Study Guide prepared by Kate Pinkerton, Education Coordinator, The Grand Theatre 2014
Contents
Curriculum Connections and Themes
Creators
Synopsis of Shrek The Musical
Cast and Artistic Team
Interesting Facts
Director’s Notes
Classroom Activities
Theatre Etiquette
Curriculum Connections and Themes
The Arts
Language/English/Writer’s Craft
World Studies
Social Studies and Humanities
Themes:
-Inner Beauty is what really counts;
-Friendships can emerge from the most unlikely pairs;
-Love and Acceptance;
-Good conquers Evil;
-Uniqueness is something to be celebrated;
-Happily ever after expectations can be redefined;
-Aspiration doesn’t mean forgetting who you are.
Creators
Shrek The Musical is a musical comedy with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and
music by Jeanine Tesori. It is based on the 2001 DreamWorks film Shrek and William
Steig's 1990 book Shrek!
David Lindsay-Abaire (Book and Lyrics) was born on November 14, 1969, in Boston,
Massachusetts. After graduation from theatre studies at Sarah Lawrence College he was
accepted into the Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program at Julliard. He
was awarded the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Rabbit Hole, which also
received five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play, and the Spirit of
America Award. He was also given the 2008 Ed Kleban Award as America's most
promising musical theatre lyricist. His other theatre works include Fuddy Meers, Kimberly
Akimbo, and Wonder of the World. His writing credits for film include Robots (2005),
Inkheart (2007), Rise of the Guardians (2012) and the film adaptation of Rabbit Hole
(2010).
Jeanine Tesori (Music) was born in 1961 on Long Island in New York. Her father
was a doctor and her mother was a nurse, and she originally studied to be a doctor.
After graduation, however, Tesori spent ten years as a pianist and is now a musical
theatre composer and conductor. She has been nominated for three Tony Awards for her
Broadway scores: Twelfth Night, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Caroline, or Change. Her
works for younger audiences include The Emperor's New Groove 2: Kronk's New
Groove, Mulan 2, The Little Mermaid and Lilo and Stitch 2. She also composed songs for
Rapunzel.
Synopsis of Shrek The Musical
Act I
Once Upon A Time. . .
Opening like a storybook, our musical adventure begins with a large ogre named Shrek narrating
the story of his seventh birthday. As he narrates, the storybook comes to life and we see Shrek’s
parents telling the seven-year old version of himself that it is time for him to venture out into the
world on his own. As he does, his parents’ warning that everyone will hate him because of his
hideous looks proves to be true, and he chooses to live alone, embittered, and angry in a swamp.
The adult ogre steps into the story he was previously narrating (“Big Bright Beautiful World”). His
lonely solitude is interrupted one day, when all of the Fairytale Creatures of the land show up to his
swamp, banished there by Lord Farquaad (“Story of My Life”). Not at all pleased to have his home
invaded, and encouraged by the Fairytale Creatures, Shrek decides to travel to see Lord Farquaad in
order to regain the privacy of his swamp (“The Goodbye Song”). Along the way, he rescues a
talkative Donkey from Farquaad’s guards, and after much begging on the Donkey’s part (“Don’t Let
Me Go”), Shrek reluctantly allows him to tag along.
Meanwhile, in Duloc, we are introduced to Lord Farquaad, a tiny terror who is torturing Gingy, the
Gingerbread Man, into revealing the whereabouts of a princess he wishes to marry so that he may
finally be a true king. Gingy claims Princess Fiona is locked in a nearby tower, surrounded by lava
and a dragon. Lord Farquaad decides to have a festival to draw the name of a Duloc citizen that will
have to fetch Princess Fiona for him. As the crowd gathers (“Welcome to Duloc”/”What’s Up
Duloc?”), Shrek and Donkey arrive and Lord Farquaad demands that in return for the deed to the
swamp Shrek must find and bring back Princess Fiona.
Meanwhile, a seven-year old Fiona, stuck in her tower and dreaming that she will one day be
rescued by a prince (“True Love’s First Kiss”). As she grows into a teenager, and then a headstrong
woman, she never loses her faith in her fairy tales ("I Know It's Today"). As Shrek and Donkey
continue on their journey, Shrek becomes increasingly annoyed with Donkey’s constant chattering
(“Travel Song”). Somehow though, deep down, a friendship has begun to form. After crossing the
lava-bridge, and arriving at the castle, Shrek sets off alone to rescue Fiona while Donkey encounters
a ferocious female Dragon ("Forever"). When Shrek reaches Fiona, she tries and fails to get him to
play out romantic scenarios similar to all those in her storybooks, and at last he is forced to drag
her off. Reunited with Donkey they must then escape the angry Dragon. Fiona is thrilled to finally
have her rescuer fighting for her (“This Is How A Dream Comes True”). Shrek traps the Dragon and
the trio makes it to safety. Fiona is appalled to find Shrek is an ogre and not Prince Charming. Shrek
explains that he is merely her champion; instead, she is to wed Lord Farquaad. As the sun begins to
set, Fiona becomes apprehensive, insisting that they rest and that she spend the night alone.
Donkey and Shrek stay awake and as Shrek finally opens up to his new friend for the first time, we
see Fiona transformed into an ogress, alone in the moonlight (“Who I’d Be”).
Act II
The next day, Princess Fiona rises, and excited about it being her wedding day, dances around
singing (“Morning Person”). When she inquires about her groom-to-be, Shrek and Donkey let the
“short” jokes fly, and then Shrek begins to mock her childhood circumstances. Each thinking his/her
own childhood is worse, the two begin a contest of one-upmanship that culminates in a battle of
bodily noises. (“I Think I Got You Beat”). Through this, their pasts are revealed to one another, and a
friendship is kindled.
Meanwhile, back in Duloc, Lord Farquaad plans his wedding, and he reveals his own heritage ("The
Ballad of Farquaad"). As Shrek and Fiona's newfound camaraderie grows into love, Donkey insists,
with the help of the Three Blind Mice, that Shrek should tell Fiona how he feels ("Make a Move").
Before he can though, the sun begins to set, and Fiona once again rushes away to bed. Refusing to
give up on the thought, Donkey goes to the barn where Fiona has retreated, only to discover that
she turns into an ogress at night due to a witch’s curse placed on her as a child. She tells Donkey
that only a kiss from her true love will return her to love’s true form. Alone, Shrek tries to summon
the courage to express his feelings (“When Words Fail”), and when he finally goes to tell Fiona, he
overhears the end of her conversation with Donkey, completely misunderstanding her description
of herself as an ugly beast as a reference to him. Hurt, he storms off.
The next day, transformed back to her human form, Fiona decides to tell Shrek about her curse
("Morning Person (Reprise)"). When Fiona tries to explain, however, Shrek rebuffs her. Farquaad
and his army approach to claim Fiona, who now upset herself, not only agrees to the marriage, but
also insist that it take place before sunset. Donkey tries to appeal to Shrek, but Shrek rejects him,
angry that Donkey would talk about him with Fiona behind his back, and declares he will return to
his swamp, alone (“Build A Wall”).
Elsewhere, the Fairytale Creatures, evicted from the swamp, head for their new home, they decide
they’ve had it with Farquaad’s discriminatory treatment (“Freak Flag”). With a newfound courage
and confidence, they decide to return to Duloc and take on Lord Farquaad. Back at the swamp,
Donkey and Shrek argue until Shrek is convinced that Donkey and Fiona weren’t talking about him.
Each one forgives the other, and Donkey convinces Shrek that Fiona cares about him. They rush to
Duloc, and Shrek is able to stop the wedding. He finally finds the words to express his feelings,
declaring his love for Fiona (“Big Bright Beautiful World (Reprise)”). Caught between love and her
desire to break the curse, Fiona tries to escape the event, but the exiled Fairytale Creatures storm
the wedding and protest their banishment. Amidst the protests, the sun sets, turning Fiona back
into an ogress. Farquaad is disgusted, but insists the marriage is already binding, claiming he will
lock Fiona in a tower and continue to rule as Duloc’s true King. Shrek whistles for the Dragon, and
she swoops in, destroying Farquaad in one fiery breath. Finally free of Farquaad, Shrek and Fiona
admit their love for one another and share a kiss. Fiona's curse is broken and she takes her true
form: an ogress. At first, she is distressed, but Shrek declares that she is still beautiful. Shrek and
Fiona begin a new life together, as everyone celebrates what makes them special ("This Is Our
Story").
…and they all live happily ever after. ("I'm a Believer").
Cast and Artistic Team
Donkey – Troy Adams
Big Bad Wolf – Matt Alfano
Mama Bear/Mama Ogre/Dragon – Alana Bridgewater
Young Shrek/White Rabbit – Zoë Brown
Peter Pan/Captain/Guard/Lord Farquaad u.s. – Patrick Cook
Sugar Plum Fairy/Gingy – Callandra Dendias
Queen Lillian/Ugly Duckling – Kristi Frank
Fairy Godmother/Fiona u.s. – Lindsey Frazier
Elf/Teen Fiona – Alexandra Grant
Fiona – Elicia MacKenzie
Wicked Witch/Dragon u.s. – Ayrin Mackie
Pinocchio – Robert Markus
Pig/Shrek u.s. – Trevor Patt
Shrek – Steve Ross
Baby Bear/Young Fiona – Skylar Serafim
Pig –Jason Sermonia
Pig/Donkey u.s. – Julius Sermonia
Papa Ogre/Papa Bear – Lee Siegel
Lord Farquaad – Liam Tobin
Director – Susan Ferley
Musical Director – Ryan deSouza
Choreographer – Kerry Gage
Set and Costume Design – Bill Layton
Lighting Designer – Renée Brode
Sound Designer – Jim Neil
Interesting Facts
-In 2009, Shrek The Musical was nominated for two Tony Awards for Best Book and
Best Score.
- Jeanine Tesori was noted by ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and
Publishers) to be the first woman composer to have two new musicals running
concurrently on Broadway: Thoroughly Modern Millie and Caroline, or Change.
-Shrek was the first movie to win an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. The Shrek series
made history again in 2004 after Shrek 2 became the first sequel to receive a nomination
for the award.
-Shrek didn’t initially speak with a Scottish accent. After Chris Farley passed away, Mike
Myers agreed to voice Shrek and initially felt that the character would be best served with a
subtle Canadian accent. By the time he had recorded more than half of his dialogue,
however, Myers changed his mind and instead wanted Shrek to sport a heavy, working
class Scottish brogue.
-The Shrek franchise is the highest-grossing animated series to date. The film generated
three successful sequels (Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After), two specials
(Shrek the Halls and Scared Shrekless), video games, and a supporting character’s own
movie – Puss in Boots.
-The name Shrek came from German and Yiddish roots meaning ‘fear’ and ‘terror.’
-Shrek The Musical opened to rave reviews on Broadway in 2008, and later in London’s
West End. Millions of fans of the original movie were not disappointed, when even more of
Shrek’s background was revealed.
-There are 6 different types of puppets that were built for The Grand Theatre production of
Shrek The Musical. There is an air-pressure driven one for Pinnochio’s nose, a cable puppet
for the blooming flower, stick puppets for the nursery rhyme characters, PVC backpack
puppets for the dragon, foam hand puppets for Gingy the gingerbread man, and wire
bouncing puppets for the bird and butterfly.
-The dragon puppet is built using hiking backpacks, PVC pipe and tubing, aluminum tent
poles, dowels, and over 20 metres of fabric.
-All of the fairy tale creatures have their own custom suitcases and handbags that were
built as a collaboration between the props and costume departments.
-Some of the fabric on the dragon is recycled leftovers from the last time a dragon was
onstage at the Grand! They’re scrap bits from Smaug, from the 2011 production of The
Hobbit. The Shrek dragon is the third dragon to grace the stage at the Grand, after Smaug
and the dragon from Munsch’s The Paperbag Princess Theatre for Young Audiences.
-In The Grand Theatre wardrobe, the Dragon Dress for Alana Bridgewater, who gives voice
to the dragon, is revised from Cyd Charisse dress from the 2013 production of Dance
Legends.
-Pig sizes are enhanced with “pool noodles”.
-Lord Farquaad portrayed by Liam Tobin plays the role on his knees with fake attached
legs.
-Fiona costumes for the Ogress will have individual paddings.
-Donkey’s fur has hidden mesh areas to give the actor Troy Adams some ventilation.
-Each dancer for Duloc male and female has 4 colours pieced together – over 200 pieces in
each costume.
-Foam is used for our piping so it is soft and safe.
Director’s Notes from Susan Ferley
When planning a season I strive to assemble a range of experiences to engage and delight
our audience and community. It is exciting to find ways to weave plays together through
shared ideas or themes. Sometimes links between shows can be surprising.
Earlier this season I mentioned one of the surprises with this year’s High School Project
was when I realized the characters in The Addams Family: A New Musical did not originate
in the 1960’s television series, but with cartoons that Charles Addams created and were
published in the New Yorker magazine in 1930s.
When I started researching Shrek The Musical, I learned it was based upon the animated
film and a children’s book created by William Steig in1990. But as I dug further, I learned
that William Steig was also a cartoonist whose work was published in the New Yorker in
the 1930s! There was a connection I did not anticipate!
Last year, in my notes in the program for Elf I mentioned that Buddy the Elf was a hero, and
how fascinating that, in that story, it was “the child” who save the parent.
This season Artistic Associate and Apprentice Artistic Director, Krista Jackson, has
reminded of Joseph Campbell’s exploration of the hero. It has been fascinating to explore
Shrek as a hero’s journey. Shrek’s solitary life becomes complicated when a number of
fairy tale characters invade his swamp. He sets off on his journey to retrieve his swamp.
He will be tested and face challenges. But ultimately Shrek’s dream of being a hero, will be
realized!
As Joseph Campbell reminds us, we are each the hero in our own journey. May your
journey be filled with exciting adventures that challenge and reward you with love and
friendships!
Enjoy Shrek, The Grand Theatre’s gift to you this holiday season.
Classroom Activities
*Activities are grouped by subject, but may have cross-curricular applications.
Preshow Activities and Ten Trivia Questions about Shrek The Musical
-View the 2001 Dreamworks film Shrek. Brainstorm possible adaptations for the stage.
Primary Grades:
-Brainstorm all the fairy tales that you can think of! Which fairytale characters were
incorporated into Shrek film and which ones will be in Shrek The Musical?
-Play ‘Shrek the Halls’! Hide a Shrek-like item in the classroom or hallway in a new place
each day with secret message, holiday fact, or countdown to the Holidays!
-Choose your favourite character and make a character sketch of him or her including a
physical description, fun facts, likes and dislikes, favourite books, songs, idols, mottos. Be
creative and let your imagine run wild.
-Go GREEN: Teach a lesson on recycling and being environmentally friendly at school,
home, and in the community. Brainstorm ways to conserve energy, minimize waste, and
keep our world clean. Create a Green Team to help with tasks about the room, create signs
and rewards for good practises. Learn about Earth Hour, Earth Day, and more!
-Make new friends. In Shrek The Musical, Donkey makes it absolutely clear to Shrek why
they should be friends. He tells Shrek that they have lots of things in common when, in fact,
they seem on the surface to be completely different. Ask students to find a partner whom
they don’t know very well and list six things about each other that are complete opposites.
Then create a rap together about what differences they have and why those things don’t
matter to friends.
Senior Grades:
-In pairs or small groups, imagine and create a Duloc newspaper or website with headlines,
articles, and media pictures of Lord Farquaad, fairytale characters getting thrown out of
their homes, their letters to the editor, stories around the Dragon, etc.
Five Trivia Questions about Shrek and Shrek the Musical
1) Who voiced the character of Shrek in the 2001 Dreamworks film Shrek?
Answer: Mike Myers
2) At the beginning of the story, where does Shrek wish to spend his life of solitude?
Answer: In his swamp
3) Which fairy tales are represented by the characters in Far, Far Away?
The Gingerbread Man, Three Little Pigs, Pinocchio, Three Bears, and Snow White and
the Seven Dwarfs.
4) What does Shrek compare ogres to?
Answer: Onions. “Onions have layers. Ogres have layers.”
5) What time of day does Princess Fiona transform in an ogress?
Answer: Sunset
Music Activities
-Provide students with the lyrics or listen to the song “It’s a Big, Bright, Beautiful World.” In small
groups, ask students to first discuss how they think Shrek feels at this point in Shrek The Musical.
Then, encourage them to write a letter, from Shrek to his parents, explaining how he feels at having
been told that he’s a freak and sent away to live alone. How is he going to come to terms with it?
How does he feel about his parents making this decision?
-In small groups, select a popular song that features the word “Green.” Create a presentation of it to
perform for the class or create a music video of the song with a Glee-style spin.
-Brainstorm other musicals that are based on fairy tales. Research the journey of the main
characters and compare it to Shrek’s character arc.
-Song Study: Take a closer look at "I Know It's Today" sung as a trio by Princess Fiona at
different stages in her young life. Discuss why this format is effective (or not) to show the
passage of time and the power of emotion behind the song.
-List and study the musical styles in Shrek The Musical. For example, musical numbers
explore rap, folk, Motown/soul, pop, typical ballads and uptempo songs of musical theatre.
-Raise your own ‘Freak Flag!’ Reflect on what is special about you. Rewrite the lyrics to a
song you like about your unique qualities! Combine this with a visual arts activity and or
dance.
Visual Arts Activities*
*for fun, play some atmospheric music in the background while the students create!
-Magic Mirror: Draw your ogre/royal or / fairy tale-self! Characters in stories like
Shrek the Musical appeal to us because they reflect real human traits and relationships.
Sometimes you feel like a true prince or princess. And sometimes you might feel more
like a ...Donkey. So… draw your ogre-self, your royal-self, and/or your donkey-self.
Compose a caption of dialogue or action to accompany your portrait.
-Make your ‘Freak Flag’! Create a banner or pennant that represents your uniqueness. Use
materials and mediums in colours, patterns, and designs that best reflect how special you
are!
-Pick a theme from Shrek and explore it in a painting, drawing, sculpture or collage.
–Make a swamp! Create a mini eco system with a fish bowl or aquarium.
-Sketch costume designs for your favourite characters from Shrek The Musical. Imagine
new scenes and settings and what the characters might wear to such a place or event.
-Select a scene or major event from Shrek The Musical and create a comic strip about it.
-Design your own theatrical poster for Shrek The Musical.
-Be a set designer. Create a new set or recreate The Grand’s set on a small scale. What
elements would you feel are important to include? Use the inside of a box for your
maquette.
-Make a Dream or Inspiration Board. Include words and pictures of activities and qualities
you like along with those you hope to achieve. Shrek and Fiona have dreams. They sing
about them in “Who I’d Be.” The end, both of their songs reveal that their ‘dreams will
never come true.’ The way we look, or perceive ourselves, can have a great impact on how
we live our lives and what we achieve. The trick is to realise that acceptance and success
comes from who we are, not how we appear to others. By the end of most fairy tales we
learn the key to real happiness is in accepting who you are and knowing who your true
friends are.
-Create a puppet! Choose your favourite character from Shrek The Musical and make he or
she in puppet form. The Grand Theare props department made six different kinds of
puppet for the holiday production. Challenge yourself to make various forms of puppets in
class!
-Design and make mini suitcases for the fairytale characters who have been forced to leave
home. Do they have bits of clothing, wings, books, maps, sticking out of their case? Do they
have stickers/tags from past vacations? Imagine that you were that character? What
would be thing from home you would most want to pack?
Dance Activities
Primary years:
-Go on an adventure! Select three different atmospheric pieces of music that could be
sounds of a swamp (i.e. didgeridoo), the Fanfare of Duloc Kingdom (Olympic Themes are
often majestic) and a hiking song (happy upbeat choice). Have your students explore the
smelly, sticky mud with all their limbs (careful not to get stuck!); trek about the classroom
–what do they hear/see/smell? Is it uphill, downhill, through tunnels, over puddles? Arrive
at Duloc castle and become the inhabitants preparing for a wedding celebration – set out
flowers, clean, roll out new carpets, wash the windows, polish the candlesticks, wave the
flags, sew the new clothes, shine the shoes! Rotate the music and have fun asking students
to move quickly, in slow motion, freeze, explore levels high medium and low. *Hint for
added fun: hand out silk scarves or pieces of newspaper that could become a cleaning cloth,
a tablecloth, a blanket, a telescope, a paddle, a raft… etc.
-Lead a simple sequence of moves for the class to the song ‘I’m A Believer’ by the Monkees
or the more recent version by Smash Mouth.
Senior Grades:
-In groups, re-choreograph a dance to a chosen song from Shrek The Musical.
-Study traditional Highland Dance! Invite your students to bring in knee socks and kilts to
dance in! Look at traditional Scottish/British folk dancing for ideas to lead your class.
-Write critically about the elements of dance from the performance of Shrek The Musical
that you attended at The Grand Theatre. Consider the choreography, genre of dance, use of
space, use of movement vocabulary, choreographic intent of the work, theme, overall effect
of the pieces, costume design, lighting, incorporation of props, technical ability of the
dancers, emotions/feelings evoked. Compare and contrast your review to other theatre
reviews and comments about Shrek The Musical.
Drama Activities
-Talk show time: Ask students to select two or three unlikely characters t from Shrek The
Musical and place these characters into a talk show scenario, such as Jimmy Fallon or Ellen!
-Create tableaux of pivotal moments from the play. Perform the tableaux in chronological
order.
-Choose a character from Shrek The Musical and create a biography, using real and
imagined information. Use this biography to create monologues to be performed.
-Imagine an alternate ending to Shrek The Musical. Script and perform it.
-Offer students a chance to explore their supporting or ensemble role from Shrek The
Musical in an ‘Untold Tale.’
-Write a review of the Shrek The Musical performance you attended. Include a synopsis,
themes, and critique of the theatrical elements production (direction, acting, lighting, set,
costume, music). Consider including why certain songs and scenes were highlighted.
Compare your review to other theatre reviews of and comments about Shrek The Musical.
English/Language/ Writer’s Craft Activities
-Pen a magazine advice column “Dear Dreamy Dragon” or “Dear Magic Mirror”. Most of the
Fairy Tale Creatures in Shrek the Musical have some sort of hang-up or issue. (i.e. Pinocchio
wants to be a ‘real boy’; Peter Pan doesn’t want to grow up.) Ask students to write as a
Fairy Tale character about their hang-ups and ask for advice. Pass the letter to your
neighbour and write a response with words of wisdom from Dreamy Dragon!
-Dear Farquaad Letters. Let students select their favourite Fairy Tale Creature. Ask them
to write their own individual letter, as if they were a citizen of Duloc, demanding that he
change his prejudicial policies and that the fairytale characters are returned to their
rightful homes. They should use the most persuasive writing possible to achieve this task.
What do they think they could say to make absolutely sure that Farquaad changes his
mind?
-Make a glossary for Shrek The Musical audience members. Assign words from the
following list to small groups or define them together as a class.
abomination
asunder
brimstone
britches
chamber pot
eavesdropper
expendable
Farquaad: Abomination! Out of my sight!
Fiona: As I fled, I had to wonder if were torn asunder
Shrek: No, it’s brimstone.
Fiona: Like that time a mob with torches burned my britches.
Fiona: Bare essentials: army cot, a hot plate and a chamber pot.
Shrek: Oh great, she’s also an eavesdropper!
Farquaad: You! You’re big and hulking and wonderfully expendable.
flim-flammer
foretold
goon
maestro
night–crawler
peril
ponder
ridicule
sophisticated
unorthodox
unsavory
vandal
Witch: ...stand up to that no-good flim‐flammer Farquaad.
Ugly Duckling: It was foretold in my horoscope.
Donkey: I had to do something to shake those goons.
Farquaad: My loyal subjects! We’re going to get a queen! Maestro!
Shrek: I thought I’d dig up some night-crawlers. Ya hungry?
Fiona: Cut the peril and the pitfalls!
Donkey: Shrek alone ponders his opinions.
Peter Pan: They ridiculed my hat.
Shrek: I don’t have a fancy castle and I’m not sophisticated.
Fiona: You’re amazing, you’re wonderful, you’re...a little unorthodox
Guard: As are you, you unsavory beast.
Fiona: And I’m a vandal now as well.
-As one of the characters in Shrek The Musical, write a letter to someone who is absent to
let them know what is going on in Far, Far Away. For example Gingy might write to a
friend, Pinocchio might write to a schoolmate, Lord Farquaad might write to his future
princess bride.
-How does Shrek The Musical incorporate classic fairy tale characters, while following the
fairy tale formula itself?
-A common theme in fairy tales is transformation. In Shrek The Musical Shrek experiences
an internal transformation and Fiona undergoes physical transformations. Write your own
fairy tale with a transformation.
-Another popular theme in fairy tales is ‘unlikely heroes.’ In Shrek The Musical, the heroes
are an ogre, a donkey and the ‘freaks’ or outcasts of the fairytale Kingdom. Compose a new
‘unlikely hero’ story. (Need inspiration? Start with an unusual title: The ________ that Saved
The Kingdom.)
World Studies
–Draw a map of Far, Far Away. Include the locations that are mentioned and represented
in Shrek The Musical. Mark the route the Shrek and Donkey took on their adventure.
Bonus: make pop-up dimesenions (Fiona in her tower or inside the cave as an ogress at
night).
-Discuss the role of fairy tales and folklore in society and culture. Ask students to journal
about their personal favourites and reflect upon them in the context of their childhood.
-Research ogres, beasts, and shape-shifts in folklore and mythology. In which common
stories have you found them? What are their traits? What is their role within the story?
Social Sciences and Humanities
-Shrek compares ogres to onions. He said “Onions have layers. Ogres have layers.” Discuss
other individuals in society who need to be consistent on the surface, but may have more to
their lives than they are willing to share. How has social media changed affected privacy
over the last 15 years?
-Elaborate upon the following common phrases and how they apply or do not apply to
Shrek The Musical: ‘Beauty is only skin deep,’ ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,’ ‘you
can’t judge a book by its cover,’ ‘Appearances can be deceiving.’ How does Shrek the
Musical relate a positive or negative message about self-image/self-worth? Do we maintain
that opinion in current society? What messages are we learning from today’s media?
-Discuss the use or misuse of power in Shrek The Musical. Farquaad inappropriately uses
his power to enforce conformity on the Kingdom of Duloc. He abuses his power by
attempting to eliminate any form of individuality. Use this as a starting point to talk about
bullying in schools, in teams, and in politics.
-Court is in Session! Create a mock trial, in which Lord Farquaad is charged with abuse of
his powers in his actions against the Fairy Tale Creatures (his subjects). Have students to
research the roles that they would expect to see in a courtroom and then to consider both
the defence and the prosecution cases. They could use Farquaad’s song, “The Ballad of
Farquaad” as part of either the defence or the prosecution case, but how? Investigate the
possible twists and turns before you try to mount the court case, so that students
understand all of the possible outcomes. Have a jury vote on whether Farquaad is innocent
or guilty of his crimes.
-Ask students to consider historical examples where people were removed from their
homes against their will. The fairytale characters get kicked out of their homes in Shrek The
Musical and then revolt and regain their home with Shrek, Donkey and the Dragon’s help,
however we humans don’t always get to live happily ever after. Today, thousands of
refugees, victims of war and political strife, find themselves living under the worst
conditions, barely surviving in refugee camps all over the world. Assign students a
research paper or project on a group of persons they previously didn’t know about who
have been/are oppressed, mistreated, or forced to leave their homes. They may choose to
create a series of hard-hitting campaign posters, a documentary film, or a radio podcast to
spread news and a call to action to help them.
-Research famous protests and protestors. In Shrek The Musical, Pinocchio leads the band
of fairytale creatures to confront Lord Farquaad in an effort to right the wrongs that have
been imposed upon them. History is full of examples of people uniting for a common cause.
While these protests have been both violent and non-violent in nature, there is a common
thread that links them all together – the idea that those involved believe that their actions
and beliefs are justified and that change is necessary.
-Self-discovery can be challenging, especially when all around you, others are pushing you
to be more like them or forcing you into a mold, because it makes them feel more secure.
Daring to be different can be seen as a threat. Shrek accepted who and what he was but
found it difficult to accept the friendship and kindness of others. Journal about a
challenging moment when you were pressured to do something you did not want to do,
how you acted in the moment, (how you wished you might have reacted) and what you
learned from the experience.
Resources
Shrek Characters. (October 2014). Retrieved from
http://www.dreamworksanimation.com/movies/shrek/meet
Shrek Study Guide. (October 2014). Retrieved from
http://www.alliancetheatre.org/sites/default/files/Shrek%20Study%20Guide%20Grades
%204-8%20email.pdf
Shrek The Musical. (October, 2014). Retrieved from
http://www.grandtheatre.com/index.php/mainstage-theatre/2014-15/shrek-themusical/
Shrek The Musical. (October 2014). Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrek_The_Musical
Shrek The Musical. (October 2014). Retrieved from
http://shrekthemusical.co.uk/education/bookings/
Shrek The Musical. (October 2014). Retrieved from
http://shrekthemusical.co.uk/education/bookings/#sthash.V4UAdDjK.dpuf
Shrek Trivia. (October, 2014). Retrieved from
http://movies.about.com/od/shrekforeverafter/tp/shrek-film-trivia.htm
Theatre Etiquette
1. Are food and drinks allowed in the theatre?
No, only bottled water will be allowed in the house. The reason we do not allow food
or drinks inside the theatre is because spillage can harm the seats and noise can
distract the actors and audience during the performance. For most shows there is
usually a 15 to 20-minute intermission. Students are able to buy a snack or drink at
that time and consume them in the lobby.
2. Can I bring my camera and take pictures?
Picture taking and/or recording are not allowed inside the theatre. In addition, it’s
important all screens, beepers, cell phones and assorted noise makers are turned off
during the performance. The noise and light from screens can be very distracting
for the actors and other audience members.
3. Is there a dress code for theatres?
There is no dress code for either our MainStage or McManus productions. Patrons
can wear whatever is comfortable. On special occasions, like Opening Night, some
audience members like to dress up.
4. Why aren’t audience members allowed to talk to each other while watching a
play?
Talking can be distracting to other audience members and also distracting to the
actors who want to give the best possible performance.
5. What happens if I arrive late?
Late arrivals will be required to wait in the lobby until an appropriate break in the
show so as not to disturb the actors or the rest of the audience.
6. What if I have to leave my seat in the middle of a performance?
Of course there will be times when you must leave your seat, but we hope you’ll
make every effort to stay seated until the intermission. Movement in the audience
disturbs the actors and other audience members. If you must leave, please wait for
an appropriate break in the show (i.e. scene changes) before returning to your seat.
7. What happens if a person is misbehaving during a performance?
If a person is disruptive to other audience members around them during a
performance they may be asked to leave by an usher or our front of house manager.
8. When should I be back in my seat after intermission?
Please return to your seat at the end of the 15 to 20-minute intermission so that we
don't continue the show without you. The lobby lights will flash to let you know
when the intermission is coming to an end.