Photo Coverage: 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.

SHREK THE MUSICAL® will play its final performance on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre on Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 at 3:00 p.m., following 441 performances and 37 previews. The national tour launches at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre for a limited engagement, July 13 - September 5, 2010.

SHREK THE MUSICAL® features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize® winner, David Lindsay-Abaire, music by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori, and is directed by Tony Award® nominee Jason Moore. Following a pre-Broadway engagement at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, SHREK THE MUSICAL® opened at the Broadway Theatre on Sunday, December 14, 2008. 

SHREK THE MUSICAL® is an entirely new musical based on the story and characters from William Steig's book Shrek!, as well as theDreamworks Animation film Shrek, the first chapter of the Shrek movie series. The musical is produced by DreamWorks Theatricals (Bill Damaschke, President) and Neal Street Productions, Ltd (principals Sam Mendes and Caro Newling).

SHREK THE MUSICAL® received eight 2009 Tony Award® nominations including Best Musical, winning Best Costume Design of a Musical (Tim Hatley). The show also received three Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Brian d'Arcy James), Outstanding Set & Costume Design of a Musical (Tim Hatley); and four Outer Critics Circle Awards for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Brian d'Arcy James), Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Sutton Foster), Outstanding Set & Costume Design (Tim Hatley).

SHREK THE MUSICAL® tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon, rescues a feisty princess and learns that real friendship and true love aren't only found in fairy tales.

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.

Tickets on Tuesdays through Thursdays range in price from $41.50 to $121.50, and tickets on Fridays through Sundays range in price from $51.50 to $126.50. All tickets include a $1.50 facility fee. For more information, visit www.shrekthemusical.com.

Photos by Peter James Zielinski

Shrek the Musical celebrates with cupcakes by Crumbs

Shrek the Musical cupcakes by Crumbs

Shrek the Musical cupcakes by Crumbs

Shrek the Musical's 'swampcakes'

Greg Reuter, Brian d'Arcy James and Ryan Duncan

The cast of Shrek the Musical

The cast of Shrek the Musical

Ben Crawford and Brian d'Arcy James

Ben Crawford and Brian d'Arcy James

Sutton Foster, , Brian d'Arcy James, Jeanine Tesori, and David Lindsay-Abaire

The cast and crew of Shrek the Musical celebrate one year on Broadway

Director Jason Moore and the cast wish Brian d'Arcy James hail and farewell

Brian d'Arcy James and the cast of Shrek the Musical

Brian d'Arcy James and the cast of Shrek the Musical

Brian d'Arcy James and Ryan Duncan and the cast

Jason Moore and Brian d'Arcy James

Brian d'Arcy James Shrek make-up artist Dave Presto and Brian's dresser Jack Scott