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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 fairy tale 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 fairy tale creatures to their homes. In a desperate attempt to regain his swamp’s hermetic piece, 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.
Note: A filmed version of the original Broadway production is currently available for viewing on Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and iTunes.
Show Information
- Book
- David Lindsay-Abaire
- Music
- Jeanine Tesori
- Lyrics
- David Lindsay-Abaire
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Shrek (2001 DreamWorks animated film)
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2008
- Genres
- Comedy, Romance, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Fantasy/Imaginary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- the fairy tale land of duloc. time unspecified.
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, High School, Large Cast, Middle School, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA), Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Early Teen, Late Teen, Young Adult, Child, Mature Adult, Elderly 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
to read the context for Shrek the Musical and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Shrek is 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 adult happily living a solitary life in a swamp he
to read the plot for Shrek the Musical and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Either Gender |
Alto, Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Countertenor, Tenor, Treble/Boy Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Treble/Boy Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Countertenor, Bass, Baritone, Tenor |
Songs
Act One
- Overture/Big Bright Beautiful World — Mama Ogre, Papa Ogre, Shrek
- * Story of My Life — Fairytale Creatures
- Story of My Life (Tag) - Fairytale Creatures
- * The Goodbye Song - Fairytale Creatures
- Don’t Let Me Go — Donkey
- I Know It’s Today — Young Fiona, Teen Fiona, Fiona
- * What’s Up, Duloc? — Lord Farquaad, Ensemble
- * What's Up, Duloc? (Reprise) - Lord Farquaad, Ensemble
- * Travel Song — Shrek, Donkey
- ^ Donkey Pot Pie - Dragon, Donkey
- This Is How a Dream Comes True — Fiona, Dragon
- Who I’d Be — Shrek, Fiona, Donkey
Act Two
- * Morning Person — Fiona, Bluebird, Ensemble
- I Think I Got You Beat — Shrek, Fiona
- The Ballad of Farquaad — Lord Farquaad, Ensemble
- Make a Move — Donkey, Three Blind Mice
- When Words Fail — Shrek
- Morning Person (Reprise) — Fiona
- The Arrival of Farquaad — Lord Farquaad
- Build a Wall — Shrek
- * Freak Flag — Fairytale Creatures
- Wedding Procession — Ensemble
- Big Bright Beautiful World (Reprise) — Shrek
- Beautiful Ain’t Always Pretty — Shrek
- This Is Our Story — Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Ensemble
- I’m a Believer — Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Ensemble
^ - "Dragon Pot Pie" is replaced with "Forever" in touring and educational productions
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
A play, musical, or opera that has been adapted from a written work.
A set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty.
A reference, usually implied, to a literary or historical person, place, event, or idea.
A supporting actor who specializes in unusual or eccentric roles.
The sequence of steps and movements in dance, also the orchestrated and rehearsed movements for actors, based on the script.
A fictional story of the fantasy genre – idealised, romantic, and magical.
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