By Jennifer Grace
This spring the Vicksburg Performing Arts Center will be going green as Vicksburg High School presents “SHREK THE MUSICAL”. The musical is based on the OSCAR winning DreamWorks film that started it all, bringing the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to dazzling new life on the stage.
Performances are Friday and Saturday, March 14, 15 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 23 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased Monday – Friday from 3 – 7 p.m. at the Vicksburg Performing Arts Center box office beginning March 3 or by calling the box office at 321-1192. Tickets can be purchased on line now at www.vicksburgcommunityschools.org/PAC/.
In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre – not a handsome prince – shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won’t shut up, a bad guy with a SHORT temper, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily there’s one on hand… And his name is Shrek.
This show, directed and choreographed by Melissa Sparks and under the vocal musical direction of Dustin Morris has generated much excitement among the high school performers. Many cast members began preparing for auditions last summer, as soon as the show was announced. The kids really connect with the music and the message of SHREK, which is a story of individuality and acceptance, a great message for school age kids, Sparks pointed out. The show is full of great music and dancing and a message that will send the audiences away smiling.
The majority of the cast and crew are high school students, but there are a few elementary and middle school students playing some of the younger characters. Junior Jacob Miller plays title character Shrek and Shelby Grace, also a junior is Princess Fiona. Shrek’s sidekick donkey is played by senior Nathaniel Chiu and the short role of Lord Farquaad is played by Adam Wallace.