John Tartaglia News

Wipe off the green makeup, bulldoze the castle and get rid of the tap-dancing rats- no, keep the tap-dancing rats - and Shrek, despite its fairy-tale setting and gentle lesson about embracing the qualities that make us different, reveals itself as just a good ol' musical comedy. And a darn enjoyable one at that. Of course, whether you find it sophomoric or smartass might depend on your reaction to fart jokes, anachronistic contemporary references and visual quotes from classic musicals, but director Jason Moore has his terrific cast performing their goofy antics with slick professionalism. Add some very humorous puppetry and bright, catchy tunes and you've got a fun night out.

SHREK THE MUSICAL opened at The Broadway Theatre on Sunday, December 14, 2008. Click below to watch Brian D'Aarcy James featured on NBC's WEEKEND TODAY.

SHREK THE MUSICAL star Brian d'Arcy James, who plays Shrek in the new Broadway show, will be featured on NBC's 'Weekend Today' performing 'Who I'd Be' live in-studio on Saturday, January 24. 'Weekend Today' airs nationally on NBC (channel 4, WNBC in the tri-state area). Check local listings. That same morning, James will also be interviewed on WNBC's 'Saturday Today in New York,' airing in the tri-state area after 'Weekend Today' between 9:00am & 10:00am. SHREK THE MUSICAL opened at The Broadway Theatre on Sunday, December 14, 2008. 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 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 star Brian d'Arcy James, who plays Shrek in the new Broadway show, will be featured on NBC's 'Weekend Today' performing 'Who I'd Be' live in-studio on Saturday, January 24. 'Weekend Today' airs nationally on NBC (channel 4, WNBC in the tri-state area). Check local listings. That same morning, James will also be interviewed on WNBC's 'Saturday Today in New York,' airing in the tri-state area after 'Weekend Today' between 9:00am & 10:00am. SHREK THE MUSICAL opened at The Broadway Theatre on Sunday, December 14, 2008. 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 from William Steig's book Shrek!, as well as the DreamWorks Animation film Shrek, the first chapter of the Shrek movie series.

Sandra Bernhard (I'm Still Here... Damn It!, TV's 'Rosanne'), Florence Henderson (Fanny, TV's 'The Brady Bunch'), Maureen McGovern (Little Women, Nine) and Ron Palillo (Hot L. Baltimore, TV's 'Welcome Back, Kotter') will be performing at Broadway Backwards this year, joining previously announced performers Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu, All Shook Up), Tony Award nominee Sally Mayes (She Loves Me), Kate Reinders (Good Vibrations, Gypsy; one-half of TASTiSKANK) and Tony Yazbeck (Gypsy, A Chorus Line), Mario Cantone (Assassins, TV's 'Sex and the City'), Alan Cumming (Cabaret), Gina Gershon (Cabaret, Showgirls), Whoopi Goldberg (Producer: Thoroughly Modern Millie, TV's 'The View'), Aaron Lazar (Les Mis?rables), Megan Mullally (Young Frankenstein, How to Succeed in Business..., TV's 'Will & Grace'), Jai Rodriguez (TV's 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,' Rent), Christopher Sieber (Spamalot), John Tartaglia (Avenue Q), Marty Thomas (Xanadu); and TV's 'Ugly Betty' stars Becki Newton and Michael Urie. Joining the roundup on Monday, February 9, 2009 as Host will be Jim Caruso, who recently appeared alongside Liza Minnelli in Liza's At The Palace!, singing, dancing and celebrating the music and arrangements of the late Kay Thompson and the Williams Brothers. And for the past six years, Jim Caruso has hosted a Monday night showbiz bash called 'Jim Caruso's Cast Party,' which was honored with a New York Nightlife Award, as was his Broadway at Birdland concert series.

Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu, All Shook Up), Tony Award nominee Sally Mayes (She Loves Me), Kate Reinders (Good Vibrations, Gypsy; one-half of TASTiSKANK) and Tony Yazbeck (Gypsy, A Chorus Line) have just been added to the roster of performers to be featured in Broadway Backwards 4, joining previously announced performers Mario Cantone (Assassins, TV's 'Sex and the City'), Alan Cumming (Cabaret), Gina Gershon (Cabaret, Showgirls), Whoopi Goldberg (Producer: Thoroughly Modern Millie, TV's 'The View'), Aaron Lazar (Les Mis?rables), Megan Mullally (Young Frankenstein, How to Succeed in Business..., TV's 'Will & Grace'), Jai Rodriguez (TV's 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,' Rent), Christopher Sieber (Spamalot), John Tartaglia (Avenue Q), Marty Thomas (Xanadu); and TV's 'Ugly Betty' stars Becki Newton and Michael Urie.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its 10th Anniversary season with the debut engagement of acclaimed jazz singer JANE MONHEIT. Her new show - which celebrates the release of her new Concord Records CD 'The Lovers, The Dreamers and Me' - runs from January 20 to February 7 at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its 10th Anniversary season with the debut engagement of acclaimed jazz singer JANE MONHEIT. Her new show - which celebrates the release of her new Concord Records CD 'The Lovers, The Dreamers and Me' - runs from January 20 to February 7 at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

On Monday, January 12th, the entire cast of Shrek The Musical congregated at Legacy Studios in New York City to record the cast album of the stage production. Shrek The Musical features music written by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie & Caroline, or Change), a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), and the production is directed by Tony nominee Jason Moore (Avenue Q). Jeanine Tesori also will be at the helm of the cast album as producer along with Shrek The Musical's sound designer Peter Hylenski as the album's co-producer. BroadwayWorld sent in our cameras as the 'green team' laid down the tracks!

On Monday, January 12th, the entire cast of SHREK THE MUSICAL will be congregating at Legacy Studios in New York City to record the cast album of the stage production. SHREK THE MUSICAL features music written by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie & Caroline, or Change), a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), and the production is directed by Tony nominee Jason Moore (Avenue Q). Jeanine Tesori also will be at the helm of the cast album as producer along with SHREK THE MUSICAL's sound designer Peter Hylenski as the album's co-producer.

On Monday, January 12th, the entire cast of SHREK THE MUSICAL will be congregating at Legacy Studios in New York City to record the cast album of the stage production. SHREK THE MUSICAL features music written by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie & Caroline, or Change), a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), and the production is directed by Tony nominee Jason Moore (Avenue Q). Jeanine Tesori also will be at the helm of the cast album as producer along with SHREK THE MUSICAL's sound designer Peter Hylenski as the album's co-producer.

SHREK THE MUSICAL had its best week ever, grossing $1,268,342 for the 8-performance week ending January 4. SHREK THE MUSICAL opened at The Broadway Theatre on Sunday, December 14, 2008.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Sunday, January 4, 2009.

SHREK THE MUSICAL had their best week ever, grossing $1,260,282 for the 8-performance week ending December 28 and set a single performance house record grossing $202,020 for the Saturday, December 27 matinee. SHREK THE MUSICAL opened at The Broadway Theatre on Sunday, December 14, 2008.

Shrek, the Musical's official web site continues to lead the way in online innovations, now offering the ability to make your own widget.

DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. brought SHREK THE MUSICAL to the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway @ 53rd St) on Sunday, December 14, 2008. Preview performances began on Saturday, November 8, 2008. The cast album from Universal/Decca Broadway will be released March 3rd, 2009.

Eric Sciotto was the Gypsy Robe recipient for Pal Joey at Studio 54. He passed on the robe to Shrek's talented dynamo Jennifer Cody in a fun and emotion filled ceremony. The colorful Gypsy Robe, embellished with mementos from Broadway musicals, is presented to the cast member who has the most Broadway chorus credits.

One of the most eagerly awaited musicals of the season - Shrek The Musical - opened up on Sunday, December 14th and BroadwayWorld and Broadway Beat were at Opening Night to capture all the excitement!

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 the starry arrivals for Shrek's big opening night party!

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 the starry arrivals for Shrek's big night!