75-minute CST Family Production of SHREK Plays CST's Courtyard Theater July 13–September 1, 2013

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) continues the Theater's annual summer family musical tradition with Shrek The Musical, directed and choreographed by Rachel Rockwell with music direction by Michael Mahler, July 13-September 1, 2013 in CST's Courtyard Theater. Based on the Academy Award-winning DreamWorks film and the book by William Steig, CST's 75-minute production of Shrek The Musical will take audiences on an unconventional fairy-tale adventure with everyone's favorite ogre. The production features two Jeff Award-winning actors: Michael Aaron Lindner as the lovable ogre Shrek and Summer Naomi Smart in her CST debut as the spunky Princess Fiona. In support of Mayor Emanuel's Summer of Learning Program, special activities will be offered in conjunction with Shrek The Musical for students to earn a "Bard Badge;" and CST continues its collaboration with the Chicago Children's Museum with a series of programs. Shrek The Musical is a CST Family production best enjoyed by children ages 5 and up.

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Shrek The Musical tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing quest to reclaim his home. Accompanied by a wisecracking donkey, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon and rescues the cursed Princess Fiona. On this untraditional fairytale journey, Shrek discovers the value of friendship and realizes that true love is more than skin deep. The 75-minute, family-friendly version of the Tony Award-nominated production has music by Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie,Caroline, or Change), with book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole, Wonder of the World, Good People).

Named the 2012 Chicagoan of the Year in Theater by the Chicago Tribune, Jeff Award-winning director Rachel Rockwell returns to Chicago Shakespeare to direct and choreograph Shrek The Musical, after staging last summer's critically-acclaimed Beauty and the Beast, hailed as "far and away the best family production of the year" by theChicago Tribune. Rockwell's additional credits with CST include the world-premiere family musicals The Adventures of Pinocchio and The Emperor's New Clothes. Rockwell's Chicago-area directing and choreography credits include productions at Marriott Theatre, Paramount Theatre, Apple Tree Theatre and Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook, where she garnered a 2010 Best Director Jeff Award for Ragtime.