Overview
Synopsis
Shrek the Musical is a one-of-a-kind, hilarious fairy tale in which curses are reversed, monsters get the girls, donkeys and dragons find love, and princesses are beautiful in all shapes and sizes. Grumpy, gruff, green ogre Shrek lives alone in his swamp. The world is fearful and mocking of him, and he is more than happy to leave the world to itself, in turn. Suddenly, his hermit existence is thrown open, when a group of homeless fairytale characters — Pinocchio, the Gingerbread Man, the Three Little Pigs, and more — burst upon his swamp, seeking refuge from the persecution of the cruel, vertically-challenged Lord Farquaad. Shrek seeks out Farquaad, who offers him a deal: if Shrek rescues the Princess Fiona (whom Farquaad wishes to marry for her crown), then Farquaad will ensure the return of Shrek’s swamp by returning the Fairytale Creatures to their homes. In a desperate attempt to regain his swamp’s hermetic peace, Shrek enters the world for the first time in his life. He travels to Princess Fiona’s prison, rescues her from a fire-breathing dragon, and then – scariest of all – is forced to get to know the princess as he tries to bring her back to evil Farquaad to the determinedly unsocial ogre’s dismay, Fiona is very different from what he expected a princess to be. She may even provoke Shrek’s most novel experience yet: Love. With dazzling sets, whimsical puppetry, high-energy dance numbers, and laughs by the minute, Shrek the Musical transforms the contemporary children’s book and popular animated feature film into a stage musical that is sure to entertain and make audiences believers in happy endings for all.
Show Information
- Book
- Jeanine Tesori
- Music
- David Lindsay-Abaire
- Lyrics
- David Lindsay-Abaire
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 1
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Fantasy/Imaginary
- Time & Place
- The fairy tale land of Duloc. Time unspecified.
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Recording
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Elementary School, Ensemble Cast, Large Cast, Middle School, Star Vehicle Male, Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA), Mostly Female Cast, Includes Child, Early Teen, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Shrek the Musical is based on DreamWorks Animation’s 2001 film Shrek and William Steig’s 1990 book Shrek!. Librettist and lyricist David Lindsay-Abaire and Director Jason Moore started developing the musical in 2002. Jeanine Tesori began contributing music to the project in 2004.
The musical received its out-of-town tryout at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre in August 2008, and transferred to Broadway in November of that same year. After completing a month of previews, the musical officially
to read the context for Shrek JR and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
The show opens with a group of Storytellers beginning the story of Shrek, a green ogre, whose parents send him away to establish an independent life for himself on his seventh birthday. They encourage his journey into the “big bright beautiful world,” but are also certain that he won’t be able to enjoy much of what the world has to offer due to the discrimination he will face as an ogre. They recommend he shut the world out, so that there is no way he can get hurt. Many years later, Shrek is an
to read the plot for Shrek JR and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Either Gender |
Alto, Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Alto, Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Countertenor, Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone |
Songs
- * Big Bright Beautiful World — Shrek, Ensemble
- * Story of My Life — Ensemble
- * What’s Up, Duloc? — Lord Farquaad, Ensemble
- I Know It’s Today — Fiona, Ensemble
- * Travel Song — Shrek, Donkey
- * Forever — Donkey, Dragon, Ensemble
- This Is How a Dream Comes True — Fiona
- * “Morning Person” — Fiona, Ensemble
- “I Think I Got You Beat” — Shrek, Fiona
- “Make a Move” — Donkey, Three Blind Mice
- * “Morning Person (Reprise)” — Fiona
- * “Freak Flag” — Ensemble
- “Big Bright Beautiful World (Reprise)” — Shrek
- “This Is Our Story (Finale)” — Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Ensemble
- “I’m a Believer” — Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Ensemble
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.
Videos
Quizzes
Sorry! We do not currently have quizzes for this guide.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
