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RECOMMENDED TALKING POINTS

“What is SHREK THE MUSICAL?”

 The official title of the show is SHREK THE MUSICAL.

 SHREK THE MUSICAL is an entirely new musical based on the story and
characters from William Steig’s book Shrek!, as well as the Oscar® winning
DreamWorks Animation film Shrek, the first chapter of the Shrek movie series.

 SHREK THE MUSICAL looks backwards at all the fairy tale traditions we grew
up on: a hero (a big, green, ill-tempered ogre), a beautiful princess (who is not all she
appears to be), and a dastardly villain (with some obvious shortcomings) and takes
great fun turning all their storytelling conventions upside-down and inside-out (and
on their ear).

“How did the musical come about?”


 Sam Mendes, the British director and producer, was a big fan of the first film, and he
suggested the idea of creating a musical to DreamWorks’ Jeffrey Katzenberg, around
the time the second film was in production. Now, the musical is being produced by
DreamWorks Theatricals (Bill Damaschke, President) and Neal Street
Productions, Ltd (principals Sam Mendes and Caro Newling).

“How does the new musical fit into the Shrek pantheon?”
 The story of the musical follows the events and characters of the first Shrek feature
film, which won the first-ever Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature. In
SHREK THE MUSICAL, the creative team will go deeper into the background
and story of Shrek, Princess Fiona, Donkey and the lovable collection of everyone’s
favorite Fairy-Tale characters. SHREK THE MUSICAL will feature a completely
original score by one the theatre’s most eclectic composers, Jeanine Tesori, working
in theatre today.
“Who is the audience for the Shrek musical?”
 In the same way the first Shrek film’s wit and humor appealed to audiences of all
ages, the musical is being created to appeal to adults as well as younger audiences.
The unique talents of the creative team will bring a strong theatricality to a show that
should appeal to avid theatergoers as well as less traditional audiences.

“What will Shrek & Donkey look like?”


 The physical appearance of Shrek and the other characters onstage is being created
by one of the most in-demand theatre-artists working today; award-winning designer
Tim Hatley, who designed Monty Python’s Spamalot, as well as dozens of movies,
plays, musicals and opera in the United States and Europe. The look of the
characters and the far, far away world they live in is currently in development and
will be revealed when the musical goes in to performance.

“Who’s Who In SHREK”?

 SHREK: Tony Award® nominee Brian d’Arcy James was most recently seen in
Broadway’s The Apple Tree and has earned praise in a variety of Broadway
productions including Sweet Smell of Success, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Lieutenant of
Inishmore as well as the National Tour of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.
 PRINCESS FIONA: Sutton Foster, currently receiving raves as Inga in
Broadway’s Young Frankenstein, won the hearts (and the Tony®) of audiences with
her Broadway debut in Thoroughly Modern Millie and recently starring in The Drowsy
Chaperone.
 DONKEY: Chester Gregory II is currently playing the role of Dupree in
Broadway’s Crybaby. He was also seen on Broadway as Terk in Disney’s Tarzan, and
Seaweed in Hairspray.
 LORD FARQUAAD: Tony Award® nominee Christopher Sieber is currently
starring on Broadway in Monty Python’s Spamalot and has also been seen in Broadway’s
Chicago, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Thoroughly Modern Millie.
 PINOCCHIO: John Tartaglia was nominated for a Tony Award® for his
performance in the Tony Award®-winning Avenue Q and is currently the executive
producer and star of Disney Channel’s “Johhny and the Sprites.”
 DRAGON: Kecia Lewis-Evans is currently starring on Broadway in Chicago and
was recently seen on Broadway as Trix in The Drowsy Chaperone.

“Who made SHREK THE MUSICAL?”


 The creative team behind SHREK THE MUSICAL is comprised of some of the
most innovative people working in the theatre today. The shows these artists created
have received:
 20 Tony® Awards
 16 Drama Desk Awards
 8 Olivier Awards
 The Grammy® Award
 The Pulitzer Prize®
The Creative Team
David Lindsay-Abaire (book and lyrics), first came to theatergoers’ attention with dark
comedies such as Fuddy Meers and last year won the Pulitzer Prize® for his Tony®
nominated play, Rabbit Hole.
Jeanine Tesori (music), made her Broadway debut with the Tony Award®-winning
Best Musical Thoroughly Modern Millie and enjoyed critical acclaim in New York and
London for Caroline, or Change.
Jason Moore (direction) helmed the Tony Award®-winning Avenue Q, and most
recently directed the sold-out, limited engagement of Jerry Springer: The Opera at Carnegie
Hall.
Tim Hatley (sets and costumes) created sets and costumes for the smash Broadway
musical, Spamalot as well as receiving the Tony Award® for Private Lives.
Hugh Vanstone (lighting) was nominated for his work on Broadway’s Spamalot and Art,
as well as winning three Olivier Awards for his work on The West End.
Josh Prince (choreographer) is making his Broadway debut with Shrek The Musical. He
choreographed the sold-out, limited engagement of Jerry Springer: The Opera at Carnegie
Hall and the upcoming Camelot at Lincoln Center.

“When will SHREK THE MUSICAL come to Broadway?”


 SHREK THE MUSICAL will play an exclusive world premiere engagement at The
5TH Avenue Theatre in Seattle, August 14th to September 21st
 Previews for groups begin November 11, 2008 with Opening Night set for
December 14, 2008 at the legendary Broadway Theatre.

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