Shrek the Musical

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 has claimed for himself.

Suddenly, all of the fairytale creatures are banished from Lord Farquaad’s kingdom, and are arbitrarily relocated to Shrek’s swamp. The creatures lament the poor treatment they typically receive (“Story of My Life”). Shrek is furious when he learns of the fairytale creatures’ presence on his swamp. In an effort to both help the creatures, and get them off his land, Shrek agrees to travel to Lord Farquaad in Duloc and fight for them to be given back their homes. The