Photo Coverage: SHREK The Musical Opening Night Curtain Call 2008/12/15

DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. brought SHREK THE MUSICAL to the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway @ 53rd St) last night Sunday, December 14, 2008. Preview performances began on Saturday, November 8, 2008. The big green musical celebrated in full Broadway style and BroadwayWorld's cameras were there to bring you all the 'swamp filled' fun!

SHREK THE MUSICAL stars Tony Award® nominee Brian d'Arcy James as Shrek, Tony Award® winner Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona, Tony Award® nominee Christopher Sieber as Lord Farquaad, Tony Award® nominee Daniel Breaker as Donkey and Tony Award® nominee John Tartaglia as Pinocchio.

Joining these actors are Cameron Adams, Haven Burton, Jennifer Cody, Ben Crawford,Bobby Daye, Ryan Duncan, Sarah Jane Everman, Aymee Garcia, Leah Greenhaus,Justin Greer, Lisa Ho, Chris Hoch, Danette Holden, Marty Lawson, Jacob Ming-Trent,Carolyn Ockert-Haythe, Marissa O'Donnell, Denny Paschall, Rachel Resheff, Greg Reuter, Adam Riegler, Noah Rivera, Heather Jane Rolff, Jennifer Simard, Rachel Stern,Dennis Stowe, David F.M. Vaughn.

SHREK THE MUSICAL is an entirely new musical based on the story and characters fromWilliam Steig's book Shrek!, as well as the Dreamworks Animation film Shrek, the first chapter of the Shrek movie series. SHREK THE MUSICAL played a pre-Broadway engagement at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre from August 14th to September 21st.

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, who staged the Tony Award®-winning Best Musical, Avenue Q and Jerry Springer - The Opera in Concert at Carnegie Hall.

SHREK THE MUSICAL is Dreamworks Animation's first venture in legitimate theater. The production 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 being produced by DreamWorks Theatricals (Bill Damaschke, President) and Neal Street Productions, Ltd (principals Sam Mendes and Caro Newling).

Other members of the SHREK THE MUSICAL creative team include Tony Award®-winning set and costume designer, Tim Hatley (Monty Python's Spamalot, Private Lives, among others), three-time Olivier Award-winning lighting designer, Hugh Vanstone, whose Broadway credits include Monty Python's Spamalot, Bombay Dreams, The Blue Room and Art, and sound designer Peter Hylenski (Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me and Cry-Baby).
The choreography is by newcomer Josh Prince, and Tim Weil (Rent) is serving as music director.

Tickets for SHREK THE MUSICAL are available by calling Telecharge.com at (212) 239-6200, (800) 432-7250 outside the NY metro area, online at Telecharge.com, or in person at The Broadway Theatre box office (1681 Broadway @ 53rd St). Group sales are available by contacting Telecharge Group Sales at 212-239-6262, or 800-432-7780.

For more information, visit www.shrekthemusical.com

Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

John Tartaglia

Christopher Sieber

Daniel Breaker

Sutton Foster

Brian d'Arcy James

John Tartaglia, Daniel Breaker, Brian d'Arcy James, Sutton Foster and Christopher Sieber

John Tartaglia, Daniel Breaker, Brian d'Arcy James, Sutton Foster, Christopher Sieber and Jason Moore

Danette Holden, Jason Moore, Jennifer Simard, Adam Riegler, John Tartaglia and Daniel Breaker

John Tartaglia, Daniel Breaker, Brian d'Arcy James and Sutton Foster

John Tartaglia, Daniel Breaker and Brian d'Arcy James

Daniel Breaker, Brian d'Arcy James, Sutton Foster and Christopher Sieber

Brian d'Arcy James and Sutton Foster

Shrek celebrates Opening Night!

Shrek the Musical at the Broadway Theatre

Shrek the Musical

Related Links

Photo Flashback: Ben Crawford is SHREK THE MUSICAL's 'Big, Bright & Beautiful' New Leading 'Ogre'
Beginning November 10th, Ben Crawford has been performing the title role of �Shrek'. Crawford replaces Tony Award® nominee Brian d'Arcy James, who departed after the performance on Sunday, November 8th to appear in Manhattan Theatre Club's production of Time Stands Still.

Photo Flashback: SHREK THE MUSICAL Celebrates One Year on Broadway and Bids Star Brian d'Arcy James Farewell
The cast and crew of SHREK THE MUSICAL®, the Tony Award®-winning production, celebrated the show's one year anniversary on Broadway with a reception on stage at the Broadway Theatre on Sunday, November 8th after the matinee performance. Cupcakes were provided to the cast by CRUMBS Bake Shop. The production also said goodbye to original "SHREK" star Brian d'Arcy James who played his final performance in the title role yesterday as well.

BWW TV Flashback: Broadway Beat at SHREK's Opening Night
Shrek The Musical - opened up on Sunday, December 14, 2008 and BroadwayWorld and Broadway Beat were at Opening Night to capture all the excitement!

SHREK THE MUSICAL to End Broadway Run on January 3; Tour Starts July 2010
SHREK THE MUSICAL®, the Tony Award®-winning production, will play its final performance on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway) on Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. following 441 performances and 37 previews. SHREK THE MUSICAL® will launch a national tour at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre for a limited engagement, July 13 - September 5, 2010.

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After his life as an ingenue in Brooklyn & Queens, Walter spent the next 25 Years in a leading role as a Photographer / Photo Researcher in Manhattan. He is currently headlining in New Jersey with his partner Richard and children Dali & Gala. As a 14 year old youth, Walter was transfixed by his first Broadway Show, the original production of "GREASE". His journey on the path to celebrity photojournalism began that fateful night. Meeting, photographing and getting to know the cast inspired him to spend his professional life doing what he loved. Broadway introduced him to his two homes... Retna Ltd & BroadwayWorld.com, represented by: www.retna.com.

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