Prepare yourselves for ogres, donkeys, and plenty of laughter, because this year, our Upper School will perform and bring Shrek the Musical to life. Inspired by the beloved film, the musical tells the tale of a misunderstood ogre who becomes a hero when he rescues a princess from a tower. Throughout the tale, the audience follows Shrek’s adventure with fairy-tale creatures, a talkative donkey, and a Lord who struggles to measure up (literally). Margaret Anne Butterfield, the musical director, describes the production as “Absolutely hilarious, but empowering because the characters kind of own up to who they are.” Although there are vastly different opinions, many believe the musical was chosen for its impressive number of lead roles and important ensemble characters. Piper Roskovensky ‘26, playing the lead role of Fiona, says, “There are a lot of different characters for people to choose from, and in the ensemble, there are a lot of personalized characters that have a significant role in the musical.” This year’s cast list is full of variety, but it is not the first time Wilmington Friends School has done a production of Shrek. Back in 2019, the eighth graders brought the tale to life.
Of course, a production this big requires just as much effort behind the curtain as on stage. So, what
goes into creating a musical as complex as this? What are the tiny details that make the musical so interesting
to the audience? Beyond the quick costume changes and intense choreography, there are small details that
keep everything running smoothly. Ava Miller ‘26, the stage manager, has the complex task of keeping track of it all. Her job involves taking notes of the small moments that each character has on stage, props that each scene might need, and even filming videos of certain scenes so the cast can use them when practicing. When asked about what people
might not realize about the process, she says, “A lot of organizing, tons of Google Docs and spreadsheets, and communicating with cast, lights, and sound.”
The themes of the musical also carry a deeper message beyond the humor. Easton Martinenza ‘27, who plays the role of Pinocchio, says, “Humorous, but behind the humor it really talks about true beauty.” Piper Roskovensky ‘26 says that Shrek is fun and energetic, but also reflects “Our school values, like community.”
The date for Shrek the Musical is getting closer and closer. Rehearsals run multiple times a week, often running late into the night. As mentioned before, the building of each scene, let alone an entire act, takes plenty of time to cover. Scenes become broken down into small chunks, with the leads repeating their lines over and over again until it is acted out perfectly. Besides acting, it takes a lot of time to process where and how a certain character should stand on stage. With small corrections, each scene shapes up exactly how it
should be. The audience can expect a performance full of laughter, energy, and plot twists. From the incredible and hilarious sound effects, to Donkey’s humorous jokes, every scene the viewers will see is nothing but entertaining and filled with talent. Once you add in the colorful, yet seemingly uncomfortable costumes, heartfelt moments, and a catchy final song titled “I’m a Believer”, the production will be an unforgettable and amusing night for everyone.
With humor, love, and plenty of stinky swamps, Shrek the Musical promises to be one of the most memorable productions the Upper School has ever staged, and it certainly will not be the last.