Sing for America to Stage SHREK at Broughal Middle School, 7/11-21

The wise-cracking ogre, and all his fractured fairy tale friends are coming to Bethlehem when Sing for America debuts the Lehigh Valley premiere of the Tony-winning "Shrek The Musical"July 11-21 in the state-of-the-art new theater at Broughal Middle School.

The musical which ran on Broadway from 2008 to 2011 and was nominated for 9 Tonys faithfully recreates Dreamwork's 2001 blockbuster "Shrek" on stage with the addition of humorous songs by the Tony-nominated composer Jeanine Tesori, whose cast recording of the show was nominated for a Grammy for best musical show album. Licensing for the show has just been released this month for community theaters and Sing for America will be staging the first area production of the familiar tale.

The movie "Shrek" based on William Steig's 1990 book "Shrek!" was a huge hit for Dreamworks, and won the Oscar for best animated film in 2002. The unforgettable characters including the cantankerous green ogre voiced by Mike Myers and Donkey voiced by Eddie Murphy became a part of pop culture. The movie spawned four sequel movies, television shows and now a musical and is a hugely successful franchise.

The musical features clever and catchy tunes including "Big, Bright Beautiful World," "I Know It's Today," Donkey's hilarious "Don't Let Me Go," "Freak Flag," "What's Up, Duloc?;" and "I'm a Believer," which is featured in the film.

For theater buffs, the show features in-jokes about the theater. Look for references to "Lion King" "Gypsy," "Les Miserables," "A Chorus Line" and even "West Side Story."

Sing for America has assembled a cast of 50 actors, singers and dancers from age 8 on up.

Starring as Shrek is Josh Simpson who just appeared in Liberty's musical "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." Christopher Ryland, a Lehigh Valley Performing Arts Charter School grad plays Donkey. Juan Padilla, who played the scarecrow in Sing for America's "The Wiz" plays the height-impaired Lord Farquaad and Teara Gilbert, recently seen in Muhlenberg Summer Theatre's "Hairspray," plays feisty Princess Fiona. Also featured are Jewel Gilbert as Pinocchio and Rhys Williams as Gingy.

Proceeds from the show will help raise funds for area families of those serving in the military. Founded by the Gilbert family of Easton, Sing For America has raised more than $30,000 for families of active military since 2005 through performances and in 2011 the group began producing musicals, which have include "Cinderella," "White Christmas" and "The Wiz." Sales of refreshments at the show and a basket raffle also benefit military families.

The family makes all the costumes and builds the set which will include a forest and a tower that turns and says this will be their most challenging show to date.

All tickets are $10 to keep the show affordable for families.
Shows are at 7 p.m. July 11-13 and 18-20 and 2 p.m. July 14 and 21 at Broughal Middle School, 114 W Morton St, Bethlehem.

For information, go to www.singforamerica.com or call 610-417-2189.

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