donkey joins Shrek on the run from Farquaad’s guards. Quite the chatterbox, he is not deterred by Shrek’s looks or temper and slow insinuates himself into Shrek’s good graces. Easily frightened and pushy, Donkey is also an optimistic fellow with a lot of heart who thrives on the love of his friends.
FIONA: Princess Fiona has been trapped in a tower since her youth to hide her secret shame: she has a transforming spell over her that turns her in to an Ogre every night when the sun sets. This spell can only be broken with True Love’s Kiss. Shrek does’t live up to her expectations for a rescuing night, and it takes time and a series of mis-understandings for Fiona to realize that who she truly is at heart. Tap dance skills a plus, but not a requirement.
LORD FARQUAAD: The ruthless ruler of Duloc has been battling issues with his absent father and shorter-thanaverage height his whole life, which has led him to force his subjects in to a ruthlessly “perfect” society that leaves no room for uniqueness or difference. The actor who plays Farquad will be performing on their knees throughout, including some dances. This actor must be able to create a broad comic character grounded in authentic-feeling emotional pain and fear of rejection.
DRAGON: After years of guarding Fiona in her tower, Dragon gets the heart flutters for Donkey as he and Shrek rescue the princess. What begins as an awkward predator/prey relationship blossoms in to a love that inspires the Dragon to come to the rescue in the final minutes of the show. This role requires a Diva performance on-stage and hard work and good vocal care off-stage.
PINOCCHIO: Constantly annoyed that the other fairytale characters don’t recognize him as a “real boy,” he overcompensates by jumping in to leadership roles in the fairytale community. The performer in this role must create a loveable yet neurotic character with the unique physicality of a jointed puppet.
GINGY, THE GINGERBREAD MAN: Puppeteering The Gingerbread Man is presented on a cookie sheet and puppeteered by the performer, who will sometimes be hiding, and sometimes be visible and dressed as a Fairy Tale Creature. Gingy is a spicy little cookie not afraid to speak his mind, even in times of peril, and will require an actor who is dedicated to mastering the puppetry of the character as well as the performance of the role.
*THELONIUS, CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD: The leader of Farquaad’s armed forces and victim of many of Farquaad’s outbursts. The actor in this role has a unique opportunity to create their own take on this character—we are looking for someone who can create a fun, memorable performance in this role.
*YOUNG FIONA: Young Fiona is a featured soloist in “I Know It’s Today,” during which we see Fiona as she grows older. The actress in this role must be an expressive vocalist who can match tone and character with Teen and Adult Fionas. Height may be a factor in casting this role.
*TEEN FIONA: Teen Fiona is a featured soloist in “I Know It’s Today,” during which we see Fiona as she grows older. The actress in this role must be an expressive vocalist who can match tone and character with Young and Adult Fionas.
*KING HAROLD AND QUEEN LILLIAN: Fiona’s parents are featured with small solos in the opening number, where we see them sending their daughter off to be kept in a tower. These roles require strong vocalists and/or character singers who can quickly and clearly communicate a specific character.
*MAMA and PAPA OGRE: Shrek’s parents are heavily featured soloists in the opening number, where we see them send Shrek out in to the world. These roles requires strong, expressive singers who work well together.
*LITTLE SHREK: We see little Shrek in the opening number as he is sent off in to the world by his parents. The actor in this role must be very physically expressive to communicate the fear and sadness of a young ogre alone in a cruel world.
*BIG BAD WOLF: The BBW is a gruff and masculine canine who just happens to be most comfortable in Granny’s housecoat and mop-cap, a choice that sees him persecuted by Farquaad’s soldiers. The actor in this role must be a strong singer able to hold their own solo against an ensemble singing a different line, and most be comfortable creating a rough, tough character who wears dresses.
*BLUEBIRD: The Bluebird is a vocal solo for a soprano with an extremely high range. The Bluebird (played by a trick exploding bird puppet) sings back and forth with Fiona in Morning Person, singing higher and higher until Fiona’s high note causes the puppet to burst in to a ball of exploding feathers. We would also consider an extremely accurate whistler for this role.
THE THREE BEARS: The Three Bears family always appears together and often riff off one another on-stage. The actors in these roles must work together to create a fun, believable family dynamic to play with in scenes and choreography.
THE THREE LITTLE PIGS: The three little pigs are from Germany (their lines are written in accent) and they are MOST disturbed by Farquaad’s removal of all fairytale characters from their homes to the swamp, as they are used to comfort and the finer things in life. These roles require three comedic actors who can create large, fun characters and play off one another in songs and scenework.
THE THREE BLIND MICE: The Three Blind Mice sing backup for Make a Move, presenting a sassy 60’s vibe. The performers in these roles need to be able to sing in close harmony and must be strong movers. In addition to their featured song, the Three Blind Mice also appear in all fairytale numbers.
THE PIED PIPER: The Pied Piper is featured in the song Morning Person as well as being part of the fairytale characters’ scenes and numbers. The role requires a strong mover, and we would love to cast a flautist to actually “pipe” on stage in the role, but it is not required.
*THE KNIGHTS: The Knights have all been captured by Dragon to be her prisoners—and her backup singers when she feels like belting out a big diva number. The Knights must be able to sing in close harmony and must be strong movers.
*BISHOP: The officiant at Farquaad and Fiona’s ill-fated wedding. The actor in this role has freedom to create a fun, silly, interesting characters.
*DULOC GREETER: The official “mascot” of Duloc greets, and is then terrified by, Shrek and Donkey. In trying to run, the greeter is repeatedly injured in a fun bit of physical comedy. This role requires an actor who can physically commit to some fun comedy.
GRUMPY: Farquaad’s estranged father comes forward at the wedding to expose Farquaad’s troubled childhood as more fiction than fact. This role also appears in all fairytale character scenes and songs, along with the other 6 dwarves.
The following additional fairytale characters make all have one or more small solos and some lines:
Mad Hatter, Shoemaker’s Elf, Ugly Duckling, Peter Pan, Fairy Godmother, Wicked Witch, Sugar Plum Fairy, White Rabbit
THE SEVEN DWARVES: Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Bashful, Grumpy, Dopey, & Doc always appear together on stage, dance together in fairytale numbers, and will create comedic bits together as well. Actors in this group need to be strong physical performers with good comedic timing.
ADDITIONAL FAIRYTALE CHARACTER ENSEMBLE: These members will be assigned specific characters, including (but not limited to!) Puss in Boots, Tinker Bell, Little Bo Peep, Rumplestiltskin, and more.
THE RATS: The Rats, after refusing to follow the Pied Piper’s boring old tune, perk up and get moving when Fiona teaches him some new music that jump-starts a lively tap routine. Performers in these roles must have a strong dance background, but it does not necessarily have to be in tap.
WEDDING CHOIR: The wedding choir provides beautiful music for Farquaad and Fiona’s walk down the aisle. Performers in this ensemble must be able to vocalize beautifully on pitch.
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