A group of young Patel Conservatory performers is ready to transform TECO Theater into one of the most famous swamps on screen or stage.
Middle school-aged actors will take the stage as Fiona, Donkey, Farquaad and our favorite ogre to present Shrek the Musical Jr. Based on the Broadway musical (and the film on which the musical was based), this production, like others in the Broadway Junior series, is a compact version of the original, designed for younger performers. Junior versions typically run about one hour and scripts are adjusted to allow for developing voices (and developing attention spans). Patel’s Shrek runs from Thursday, July 18 through Sunday, July 21.
The junior version of Shrek excises almost an hour of material from the script, said Patel theater education instructor Sarah Berland, who’s directing the production. The revised script adds storyteller characters to “help make the transitions smoother where the cuts were made,” Berland said.
Staging a musical, even in this compact version, is a major undertaking for these students, many of whom will be playing more than one role.
Ensemble members, Sarah said, are “all playing multiple roles, from storyteller to fairytale creature, performers or loyal subjects of Duloc. They are doing an excellent job of portraying multiple characters in one show.
“Our cast is a little out of the ordinary because we have a female Shrek and Farquaad,” Sarah said. “However, both will be played as ‘pants’ roles, meaning played as men.”
The cast members also are creating a field of sunflowers through which Shrek and Donkey stroll. “It looks like you’re traversing a field of flowers. The performers will be creating the majority of the sunflower props we’re using,”
Sarah said the biggest differences between the film and musical are “the use of song and dance to further the story” and the musical’s glimpse into the backstories of Shrek and Fiona.
Theater fans should listen for references to other musicals including Wicked, Gypsy and Dreamgirls, Sarah said.
Broadway Junior versions are family-friendly, and the reduced length makes it easier for youngsters to enjoy the story until the end without restlessness kicking in. Shrek the Musical Jr. also is an excellent way to introduce younger audiences to the joys of musical theater.
Shrek the Musical Jr. will be performed at 7 p.m., July 18-19, and at 1 and 4 p.m., July 20-21. For tickets or more information, click here.