UCM Performing Arts Bringing Fairytale Creatures to Highlander Theatre With 鈥楽hrek the Musical鈥�

 

The 欧美视频 (UCM) Division of Theatre and Dance and Division of Music will take audiences on a journey to a far, far away land as 鈥淪hrek the Musical鈥� premieres on the Highlander Theatre stage in November.

Based on the 2001 Oscar-winning animated film and William Steig鈥檚 original book, 鈥淪hrek the Musical鈥� features a lively score by Tony Award-winner Jeanine Tesori and a witty book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize-winner David Lindsay-Abaire. The hilarious, heartwarming and Tony Award-winning production proves beauty is truly in the eye of the ogre.

The story follows Shrek, a grumpy green ogre whose peaceful solitude in his swamp is shattered when a horde of banished fairytale creatures from Pinocchio to the Big Bad Wolf are dumped onto his land by the tiny, tyrannical Lord Farquaad. Determined to reclaim his home, Shrek makes a deal with Farquaad: rescue the fiery Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded tower, and the swamp will be his again. Joined by a chatty, fiercely loyal Donkey, Shrek embarks on a quest that leads to unexpected romance, shocking secrets and a hilarious revolt against conformity. 鈥淪hrek the Musical鈥� delivers a powerful message about self-acceptance, belonging and celebrating what makes everyone unique.

 

鈥淚 have had an amazing time working on this production with the students at UCM,鈥� Guest Director Steve Barth said. 鈥淭hey have opened their hearts to these brave and beautiful characters, allowing this non-traditional fairytale story to come to life. Audiences of all ages are sure to be entertained with the catchy musical numbers, large-scale puppetry and magical spectacle on stage.鈥�

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13-14 and Nov. 19-21 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Highlander Theatre. The production contains strobe lighting, haze/fog effects and loud sound effects and is recommended for ages 5 and up. 

Theatre and Dance will present its Pay-What-You-Can performance at 2 p.m. Nov. 15. Attendees may pay any amount, $1 or more, for a ticket. ASL interpreters will be provided for this matinee performance. 

All tickets for Theatre and Dance productions are free for UCM students, active military personnel, veterans and military families upon presenting a valid student ID or military ID at the box office. 

Tickets are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday by visiting the Theatre and Dance Office in Martin 113 or calling 660-543-4020. Tickets can also be purchased at ucmboxoffice.universitytickets.com. 

The cast includes Matthias Klestinski as Shrek; Anna Fletcher as Fiona; Kahlel Palmer as Donkey; Christopher Jack as Lord Farquaad; Brynlee Jones as Dragon; Dawson Black as Pinocchio; Frankie Nelson as Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy; Liam Love as Big Bad Wolf; Ellie Kitchin as Wicked Witch/Fiona understudy; Alea Ware as Fairy Godmother/Fiona body double; Osyrus Barron as Mad Hatter; Daniel Aubun as Papa Bear/Papa Ogre/Shrek understudy; Julianne Conn as Mama Bear/Mama Ogre/Bluebird; Lizzy Molina as Baby Bear/Teen Fiona; Anthony Frump-Halloran as Peter Pan/Grumpy Dwarf; Katie Hobbs, Trae Selemaea and Audrey Shepard as Three Little Pigs; Gavin Clifton as Shoemaker鈥檚 Elf; Ellie Parsons as Ugly Duckling; Charlie Welker as Young Shrek; Zaely Jaccarino-Plunkett as Young Fiona; Kaedyn Blede as Pied Piper/Bishop/Lord Farquaad understudy; Dawson Black, Gavin Clifton, Julianne Conn, Anthony Frump-Halloran, Ellie Kitchin, Liam Love, Lizzy Molina, Frankie Nelson, Ellie Parsons and Alea Ware as Dulocs; Daniel Aubun, Osyrus Barron, Kaedyn Blede, Katie Hobbs, Trae Selemaea and Audrey Shepard as Guards; Anthony Frump-Halloran, Ellie Kitchin, Lizzy Molina, Ellie Parsons, Trae Selemaea and Allie Whitbey as Rats; Dawson Black, Liam Love, Trae Selemaea and Audrey Shepard as Burned Knights; Julianne Conn, Ellie Kitchin and Ellie Parsons as Three Blind Mice; Trae Selemaea as Donkey understudy; Reagan Medlock as Dragon understudy; Bee Enright as Lead Puppeteer; and Daniel Campbell, Adri Cianciaruli, Sienna Contreras, Xander Corkins, Kaleb Kenyon and Hayden Meschon as Dragon Puppeteers. Ava Broermann, Bee Enright and Ayden Christensen will serve as swings.

The production team includes Guest Director Steve Barth, Co-Musical Directors Daniel Doss and Jack Renfrow, Choreographer Ashley Miller-Scully, Associate Choreographer Allie Whitbey, Guest Stage Manager Gabe Sokolowski, Assistant Stage Managers Mayeli Rodriguez and Landon Younger, Lighting Designer Noah Martin, Sound Designer Aleksandra Combs, Audio Engineer Louise Gregg, Audio Assistant Anjelia Philogene, Scenic Designer/Technical Director Spencer Musser, Assistant Scenic Designer Karsen Martin, Props Designer Shannon Williamson, Assistant Props Designer Abigail Millbyer, Costume Designer Cassie Kay Hoppas, Assistant Costume Designer Alex Edmonds, Guest Hair and Makeup Designer Kayla Jestila, Assistant Hair and Makeup Designer Amiya Jimmerson, Light Board Operator Mikayla Simmons, Scene Shop graduate assistant William Lewis, Wardrobe Crew Head Grace鈥檈 Carr, spotlight operators Mallory Blankenship and Nyx Olsen, Hair and Makeup Crew Head Lucy Nutt, Fly Rail Xander Corkins, House Managers Alex Edmonds and Madison Keep, Box Office Assistants Eddie Manning and Darryllan Wilson, School of Visual and Performing Arts (SVPA) Event Operations Manager Mackynze Rosas, Office Professional Lars Jepsen, and student office workers Ayden Christensen and Kaia Trujillo. 

The production team also includes Wardrobe Crew: Rachel Belshe, Ray Boessen, Caleb Klaus, Madison Taylor, Brooke Opfer, Georgia Perina and Journey Platt; Hair/Makeup Crew: Malia Arnold, Israel Jones, Lynkyn McElmurry-George, Kody Paris and Ashbin Silver; Run Crew: Daniel Campbell, Adri Cianciaruli, Sienna Contreras, Xander Corkins, Kaleb Kenyon and Hayden Meschon; Scene Shop Hires: Samuel Fischer, Abigail Millbyer, Mayeli Rodriguez, Damian Schaffnit and Shannon Williamson; Lighting Shop Hires: Ari Kendrick, Brody Lafrentz, Charlie Vitale and Raegan Weber; Costume Shop Hires: Isabelle Ballard, Alex Edmonds, Cal Klaus, Lynkyn McElmurry-George, Lucy Nutt and Emma Stevens; and SVPA Ushers: Anthony Badillo, Isabelle Ballard, Levi Pope and Charlie Vitale.

The orchestra consists of Conductor Jack Renfrow, Pluto Mock on keyboard, Jo Kiriou on Reed 1, Luna Jackson on Reed 2, Cayden Sharp on trumpet, Chase Paquin on trombone, Eli Williams on horn, Grace Adams on bass, Clover Wilson Brown on drums, Cory Schmitz-Hoepker on percussion, and Brady Morgan on Guitar 1.

UCM Theatre and Dance has three productions remaining in the 2026-27 鈥淸your story here]鈥� season: Spring Studio One-Acts on Feb. 4-6, 鈥淸title of show]鈥� on Feb. 25-28, 鈥淭he Crucible鈥� on March 24-27, and the spring dance concert, 鈥淲onderland,鈥� on April 22-25. 

For more information, contact Ashley Miller-Scully, chair of the Division of Theatre and Dance, at almiller@ucmo.edu or find UCM Theatre and Dance on Facebook and Instagram.

鈥淪hrek the Musical鈥� is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.