Minneapolis Is Getting a Make-Ogre: Shrek The Musical To Play One Week at the Orpheum Theatre, February 1-6, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS—DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. are pleased to announce that Shrek The Musical with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori, directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford, will play Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Orpheum Theatre for one week only, February 1-6, 2011. Tickets are on sale now. Shrek The Musical is presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust as part of its 2010/11 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis season. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org or call 1.800.982.2787.

The role of everyone’s favorite swamp-dwelling ogre, Shrek will be played by Eric Petersen, who joins the tour from the Broadway production. He recently appeared as the socially challenged Barfee in the national tour of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Haven Burton, also from the Broadway company will play the feisty Princess Fiona. Haven previously played Margo the Dog Whisperer on Broadway in Legally Blonde and understudied the role of Elle Woods. Alan Mingo, Jr. is Shrek’s lovably annoying best friend Donkey. He was an original company member of The Little Mermaid where he played the role of Sebastian, and prior to that played the role of Tom Collins in Rent on Broadway. David F. M. Vaughn plays the vertically challenged villain Lord Farquaad. He too joins the tour from the Broadway company. He has also appeared in Les Misérables and Saturday Night Fever.

Rounding out the cast of misfit fairy tale characters, the peoples of Duloc and Far, Far Away are: Joe Abraham, Kevin Boseman, Holly Ann Butler, Carrie Compere, Emily Cramer, Tyrone Davis, Jr., Sandra DeNise, Hayley Feinstein, David Foley, Aymee Garcia, Brian Gonzales, Lisa Ho, Benjamin Howes, Sean McKnight, Mara Newbery, Denny Paschall, Sarah Peak, Keven Quillon, Morgan Rose, Jason W. Shuffler, Danielle Soibelman and Blakely Slaybaugh.

“We are thrilled to send Shrek The Musical to theatres across the country,” said Bill Damaschke, President of DreamWorks Theatricals, “and for American families to experience their favorite ogre and fairy tale creatures live on stage.”

An entirely new musical, Shrek The Musical is based on the story and characters from William Steig’s book "Shrek!," as well as the DreamWorks Animation film "Shrek," the first chapter of the Shrek movie series.

Shrek The Musical tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon, rescues a feisty princess and learns that real friendship and true love aren’t only found in fairy tales.

Shrek The Musical features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize® winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), music by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Caroline, or Change), and is directed by Tony Award® nominee Jason Moore (Avenue Q) and Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Promises Promises). Shrek The Musical has set and costume designs by Tony Award® winner Tim Hatley (Private Lives, Spamalot), lighting design by Olivier Award winner Hugh Vanstone (A Steady Rain), sound design by Peter Hylenski (Rock of Ages); choreography by Josh Prince, music supervision by Tim Weil, music direction by Andy Grobengieser, and orchestrations by Danny Troob & John Clancy.

Shrek The Musical was initiated when Sam Mendes, a big fan of the first Shrek film, suggested the idea of creating a musical to DreamWorks Animation’s Jeffrey Katzenberg around the time the second film was in production. The musical is produced by DreamWorks Theatricals (Bill Damaschke, President of DreamWorks Theatricals and Co-President of Production for DreamWorks Animation) and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. (principals Sam Mendes and Caro Newling).

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for Shrek The Musical are on sale now and range from $28 to $78 (subject to change) depending on performance time and seating preference. Tickets may be purchased in person at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, 55402), online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org, or through Ticketmaster by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center. All prices include applicable facility fees. Additional charges may apply. Groups of 10 or more should call 612.373.5665 for information and reservations.

Performance dates for Shrek The Musical are Tuesday, Feb. 1 through Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011 at the Orpheum Theatre (910 Hennepin Avenue, Mpls., 55403). Show times are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. *Broadway performances are recommended for ages six and up. Infants are not allowed in the theatre and everyone must have a ticket regardless of age.

The chart-topping original Broadway cast album for Shrek The Musical is available on Decca Broadway.

DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc.
(NASDAQ: DWA)

For more information, visit www.ShrekTheMusical.com or www.HennepinTheatreTrust.org. Join the award-winning Shrekster.com, the Official Fan community of Shrek The Musical delivering news, media and exclusive contests to fans of the Shrek Series and Shrek the Musical. Log in and join your city group for access to the most up to the date news, information and member’s only exclusive content from Shrek and Donkey’s first “whirlwind, big city adventure” across the country: www.shrekster.com/Minneapolis.