SHREK THE MUSICAL Tickets Go On Sale For Theatre Royal October 1

DreamWorks Theatrical and Neal Street Productions are delighted to announce that tickets for SHREK THE MUSICAL® are on sale to the general public from today, October 1, 2010. SHREK THE MUSICAL® will open at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on May 6, 2011, with a press night on June 14, 2011. Tickets for the new stage musical will be available for performances until February 19, 2012.

As previously announced, Nigel Lindsay will play Shrek, Richard Blackwood will play Donkey, Nigel Harman will play Lord Farquaad and Amanda Holden will play Princess Fiona.

Nigel Lindsay will star as Shrek. Nigel has worked extensively in film, television and theatre, most recently starring as Charlie in Sucker Punch at the Royal Court. His stage credits include Harold Pinter's The Homecoming at the Almeida, Under the Blue Sky at the Duke of Yorks, Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre, and the Olivier Award-winning National Theatre production of The Pillowman. Nigel recently played one of the eponymous Four Lions in the celebrated Chris Morris film.

Donkey will be played by actor and comedian Richard Blackwood. A regular on the stand-up comedy circuit, Richard recently finished playing Brightie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Novello Theatre alongside James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad. In 2007 Richard became the host of ‘RB's Sunday School' on Choice FM. He has a range of TV credits including Anton in ITV's Britannia High, MTV's Singled Out and Select and his own show on Channel 4, The Richard Blackwood Show.
Nigel Harman will play Lord Farquaad. Nigel became a household name after playing heart-throb Dennis Rickman in BBC1's EastEnders. He has worked extensively in theatre, starring in Three Days of Rain at the Apollo, Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre and on tour, and Privates on Parade at the Donmar Warehouse. Television and film roles include BBC1's Hotel Babylon and Blood Diamond.

Olivier Award-nominated actress and presenter Amanda Holden will star as Princess Fiona. Amanda played the title role in the West End production of Thoroughly Modern Millie in 2003, for which she was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Among her varied television roles are Mel in the BBC's Kiss Me Kate, Mia Bevan in the BBC's Cutting It and Sarah Trevanion in ITV1's Wild at Heart. Amanda is a judge on ITV1's Britain's Got Talent, and the UK correspondent for CBS America's The Early Show.

SHREK THE MUSICAL® is based on the story and characters from William Steig's book Shrek! and the Oscar-winning Dreamworks Animation feature film Shrek, the first chapter in the series of irreverent fairy tales.

The Anglo-American creative team is led by directors Jason Moore and Rob Ashford and includes David Lindsay-Abaire (Book and Lyrics), Jeanine Tesori (Music), Tim Hatley (Scenic, Costume and Puppet Design), Hugh Vanstone (Lighting Design), Peter Hylenski (Sound Design), and Josh Prince (Choreography).

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SHREK THE MUSICAL® tells the story, loved by people of all ages, of the swamp-dwelling ogre who, in a faraway kingdom, embarks on a life-changing adventure in order to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey who won't shut up, this unlikely hero - not a handsome prince - fights a fearsome dragon, rescues the feisty Princess Fiona and learns that real friendship and true love aren't only found in fairy tales. With all-new songs, and an old favourite in I'm a Believer, this spectacular stage musical brings to life the film's cast of dysfunctional characters and the accompanying subversive fun.

SHREK THE MUSICAL® played on Broadway from December 2008 to January 2010 and was nominated for eight Tony Awards®, winning Tim Hatley the Tony Award® for Best Costume Design of a Musical. The original creative team has now re-assembled to stage the production with new songs and additional scenes. This production opened in Chicago on July 25, 2010 and is touring 60 cities in the United States. The UK production will start rehearsals in London in early 2011.
SHREK THE MUSICAL® is Dreamworks Animation's first theatre venture. The production was initiated when Sam Mendes, a fan of the first Shrek film, suggested the idea of creating a musical to Dreamworks Animation's Jeffrey Katzenberg around the time that the second film (Shrek 2) was in production. The musical is produced by DreamWorks Theatricals (Bill Damaschke, president) and London-based Neal Street Productions (Caro Newling, producer).

LISTINGS INFORMATION:
SHREK THE MUSICAL®
Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5JF
May 6, 2011 - February 19, 2012
Press Night: June 14, 2011
Box Office: 0844 871 8810
To Book online visit: www.shrekthemusical.co.uk
Performance Times:
Monday, Wednesday - Saturday 7.30pm
Thursday & Saturday 3pm
Sunday 3pm

Ticket Prices:
Stalls £65, £55, £25
Grand Circle £65
Upper Circle £55, £45, £20
Balcony £25, £20

Reduced price preview tickets available.

Group Rates:
6+ Group Rate £45 (excludes Saturday Performances)
12+ Group Rate £39.50 (excludes Saturday Performances)
Group Bookings: 0844 412 4650
Education Rates:
12+ School Group Rate £22.50 & Free Teacher Place (valid Wednesday, Thursday &
Sunday)
Education Bookings: 0844 412 4649

Early Group and Education Booker Rates apply for those who book and pay by 12th November 2010.