Each show, as I sit down to write my Director’s Note, I am more and more swept away by the power of the theater community. The cast, crew, production staff, and our many parent volunteers, have worked tirelessly together to bring this story to life for you amidst laughter, excitement, and the pure joy of working together. I am honored to be part of this company, and thrilled to be presenting Shrek the Musical. Two months ago, we started with a blank stage, a cast of 37 people, a group of collaborative artists and stage technicians, all sharing a vision of how we could tell this story. This collective effort is what theater community is all about!
On the surface, Shrek is purely a fun children’s story. An ogre on a quest, a beautiful princess, talking donkey, beloved fairy tale characters, a magical dragon, and a very short prince. All these elements are present in this wildly entertaining show; however, the story of Shrek also holds moral truths and challenges our thinking. In many ways it parallels issues in today’s society. The fairy tale characters accept they are freaks, because Farquaad says they are misfits, as they do not fit his vision of perfect citizens. Our ideas of beauty and worth are often shaped by the negative voices in our world, and like Fiona, we try to be what others expect. Fiona desperately tries to hide who she is, believing her authentic self is not good enough. Due to his past hurtful experiences, Shrek believes everyone he meets will reject him. We follow our characters as they learn to be who they were born to be. We rejoice as our fairy tale characters stand up to Farquaad and find their collective voice, and celebrate their traits that make them unique and wonderful. Let us all celebrate our differences and stand up to the forces who scream conformity is the only way!
I would like to recognize Patrick Henry and Mira Mesa High School Drama Departments for their support on this project. Thank you to Angel Merritt and Sue Ranscht for sharing their talents in costuming, Francia Cohen for her work on wigs, and to the entire Jordan family for their invaluable contributions to our scenic designs. It has been my true pleasure to work with Joe, Greg, and Moriah on this project. Their friendship and expertise is a blessing to me. Working with this team not only makes me a better director; but they also inspire me to be a better person!
I hope you are transformed and empowered by what you see, as well as truly entertained by the wonder of musical theater! Thank you for supporting Young Actors' Theatre, and being part of our community. You are us, and we are you!
