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Shrek the Musical is an over-the-top, hit-filled, ridiculously fun retelling of the retelling of a delightfully silly tale by William Steig. This story of the ultimate monster with a heart of gold - and a Scottish accent – has delighted audiences since it was animated in 2001 by DreamWorks Studios. Our production attempts to call up the feel of the original designs. However, since Shrek himself says that “Fairy tales should really be updated,” we have tried adding the much-needed modernized influence to match all the anachronistic pop culture references in the script. The story deals with themes of displacement, uniformity and the acceptance of other-ness, and our staging attempts to accent these themes. Shrek was a timely story in light of the historical events and societal changes that have come about since the film was made, but these themes of acceptance and inclusion can be divisive - which, beyond being a real shame, is a misunderstanding of the core truth of loving your neighbor as yourself. The idea that there are many gifts, many types of people, and many varying struggles that make up the image bearers of God is a prevalent New Testament theme. There are many different parts, but one body, and that body is commanded to “be one as [Christ] and the Father are one.” This is not to say that we tolerate or condone each others’ besetting struggles and failures which lie outside the moral will of God as if they are okay and just “who you were born to be", but that knowing we all struggle (“for such were some of you”), we are called to challenge and support one another in growth and progression in our understanding of our relationship with God and others. We are never told to ostracize and condemn the“other", but rather to woo them to the truth. Shrek is obviously not written in a reverent or spiritual language, but the idea that we are to accept others without self-righteous judgment, call all to an alignment with the heart of God in love and embrace their individuality as a gift from God is an inherently Christian idea. It is with this joy and understanding, the spirit and the truth of it, that we present the themes and ideas of Shrek the Musical to you.

Benjamyn Toler