SHREK THE MUSICAL Plays Three Stages, Now thru 3/16

Shrek The Musical, based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film, brings the hilarious story of everyone's favorite ogre to life on stage. In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre - not a handsome prince - shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won't shut up, a villain with a SHORT temper, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand... and his name is Shrek. "It is difficult to know where to begin praising this sparkling production. Every element of an outstanding musical is found in abundance here" (Fort Worth Star-Telegram).

Shrek The Musical will be performed at Three Stages tonight, March 14, 7:30 pm; Friday, March 15, 8 pm; Saturday, March 16, 2 and 8 pm, and Sunday, March 16, 1:30 and 7 pm. Tickets are $45-$65; Premium tickets are available for $79; they may be purchased online at www.threestages.net or from Three Stages Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Three Stages is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, CA, facing East Bidwell Street.

In 2001 a well-loved, but lesser known children's book became an overnight sensation when Dreamworks Animation launched the film Shrek to worldwide acclaim. Over seventy years earlier, famed illustrator William Steig began his career spanning over 600 drawings and 117 covers for The New Yorker before beginning a late-in-life career as a children's book author and illustrator. In 1990, the semi-retired illustrator penned the now famous story about a loveable ogre and his quest to reclaim his home from the evil Lord Farquaad. Along the way, the ogre meets the love of his life and, with his life-long best friend takes a conventional fairy-tale and turns it upside down.

Shrek The Musical debuted in the summer of 2008 at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre before opening on Broadway December 14, 2008. During its Broadway run it played over 500 performances, garnered eight 2009 Tony Award nominations, and ranked as one of the top 10 highest grossing musicals of 2009.

The role of everyone's favorite swamp-dwelling ogre, Shrek will be played by Perry Sook. Whitney Winfield will play the feisty Princess Fiona. Jeremy Gaston is Shrek's lovably annoying best friend Donkey and Christian Marriner plays the vertically challenged villain Lord Farquaad.

Rounding out the cast of misfit fairy tale characters, the peoples of Duloc and Far, Far Away are: Micah Cowher, Courtney Daniels, Ian Frazier, Megan Elyse Fulmer, Susan Leilani Gearou, Francesca Granell, Tony Johnson, Brody Karn, Jennifer Margulis, Andrew Metzger, Alison McCartan, Schuyler Midgett, Tiffani Robbins, Robert Teasdale, Chase Todd, Katie Tompkins, Maggie Tompkins, Kristopher Stanley Ward, Andy White and Jeffrey Zicker.

Shrek The Musical features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole, Good People), music by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Caroline, or Change). It is directed by Stephen Sposito who recently served as Associated Director of the current Broadway revival How To Succeed In Business starring Daniel Radcliff. Sets and costumes are based on the Tony Award winner designs by Tim Hatley (Private Lives, Spamalot) and Chris Bailey will recreate the original choreography by Josh Prince (The Bridge Project, The Jerry Springer Opera). SHREK THE MUSICAL 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 produced by NETworks Presentations, LLC,founded in 1995 by Kenneth Gentry, Seth Wenig and Scott Jackson.

Three Stages at Folsom Lake College presents touring artists from around the world; partners with the best regional arts organizations, and supports productions by FLC students and faculty.

Three Stages at Folsom Lake College is a $50 million performing and visual arts center that opened in February 2011. Located on the campus, Three Stages includes three intimate performance venues (850, 200, 100 seats), an art gallery, a recording studio, ample rehearsal and classroom space, a full service ticket office plus all the amenities of a state-of-the-art performance venue. Parking is free on weekends and for those buying tickets in advance.

A renaming of Three Stages is currently under way. The new name, Harris Center for the Arts, honors Dr. Brice Harris, Chancellor Emeritus of the Los Rios Community College District, for his many contributions to the Capital Region, including providing the vision and leadership that led to the opening of this regional arts center.