NEWS
“Shrek the Musical” Rocks at Community School of Davidson’s Art Space Theatre
Everyone loves the story of Shrek. When Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori morphed the tale into Shrek the Musical, the conglomerate of creatures were loved even more. And Melissa Ohlman-Roberge, the prolific director of more than one hundred children’s (and adult) shows, appreciates its popularity.
For the second time in less than a decade Melissa is directing her design of Shrek the Musical at Community School of Davidson’s Art Space. Kids of all ages love the show—they laugh and shriek their approval. Adults (of all ages too) cheer with delight and applaud their appreciation. And the night I was there, Senator Natasha Marcus was teary-eyed, recalling her daughter Ellie’s performance as Pinocchio on the same stage when she was a high school sophomore, seven years ago. Holt Grier plays Pinocchio this year.
Griffin Small, Shrek the Ogre (Hannah Roberge Photography)
Landry & Anna Staskel, Princesses Fiona (Hannah Roberge Photography)
This time around, Melissa wanted to expand the stage experience to children as young as the second grade along with teenagers all the way through high school. She manages to direct a cast of sixty lively youths who sing and dance popular numbers from the musical for more than two hours each night. Emily Hunter is the choreographer. Lisa Bradley and Vicki Harvell are the musical directors. Different groups of kindergarteners are special guests in the show for each performance.
Griffin Small plays Shrek, an Ogre banished to the swamp. Garret MacIntyre performs the role of a Donkey who befriends the
Garret MacIntyre as Donkey (Hannah Roberge Photography)
ugly Ogre. Both lads love the theatre. They have been performing for several years, not only at Community School of Davidson, also on the Davidson Community Players’ Connie Company stage and with Mooresville Community Childrens’ Theatre.
Anna Staskel has the role of the grown-up Princess Fiona who is engaged to wed the tale’s antagonist, Lord Farquaad,
winningly performed by Dylan Underwood. Farquaad’s Guards are played by Dane Davis, Jake Lewman Bode Radel and Nash Small. James Vale is Captain of the Guard.
Nash Small, Young Shrek (Hannah Roberge Photography)
Besides the roles of the Elf, and Deer, Landry Staskel plays Young Fiona. Teen Fiona is delivered by Margot Tate who also plays White Rabbit. Nash Small is the Young Shrek.
Ma and Pa Ogre are performed by Bailey Roles and Aaron Alcamo. The roles of King Harold and Queen Lillian are played by Rory Boyle and Dylan Underwood.
Many of the actors play several roles. Hannah King is Gingy and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Blake Tapia plays Thelonius and the Big Bad Wolf. Matilda Walter performs as the Ugly Duckling, Blue Bird, and the Morning Dove.
The roles of Papa, Mama and Baby Bear are played by Aaron Alcamo, Harper Phipps, and Ben Underwood. Aleynah Dewar, Charlie Miller, and Sylvie Walter are the Three Pigs.
Bailey Rowles plays the Wicked Witch. Libby Slosson is the Fairy Godmother, Lauren Luley is the Mad Hatter, Tessa Fuller is Peter Pan, Alioth Clewell is the Frog Princess, Quinn Boyle plays Little Bo Peep, Julian Chadwin is the Bishop, and Nat Hotchner is the Pied Piper.
Shrek the Musical’s costumes, designed by Wendi Chioniere. are amazing! Villager, Traveler, and Fairy Tale attire match their characters so well.
Emma Schuermann the Dragon with Alioth Clewel as Dragon’s Head (Hannah Roberge Photography)
The wriggly red Dragon, voiced by Olivia Durham, is outstanding. Alioth Clewel handles the Dragon’s Head. Abby Cain, Tessa Fuller and Keegan Deihl manage the Dragon’s body. Emma Schuermann breathes the Dragon’s Fire. She also plays Little Red Riding Hood. Harper Phipps, Bailey Rowles, and Matilda Walter are The Dragon Singers.
Duloc Dancers headed by their Greeter Bailey Rowles, include Quinn Boyle, Hannah King, Charlie Miller, Harper Phipps, Libby Slosson, Margot Tate, and Sylvie Walter.
Energetic tap dancers Alioth Clewell, Olivia Durham, Tessa Fuller, Hannah King, Bailey Rowles, and Libby Slosson perform a lively number as the Tapping Rats. Vocalists Aaron Alcamo, Quinn Boyle, Adam Fox, and Dylan Underwood are the Singing Knights.
Happy Villagers, Travelers and Other Fairy Tale Folk are played by Delaney Boyle, Eli Radel, Adam Fox, Julian Chadwin, Rory Boyle, Sadie Hinton, and Taylor Stevens.
Anna Staskel, Princess Fiona (Hannah Roberge Photography)
The Junior Ensemble composed of kids from the second through fourth grades includes Stevie Davis, Brooklyn Dixon, Olivia Kertez, Christian Kirkland, Tristan Marsh, Kate Sakamoto, Harper Schuermann and Anabel Watts.
If you haven’t already bought a ticket to see Shrek the Musical, don’t be afraid to meander over to the Community School of Davidson’s Armour Street campus. They can always add a seat. Wear your jeans—the atmosphere is quite informal and, best of all, lots of fun!
CSD’s production of Shrek the Musical, an exciting show for all ages, will be performed at 7:00 p.m. each night this weekend and on Sunday afternoon at 2:00.
Connie Fisher
Connie Fisher, neé Consuelo Carmona, is a Davidson resident who grew up in Mexico City where she became a journalist and acquired a taste for the theatre. Her preference for work behind the scenes led to an interest in writing reviews—Yale Rep among her favorite troupes. Connie is the author of Doing it the Right Way, the biography of an Italian hatmaker. Her prose appears with 87 other international writers in The Widows’ Handbook. An active, founding member of Lake Norman Writers, Connie just released her latest book, "The Mongrel, Bi-cultural Adventures of a Latina-Scandinavian Youth," a memoir about her years growing up in Mexico.