CEDAR CITY — Ogre sightings and talking donkeys will soon become the buzz around Cedar City when Canyon View High School performs “Shrek The Musical” Thursday through Saturday and Monday, 7 p.m., with a Saturday matinée performance at 2 p.m.
As opening night draws closer, the school theater department urges community members to keep their eyes open. Shrek and Fiona and other fairy tale creatures may wander off the stage and onto the streets looking for a little adventure.
The school asks you keep your smartphone cameras ready and if you spot an ogre or talking donkey snap a photo and share it on social media with the hashtag #SHREKCVHS or on the Canyon View High School theater department’s Facebook page because the Big Bad Wolf, Pinocchio and the three little pigs are looking for a new home.
After all, Lord Farquaad just kicked out all of the fairy tale creatures from their homes and sent Shrek on a mission to rescue a princess in a tower. Who knows where they will be seen this week when they are not on the stage telling their epic adventure story during one of their five performances?
This family-friendly musical “Shrek the Musical” will feature 45 cast members and around a dozen tech and production team roles filled by high school students. The students will fill the main leads with Isaac Hughes as Shrek, Ame Plummer as Fiona, Anna Davis as Donkey, Brandon Stone as Farquaad and Asia Neilson as Dragon.
Adding to the magic of this event, songs like “Big, Bright Beautiful World,” “I’m a Believer,” will be accompanied by a live orchestra made up of both high school and community musicians. Canyon View High School drama teacher, Holly Barrick has enlisted the help of community musicians and theater experts to work side by side with her student production team.
Choreographer Tatem Trotter has been working with student choreographer Brandon Stone and student dance captain Morgan Jenson to help a stage full of fairytale characters find their groove. Southern Utah University student, Taylor Rowley, will be conducting the orchestra as SUU student musicians join high school students to bring musical depth to this play with live music.
“We have had a lot of support from the SUU music and theatre department,” Barrick said.
“Shrek The Musical” will kick off their five public performances with a dinner and theater event gala, Thursday, 5 p.m. at Canyon View High School. The gala is a fundraiser for the theater department and includes dinner and a silent auction.
Gala tickets and performance tickets are on sale at the Canyon View High School front office or from cast members. Gala tickets cost $10 and performance tickets are $5 each. Gala tickets must be ordered in advance. Show tickets will also be available at the door on the night of each performance.
Event details
- What: Shrek the Musical
- When: Thursday through Saturday, Monday, 7 p.m., Saturday matinee 2 p.m.
- Where: Canyon View High School auditorium
- Tickets: Show – $5 | Gala – $10 each, or $40 for a family of five
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