“Onions have layers. Ogres have layers.”
– Shrek
“What makes us special makes us strong. We are different and united.
You are us, and we are you. Let your freak flag wave. Let your freak flag fly.
Never take it down. Raise it way up high.”
– Freak Flag
“It’s a big, bright, beautiful world with possibilities everywhere. If true love is blind, maybe you won’t mind the view? You’ve never read a book like this—but fairy tales should really be updated.”
– Big Bright Beautiful World (Reprise)
Welcome to The Davis Academy’s big, bright, beautiful world of swamps, towers, castles, royals, ogres, fairytale creatures, princesses, and a whole host of unforgettable characters that make up Shrek Jr.!
This show is truly unique in that it speaks to children and adults alike. Beneath the layers of fun, flash, and flatulence lies a story that strikes a chord in our ears and resonates deeply in our hearts. Derived from Yiddish and the German word schreck, meaning “fear” or “fright,” Shrek invites us to face our fears—both psychological and physical—and to push beyond them in search of belonging, home, and acceptance.
Shrek: The Musical brings to life the work of beloved Jewish author and legendary New Yorker cartoonist William Steig, expanding upon his original story with a powerful reminder: do not judge a book by its cover. It celebrates the truth that being different is not just acceptable—it is extraordinary. It calls on us not to fear, reject, or banish those who do not look or live like us, but instead to embrace them. Time and again, it is the individual who dares to stand apart, who breaks from the crowd, who becomes the inspirational leader and the treasure of our hearts and minds—affirming that what makes us special makes us strong.
This is a classic fractured fairytale—updated, reimagined, and turned upside down—reminding us that things are not always as they appear. Perhaps, instead, we are meant to peel back the layers of one another’s stories to reveal the truth within. In Shrek Jr., dragons are friendly, swamps are preferable to castles, and heroes are not defined by conventional beauty or nobility. Shrek, our unlikely anti-hero, is a big green ogre who—despite his outward appearance—wins the heart of Princess Fiona, and all of us, through his humor, wit, and deeply genuine spirit.
Our production, too, peels away layers—the masks and protective armor we all wear—and tells a story rooted in the lifelong journey of identity and acceptance, of love and friendship, of hiding and revealing, of conformity and individuality, and ultimately, of finding one’s true home.
Our cast and crew have lived this journey. They have peeled back their own layers, discovering who they are as individuals while caring for one another every step of the way. They have embodied B’Tzelem Elohim—the belief that we are all created in G-d’s image—and in doing so, have recognized the beauty within themselves and each other. With conviction, passion, and Ruach, they have found a sense of home both on this electrifying stage and within the hallways of Davis.
Working with children of all ages in theatre, I witness each day the extraordinary capacity of the human heart and mind—the shaping of identity, the power of voice, and the remarkable ability of young people to transform imagined experiences into lived truth. It is for this reason that I am certain of theatre’s immeasurable power to leave a lasting imprint on intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual growth. Theatre for children is, without question, life-changing. It empowers them to discover their unique gifts, to find conviction in their voices, and to stand confidently and proudly in who they are.
Everything we need to learn—to grow, to succeed, and to prepare for life—can be found on the stage. Even more so within educational theatre, where curiosity, freedom of expression, creative play, open-mindedness, risk-taking, and the joy of learning reign supreme. These are the pillars upon which collaborative, connected, and deeply engaged communities are built.
