Welcome to the swamp!
It has been an absolute joy to co-direct Shrek the Musical alongside Jack O’Connell. Watching Jack’s vision come to life has been a true privilege—his creativity, passion, and heart are woven into every scene. This show is a whirlwind of heart, hilarity, and happily-ever-afters (with a few unexpected detours along the way), and it’s been a true labor of love bringing it to the stage.
My journey with Elkhorn Community Theatre began in 2002, and over the years, I’ve worn many hats—actor, director, and now board president. This theatre has given me more than just an outlet for creativity; it’s given me life-long friendships, both on and off the stage.
Some of my most cherished memories involve sharing the spotlight with my husband Bill and daughter Paige—especially when we all performed together in The Wedding Singer. That’s the heart of community theatre—it brings people together, not just for a show, but for a shared experience that becomes part of who we are.
To our incredible cast, crew, and creative team: thank you for your energy, commitment, and willingness to embrace your inner ogre (and fairy tale creature). You’ve made this show a hilarious, heartfelt adventure, and I couldn’t be prouder.
And to you, our audience—thank you for supporting live theatre and being part of the Elkhorn Community Theatre family. Whether this is your first time in the seats or your fifteenth, we’re so glad you’re here.
Now sit back, relax, and remember: beautiful isn’t always pretty, heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes the best fairy tales start with an onion.
With gratitude,
Jessica Pulte
Co-Director, Shrek the Musical
Welcome to Shrek: the Musical!
We are so excited to have you with us and cannot wait to share with you the incredible production this dedicated cast and crew has spent weeks (or more!) working on.
Shrek is a movie that holds a special place in my heart. I saw it in theaters twice, and that means a lot because my hometown had one movie screen and three showtimes per week. Once it came out on VHS, my brother and I just about wore the thing out. We went through a phase where when we got up on the weekends, instead of playing video games or putting on Looney Tunes, we’d just pop on Shrek and have a party.
As a kid of course you don’t put a lot of thought into why exactly something sticks with you. You just have fun laughing at the jokes you get (and being confused when your parents laugh in places that make no sense), being scared of Dragon (until you’re not), and bopping along to the fun soundtrack.
As an adult though, things are a bit different. When I direct, I like to come up with a show theme, and Jessica kindly humors me in this. In a perfect world, the theme of the show ties in with the theme of the story we’re telling as well.
When Jessica asked me to direct this show with her, we talked about how every character in this story is struggling with loneliness and their own personal way of expressing it. Some deny they’re lonely at all, some scream it and decide to fix it, some pray for rescue from it, some force people to keep them company.
It made the show theme easy.
We at ECT say constantly how this production is our summer family. When you’re a part of the massive production and performance team here, you’re never alone because you’re with your Chosen Family.
We hope that genuine joy we feel each time we step through those doors helps you feel just a little bit a part of this family we grow every year.
All the love,
Jack O’Connell
Co-Director, Shrek the Musical
