Get ready for some ogre-sized family fun this summer, as Tryon Little Theater together with the Tryon Youth Center stages “Shrek the Musical.”
Already in rehearsal for the opening on July 10, a great cast of talented youngsters are eager to tell the tale of the benign green ogre and his sidekick Donkey who save the land from an evil lord and rescue a beautiful princess from a terrible fate.
The book and lyrics of this Broadway musical adaptation of the hit movie “Shrek” were written by David Lindsay-Abaire, with music by Jeanine Tesori, and was originally produced on Broadway by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street productions. Directing TLT’s show this summer is Chris Tinkler, with the help of musical director Lena Duncan.

The cast, in alphabetical order:
Reese Alley (Pig 3), Candace Arrington (Fiona), Anastasia Ballard (Mama Bear), Ariel Ballard (Pig 2), Rylee Barwell (White Rabbit), Caroline Besnard (Goldilocks), Stephen Blair (Pinocchio, guard, knight), Elise Bright (teen Fiona, Fairy Godmother), Shelby Cash (Wicked Witch), Moira Davis (Tinkerbell), Jared Durham (Lord Farquaad), Remy Fifield (young Fiona, Fairy), Summer Hall (Mad Hatter), Emma Hay (Ugly Duckling), Grace Ingham (Mama Ogre, Blind Mouse), Dietrich Jackson (Peter Pan, Guard), Eli Jenkins (King Harold), James Kennedy (Captain Hook), Mark Laning (Guard), Ava Marino (Humpty Dumpty), Bella Marino (Snow White, Blind Mouse), Price Marshall (Shrek), Evan McCarthy (Papa Bear, Guard, Knight), Chelsea McCoyle (Fairy), Cash McFarlane (Alice), Sabian Menetre (Fairy), Amelia Nespeca (Elf), James Riedy (Donkey), Kate Riedy (Dragon), Maggie Riedy (Gingy), Chloe Rowell (Queen Lillian), Katie Sams (Sugar Plum Fairy, Guard), Ben Schlappi (Papa Ogre, Knight), Keri Smith (Pig 1), McKayla Smith (Sleeping Beauty), Zeke Smith (Guard, Knight), Raines Strader (Young Shrek, Baby Bear), Alivia Swayze (Rapunzel), Adriana Talley (Blind Mouse), Emily von Zabern (Fairy).
So welcome to Duloc. Such a perfect little town…or is it?
You’ll have to wait and see this fairy tale of a show to find out. “Shrek The Musical” runs July 10 – 13 at the Fine Arts Center in Tryon.

– article submitted
by Monica Jones