Today we’re jumping back to the late noughties with some fun-filled fantasy musical theatre. Today’s TONY Tuesday is:

“What’s Up, Duloc?” from SHREK The Musical at the 2009 TONY Awards ceremony. 

Based on the DreamWorks motion picture, Shrek The Musical (which in turn was based on the book by William Steig) tells the story of an Ogre whose swamp has become a dumping ground for all of the fairytale creatures in the land, due to the evil Lord Farquaad. Shrek leaves his swamp to challenge Farquaad’s decision. Farquaad finds he cannot legitimately rule without marrying a princess so orders Shrek to go and save a princess from a dragon and in return, he will give him his swamp back. Shrek The Musical is the unlikely story of the power that love can have on healing the heart and learning to see beyond appearances.

The film was released in 2001 and a year later, work began on the musical between director Jason Moore and book writer and lyricist David Lindsay-Abaire. After finishing Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jeanine Tesori came on board as composer in 2004 and by 2007, the production was in readings and workshops.

Shrek The Musical had its out-of-town try out in Seattle in August 2008, running til September of the same year. The opening cast included Brian D’Arcy James as Shrek, Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona, Chester Gregory II as Donkey, Christopher Sieber as Lord Farquaad, John Tartaglia as Pinocchio and Kecia Lewis-Evans as the Dragon. The show opened to positive reviews, being cited as one of the few movie to musical adaptations that really worked. During previews, the show was reworked; cutting songs that were less successful and introducing the ones we know today such as ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ and ‘Make A Move’. ‘Build A Wall’ was also cut and then reinstated further on in the run. 

The show again underwent changes before making its Broadway debut at The Broadway Theatre two months later in November 2008. The Seattle cast all reprised their roles for the Broadway turn, save Gregory and Lewis-Evans. Daniel Breaker assumed the role of Donkey due to creative differences with Gregory and the role, and ensemble members Haven Burton, Aymee Garcia and Rachel Stern took over the role of the Dragon when they made the decision to turn it into a dramatic Greek chorus. Lewis-Evans was offered a role in the ensemble but ultimately declined the role.

The show opened to mixed to positive reviews, citing the performances (especially that of D’Arcy James and Foster) being the show stealers. After being played as exit music, ‘I’m A Believer’ was added to the score in October 2009. The show was nominated for eight 2009 TONY Awards, winning for Best Costume. The Broadway production closed on 3 January 2010, failing to recoup its investment as at the time, it was one of the most expensive musicals produced in Broadway history with a budget of $25million. 

Six months after its Broadway closure and after an extensive rehaul, Shrek The Musical opened in Chicago as the first stop on its North American tour. Haven Burton, who had understudied the role on Broadway, took the role of Princess Fiona, with Eric Peterson as Shrek, Alan Mingo Jr as Donkey, David F. M. Vaughn as Lord Farquaad and Blakely Slaybaugh as Pinocchio. The show underwent many changes to songs and illusions including a rewritten opening. The biggest change was reverting the character of the Dragon back to a single actor and having four puppeteers control a 25” puppet onstage to represent her. Carrie Compere played the Dragon and sung the new song “Forever” in place of “Donkey Pot Pie”. This version was also co-directed by Rob Ashford. 

The revised production opened in London’s West End at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane on 6 May 2011. The show starred Nigel Lindsay as Shrek, Amanda Holden as Fiona, Richard Blackwood as Donkey, Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad, Landi Oshinowo as the Dragon and Jonathan Stewart as Pinocchio. The London production omitted the songs ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ and ‘Build A Wall’. Largely the show opened to positive critical reviews, specifically citing Nigel Harman’s performance, who ultimately went on to win the 2012 Olivier for Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical. The musical was successful with audiences and closed at the venue in February 2013.

Another revised version toured the UK a year after its West End closure, this time with Nigel Harman directing the production. A reduced version of ‘Don’t Let Me Go’ was added for the tour. Dean Chisnall, who closed the West End production in the title role,e reprised it on the tour, accompanied by Faye Brookes as Princess Fiona, Idriss Kargbo as Donkey, Gerard Carey as Lord Farquaad, Candace Fubert as the Dragon and Will Haswell as Pinocchio. A year later in 2017, another UK tour was launched, again directed by Harman. This tour starred Stefan Harri as Shrek, Amelia Lily and Laura Main alternating the role of Princess Fiona, Samuel Holmes as Lord Farquaad and Marcus Ayton as Donkey. The tour ran for just shy of two years. 

The original Broadway production was filmed and made available on DVD. 

If you haven’t listened to this awesome musical yet Besties, you’re missing out! Get on it.

Cast recording available on streaming services. 

FACTS:

Music: Jeanine Tesori
Lyrics: David Lindsay-Abaire
Book: David Lindsay-Abaire
Theatre: The Broadway Theatre
Run: 8 November 2008 – 3 January 2010 (37 previews and 441 regular performances) 

TONYS:

(NOMINATED) Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical – David Lindsay-Abaire, Best Original Score – Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire, Best Actor in a Musical – Brian D’Arcy James, Best Actress in a Musical – Sutton Foster, Best Supporting Actor in a Musical – Christopher Sieber, Best Orchestrations – Danny Troob and John Clancy 

(WON) Best Costume Design – Tim Hatley 

OLIVIERS: 

(NOMINATED) Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical – Nigel Lindsay, Best Costume Design – Tim Hatley.

(WON) Best Supporting Performance in a Musical – Nigel Harman