Waimea Community Theatre announces ‘Shrek the Musical’ cast

Waimea Community Theatre will bring everyone’s favorite upside-down fairy tale to Kahilu Theatre with the group’s presentation of Shrek the Musical, a song-and dance-filled stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning DreamWorks animated film.

Shrek the Musical opens Aug. 20 and runs through Aug. 23. Shows are slated at 7 p.m. Aug. 20 to 22 and at 3 p.m. on Aug. 23. There will be one encore performance at the Honokaa People’s Theatre at 4 p.m. Aug. 29.

Closing out its 51st season, Waimea Community Theatre re-creates the fantasy Kingdom of Far Far Away — with many hilarious, irreverent twists. Instead of a knight riding a noble steed, the hero is Shrek, a swamp-dwelling ogre teamed up with a chatterbox donkey. And the princess? She’s the slightly temperamental Fiona. After Shrek rescues Fiona from a dragon-guarded tower, the two fall in love before she reveals there’s more to her than meets the eye. Other fairy tale misfits add surprises: from a Gingerbread Cookie with an attitude to Three Blind Mice channeling their inner Dreamgirls.

This entertaining, family friendly show features a terrific score, with 19 songs including “Travel Song” and “I’m a Believer.” The songs come from Jeanine Tesori, who wrote the music, and David Lindsay-Abaire, who wrote the book and lyrics.

Directed by Rhonda Simon with musical direction by Barbara Kopra, the cast is headed up by Shrek the Ogre, played by Rick Turnbow; and Donkey, played by Clem Lam. Alex Disney is the beautiful Princess Fiona with Kurt Simon playing the evil Farquaad. The total cast numbers 52 and promises to make your whole family laugh out loud.

Tickets for the shows at Kahilu Theatre are $30/$20/$15 and can be purchased at www.kahilutheatre.org.

The Waimea Community Theatre’s presentation of Shrek the Musical is sponsored in part by Lee Farms, Kimi White of Rainbow Properties, UPS Store of Waimea, and Crossfit Allstar.

For more information, visit www.waimeacommunitytheatre.org or call 885-7660.