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Story and photos courtesy of Franklin School District
FRANKLIN, OH -- Franklin Junior High Drama Club invites everyone to join them in the swamp as they visit Shrek, Fiona, the Donkey, and their friends in SHREK THE MUSICAL JR. on March 7 and 8 at 7 p.m.
Performances will be in the McDade Auditorium. Tickets ($8/adults; $7/seniors; $5/students) are on sale now at https://fhsdrama.booktix.com/ and will be sold at the door, too. Online purchases incur a small fee.
Director/choreographer Grace Wagner noted that while the cast (grades 6, 7, and 8) knew the Shrek franchise and characters, the way the story is told in a stage musical was new to them. She added, “It's still a very similar story all around, and it definitely holds some Easter eggs for fans of the movies.”
For many students, this is their first experience being onstage. Wagner explained that “being onstage for everyone to see can be intimidating.... From singing by yourself to doing funny choreography and more, all of these students have had to push past their fears of being judged or making mistakes.The beauty of theatre is that it is a live experience shared by a group of people and stepping onstage takes a great deal of confidence that I hope all of these young artists can take with them.”
Many students are playing several roles, requiring multiple costume changes and memorizing more than one character’s lines, songs, and choreography.
Wagner said, “We have all had to be creative about how we can tell the story as a group, while also making sure everyone has the time to switch gears.”
Most of the audience will be familiar with the story, but much of the music is original to the musical itself.
Wagner noted, “[the songs] really elevate the characters you know and love. Plus, there might be a familiar song towards the end of the show.”
SHREK THE MUSICAL JR. is the first show Wagner has directed in Franklin, but she has a wealth of experience acting and directing. “I studied theatrical directing at Ball State University and have had the pleasure of directing and devising a variety of shows. Some of my favorite projects to have been a part of include Singin’ in the Rain and Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons. In 2013, I was a tap-dancing rat in the first regional production of Shrek the Musical with the East Side Players.”
Wagner said, “I hope that everyone comes out to support these students and their dedication to putting on the best production possible. It has been an honor to watch them grow.” As far as the students themselves, she said, “Above all else, I hope these students learn how important every single person is to making a production happen.”
Based on:
- the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the Book by William Steig.
- Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire.
- Music by Jeanine Tesori.
- Produced on Broadway by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions
- Original Production Directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford
- I’m a Believer by Neil Diamond
SHREK THE MUSICAL JR. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com
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