What does the typical fairytale story look like? Maybe princesses, brave knights, a common evil enemy, and a happily-ever-after.
Well, the story of Shrek, based on the 2001 DreamWorks movie, offers a different interpretation of the famous fairy tale trope.
The Musical Shrek is about an ogre named Shrek, played by Parker G. (‘25), who peacefully lives in his swamp home, when one day his entire world is turned upside down by the king, Lord Farquad played by Reid C. (‘26). He is then forced to challenge the kind of villain narrative he has been living – while embarking on a journey to find the lost princess with his sidekick, Donkey, played by Leah M. (’25).
Based on the show’s plot, this production proved to be different than the ones previously put on by Milken due to the show’s message to challenge the typical fairy tale narrative and accept yourself for who you are. This is a message that the director of the performance, Ms. Fig, commented on in her director’s notes in the program.
“The time was finally right for this story– one that celebrates the power of self-acceptance, the importance of community, and the beauty of being different,” she wrote.
There were several outstanding aspects of this production, but no show can be put on without its actors, and this cast was full of many talented ones. In Parker’s performance, he excellently portrayed Shrek’s growth and poignantly conveyed the development of the character’s identity. An aspect of Parker’s performance that stood out was his capability to give the audience a feeling of hope and drive the message that individuality makes us who we are.
A character who also stood out in this production was Donkey, played by Leah M. (‘25). Throughout the show, Donkey is a funny and comical character who is always there to draw a laugh out of the audience and help Shrek on his voyage. Leah always brought the fun and entertaining side to Donkey, giving energy to every scene she was in.
Another notable role was that of the Princess Fiona. She is not your average maiden and spends the show fighting with the idea of wanting a perfect fairy tale and finding herself in love with Shrek. This role was played by Liz H. (‘26) and with her breathtaking singing and display of a true torn character, she really brought Princess Fiona to life, not just as a Princess but as a complicated character in search of her own identity.
In addition to just the main roles, the entire cast was phenomenal and really expressed the idea of being true to who you are through the show’s catchy songs and dances. This amazing ensemble not only gained recognition on their own Milken stage but also received recognition and a nomination for Best Ensemble and Chorus for the Jerry Herman Awards.
The Jerry Herman Awards is a High School Musical Theatre Celebration that honors excellence in high school productions. Along with the cast as a whole, members of the show who were nominated individually for an award are Reid C.(‘26) for best supporting actor, Liz H. (‘26) for best actress, and Parker G. (‘25) for best actor.
Putting together a production like Shrek is not simple, as one of the Ensemble members, Dorothy V. (‘280 states, “I spent around 3-4 hours at rehearsal, but once it got to tech/show weeks it was around seven hours.” In addition to long rehearsals and extensive onesfor the actors, the production had many others working to bring the show together, one component being the set.
Whether it was your typical fairy tale castle or a swamp, Grant Gerrard, the set designer, allowed the viewers to step into the world of Shrek and really see the story come to life in front of them.
Someone who also contributed to the visual aspects of the show was the costume designer, Angela Manke. She designed costumes that accurately reflected the diverse characters in the show, and she created outfits that showcased a variety of vibrant colors.
The music formed another outstanding creative component, and a live band played the score and faced direction from Milken’s Music Director, Sarah Shapiro. “Shap” commented on the exceptional soundtrack for the show in her director’s notes in the program.
“Jeanine Tesori’s score for Shrek the Musical creates a brilliant tapestry of musical theatre parodies and homages,” she wrote.
Additionally, Lindsy Kerr, the choreographer, worked with the students hands (and feet)-on to put together the incredible and elaborate dances that a show like Shrek requires. Madi F. (‘27) commented on her experience with dance in the show and said, “For me, the most difficult part was the dancing. In Shrek,
we had a tap dancing number. I’ve never tap danced ever so it was a very hard but fun experience learning how to tap dance.”
Shrek the Musical was an excellent way to end Milken’s High School performances for the year, and can definitely be said to make everyone excited for future productions!
The musical was not only an entertaining show, but also brought everyone in the cast together as a community, as Madi further stated about her experience, “With Shrek, it was really evident that every single person in their cast had their moment, and it felt so beautiful to have this community.”