“Shrek the Musical Jr." at the Ohnward Fine Arts Center -- August 3 and 4.
Saturday, August 3, and Sunday, August 4
Ohnward Fine Arts Center, 1215 East Platt Street, Maquoketa IA
An intimidating ogre, a feisty princess, a wisecracking donkey, a diminutive tyrant, an ambulatory gingerbread man, and other fantastical figures take over Maquoketa's Ohnward Fine Arts Center when gifted youths present August 3 and 4 performances of Shrek the Musical Jr., a one-act version of the Tony-winning fairytale slapstick based on the Oscar-winning animated smash, the show hailed by USA Today as “a triumph of comic imagination with a heart as big and warm as Santa's.”
Set in a mythical land of “Once upon a time ...”, Shrek the Musical Jr. tells of a hulking green ogre who, having been mocked and feared his entire life, retreats to an ugly green swamp to exist in isolation. Suddenly, though, a gang of homeless fairytale characters (among them Pinocchio, Cinderella, and the Three Little Pigs) raid his sanctuary, and announce that they’ve been evicted by the vertically challenged Lord Farquaad. Shrek strikes a deal with them, saying that he'll gets their homes back, but only if he gets his own home back in return. They agree, and when Shrek and Farquaad meet, the lord says he'll give in to Shrek's demands as long as the ogre rescues the trapped Princess Fiona. Shrek obliges, yet finds something strange and appealing about this pretty princess. He likes her – a lot – but why does she always run off when the sun sets?
Directed by the Ohnward Fine Arts Center's executive director Richard Hall, Shrek the Musical Jr. features music direction by Linda Polk, Julie Weirup, and Shannon Soenksen, with Mandi Kuster the show's choreographer and Jenna Williams its accompanist. With the musical's cast composed entirely of student talents, the titular green ogre is played by Brady Hahn, with Chloe Leon as Fiona, Mia Ruley as Donkey, and Daniel Hagen as Lord Farquaad. The trio of Abigail Moubry, Ainsley Munson, and Aria Soenksen serve as the tale's Storytellers, and more than three dozen youths complete the ensemble: Cohen Kirchhoff; Aspen Rushford; Serenity Heinrich; Erin Leon; Samuel Hess; Evan Shearer; Jaelyn Roth; Annabelle Hagen; Brynlee Dies; Anika Kettmann; Cohen Kirchhoff; LilyAnna Ochoa; Paisley Westercamp; Lillian Miracle; JoAnna Ochoa; Bradyn Notz; Lois Purcell; Aspen Rushford; Kenlynn Leroy; Lily Soenksen; Adaleigh Stoller; Norah Manthei; Ella Smith; Penny Pape; Averie Hoffman; Mansyn Kirchhoff; Kyra Nelson; Micah Hess; Caleb Leon; Roman Fleming; Emma Schmidt; Francis McLaughlin; Noah Warren; Natalie Kintzle; Jalynn Henshaw; Meyer Soenksen; Rosie Pape; Mia Shearer; Briar Purcell; Emma Stroyan; and Olivia Kloos.
Shrek the Musical Jr. will be presented in Maquoketa on August 3 and 3, with performances Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Admission is $8-15, and more information and tickets are available by calling (563)652-9815 and visiting OhnwardFineArtsCenter.com.
