BENNINGTON \u2014 The Patriot Players and Mount Anthony Union Drama are pleased to announce the upcoming performance of “Shrek the Musical,” a show comprised of 19 musical numbers in two acts.<\/p>\n
“With more than 70 members ages 10 to 70, the cast and crew of ‘Shrek the Musical’ has been working tirelessly for the past 9 weeks on this production and they’re finally ready to share it with the ‘Big, Bright, Beautiful World,'” said Director and MAUHS Chorus Teacher\u00a0Lynn Sweet, referencing the opening number of the show, where young Shrek leaves the safety of his parent’s home to explore what the world has to offer.<\/p>\n
It is also in that opening musical number, “Big, Bright, Beautiful World,” that young Shrek’s parents warn him of how others might perceive his appearance \u2013 letting him know that he may be shunned.<\/p>\n
In the upcoming musical performance, the character of Shrek’s parents are played by senior Amri Baker and junior Maximous Hon. And, the character of Shrek is played by senior Ryan Nesbit.<\/p>\n
Nesbit, who has been acting since the 5th grade, has performed numerous roles with the Mount Anthony Union Drama Club, including “Chicago,” “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon,” “Honk!,” and “Beauty and the Beast.”<\/p>\n
The role of Princess Fiona will be shared by “best friends” and seniors Veronica Jarvis and Shaelen Lepage, but the two will also play the roles of Blue Bird and Dwarf in the performance.<\/p>\n
Jarvis and Lepage have both participated in the Mount Anthony Union Theater Program throughout their high school years \u2013 Jarvis, with roles in “Chicago,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Honk!,” “SIX Teen Edition,” and “The Sound of Music” at Monument Arts and Cultural Center, and Lepage, with roles in “Beauty and the Beast,” “Honk!,” “SIX Teen Edition,” and more.<\/p>\n
Many of the special characters in “Shrek the Musical” evoke nostalgia through their parody of classic fairy tales and intertextual references.<\/p>\n
Although the audience is familiar with the fairy tale background of characters like the Gingerbread Man, Pinocchio, Little Red Riding Hood, Fairy Godmother, the Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks, the Ugly Duckling, Pied Piper, the Wicked Witch, Humpty Dumpty, Peter Pan, and the Big Bad Wolf, “Shrek the Musical” takes these characters on a humorous new jaunt in a setting and tale of its own.<\/p>\n
In the upcoming Mount Anthony Union performance of “Shrek the Musical,” many of these characters will make their appearance with the Gingerbread Man played by Jazmyne Shoff; Pinocchio by Ben Moffitt; Little Red Riding Hood by Emme Stratton; Fairy Godmother by Veda Sibilia Shultz; the Three Little Pigs by Jordyn Craft, Aliyah Ivey-Leake, and Joanna Laucella; Goldilocks by Gab Latchum; the Ugly Duckling by Meredith Dame; Pied Piper by Savannah Gramby; the Sugarplum Fairy by Vitalia Olson; the Wicked Witch by Gabriella King; Humpty Dumpty by Violet Miller; Peter Pan by Ariana Monaco; the Three Blind Mice by Milly McCafferty, Gwendolyn Munson, and Amelia Zazzaro; and the Big Bad Wolf by Carter Hudson.<\/p>\n
Characters more unique to the Shrek universe include Donkey, played by senior Cameron Casalinova; Lord Farquaad, played by freshman Phoenix Madison (on his knees throughout the performance); and Dragon, played by both Arrow Squiers and Amelia Gordon.<\/p>\n
The “young cast” of the performance include Alana Buryk, Nora Camarda, Melody Camilongo, Lucille Frey, Edie Gardner, Parker Hayden, Lauren Hudson, Claira-Jane Jowett, Jackson Meurs, Molly Peacock, Abigail Peacock, Mimi Rivers, Alexia Snide, Anna Stark, and Abigail Townsend.<\/p>\n
“‘Shrek the Musical’ is all about friendship, acceptance, and the magic of being yourself,” added Sweet. “In their fight to get their homes back, the fairy tale creatures learn that what makes us special makes us strong. And, our hero Shrek, with the help of his new found pal Donkey, reminds us that true beauty is found within.”<\/p>\n
Performances will be held at Mount Anthony Union High School on Thursday, November 13 at 7 p.m.; on Friday, November 14 at 7 p.m.; and on Saturday November 15 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.<\/p>\n