Everyone knows it as a popular DreamWorks movie starring a big green ogre, a beautiful princess and a wisecracking donkey.
Now it's coming to the stage in Burnaby, as Western Canada's first production of Shrek the Musical runs at the Michael J. Fox Theatre from Feb. 7 to 22.
Shrek is being staged by Align Entertainment, a new local theatre company formed with an eye to bringing new, family-friendly theatre productions to local audiences.
The production stars Will Hopkins as Shrek, Ranae Miller as Princess Fiona and Caleb Di Pomponio as Donkey, with Cory Haas as Lord Farquaad and Cathy Wilmot as Dragon.
Chad Matchette, one of the founding partners of the company, said the idea of bringing Shrek to the stage has been percolating for him since he saw it in London when he travelled there in 2012.
Once he and some longtime friends in theatre decided to set up their own company, it was a natural fit to bring Shrek the Musical to the local stage. The show has all of the elements they were looking for: great messages, great music and a whole lot of fun.
Matchette noted that the story - which follows the adventures of the outcast ogre and his unlikely donkey companion as they embark on a mission to rescue Princess Fiona - has excellent messages for kids.
There are strong storylines about bullying and about being yourself, even when being yourself means being different.
"That's really the heart of the show is, you don't have to be perfect, you don't have to be who people expect you to be. You can be you," he said.
In keeping with that theme, the company has teamed up with Stop A Bully Foundation and will be donating 10 per cent of the profits to its cause.
But Matchette is quick to note that the show isn't just a moral-of-the-story kind of play - it's a genuinely fun, exuberant production, with colourful costumes and a cast of familiar fairy-tale characters.
"It's all wrapped around crazy fun musical numbers, big dance numbers," he said, noting the music includes some traditional Broadway-style music as well as big rock numbers, all accompanied by a live, 15-piece orchestra.
For Miller, having a chance to be in Shrek is a huge opportunity.
"I never thought that anyone would put on Shrek," she said, adding she's delighted to be playing Fiona. "She's unlike any character that's out there. She's the ingénue and she's the quirky best friend, all at the same time. It's so fun to play."
She pointed out that the romantic leads, in the characters of Shrek and Fiona, aren't exactly the traditional "prince and princess" role.
"They break some boundaries with the classic leading man and leading lady," she said with a laugh.
Miller said the show has been a big draw for performers since word first got out about it.
"People are coming out because they are excited to have that scale of a show in Vancouver," she said.
Matchette said response to the company's audition notices was "unbelievable," with more than 200 people turning out to try out for a part.
There are 34 people in the adult cast, and another 33 in a children's choir that's supporting the action on stage. The kids range in age from seven to 17, and the adults from 19 to about 60. Matchette noted that the cast includes a huge number of very experienced performers, including graduates from Capilano University and other musical theatre programs.
"We're so lucky to have the people we have working for us," he said.
Miller, who's a graduate of Capilano's program, said the cast has genuinely bonded throughout the rehearsal process.
"We're all there to do a show, we're all there to make the show the best that we can," she said. "You have to be a family with this show."
Matchette said he feels extremely fortunate to have so many dedicated and talented people involved - both in the cast and on the technical and production side - particularly since the company isn't yet in a position to pay people for their efforts.
"It's a bunch of really amazing people coming together to create something that I think will be pretty awesome," he said.
Shrek the Musical is onstage at the Michael J. Fox Theatre Feb. 7 to 22.
Tickets are $31.25 for students and seniors, or $44.25 regular. It runs at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.
There are also special $15 matinees on two Fridays, Feb. 14 and 21, for schools. A special Family Day matinee will also offer $15 tickets - as well as a number of special activities, including attendance by the Burnaby Fire Department with two trucks for photo ops. Firefighters will also be cooking hotdogs to sell, and families can enjoy a colouring station and face painting. Proceeds from that day will go towards the Michael J. Fox scholarship.
Check out www.alignentertainment.ca for all the details about the company and the production.
