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“What is THE MUSICAL?”

 The official title of the show is .

 SHREK THE MUSICAL is an entirely new musical based on the story and characters from William Steig’s book Shrek!, as well as the Oscar® winning DreamWorks Animation film Shrek, the first chapter of the Shrek movie series.

 SHREK THE MUSICAL looks backwards at all the fairy tale traditions we grew up on: a hero (a big, green, ill-tempered ogre), a beautiful princess (who is not all she appears to be), and a dastardly villain (with some obvious shortcomings) and takes great fun turning all their storytelling conventions upside-down and inside-out (and on their ear).

“How did the musical come about?”

 Sam Mendes, the British director and producer, was a big fan of the first film, and he suggested the idea of creating a musical to DreamWorks’ , around the time the second film was in production. Now, the musical is being produced by DreamWorks Theatricals (Bill Damaschke, President) and Neal Street Productions, Ltd (principals Sam Mendes and Caro Newling).

“How does the new musical fit into the Shrek pantheon?”

 The story of the musical follows the events and characters of the first Shrek feature film, which won the first-ever Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature. In SHREK THE MUSICAL, the creative team will go deeper into the background and story of Shrek, Princess Fiona, Donkey and the lovable collection of everyone’s favorite Fairy-Tale characters. SHREK THE MUSICAL will feature a completely original score by one the theatre’s most eclectic composers, Jeanine Tesori, working in theatre today.

“Who is the audience for the Shrek musical?”

 In the same way the first Shrek film’s wit and humor appealed to audiences of all ages, the musical is being created to appeal to adults as well as younger audiences. The unique talents of the creative team will bring a strong theatricality to a show that should appeal to avid theatergoers as well as less traditional audiences.

“What will Shrek & Donkey look like?”

 The physical appearance of Shrek and the other characters onstage is being created by one of the most in-demand theatre-artists working today; award-winning designer Tim Hatley, who designed ’s , as well as dozens of movies, plays, musicals and opera in the and Europe. The look of the characters and the far, far away world they live in is currently in development and will be revealed when the musical goes in to performance.

“Who’s Who In SHREK”?

 SHREK: Tony Award® nominee Brian d’Arcy James was most recently seen in Broadway’s The Apple Tree and has earned praise in a variety of Broadway productions including Sweet Smell of Success, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Lieutenant of Inishmore as well as the National Tour of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.  PRINCESS FIONA: Sutton Foster, currently receiving raves as Inga in Broadway’s Young Frankenstein, won the hearts (and the Tony®) of audiences with her Broadway debut in Thoroughly Modern Millie and recently starring in The Drowsy Chaperone.  DONKEY: Chester Gregory II is currently playing the role of Dupree in Broadway’s Crybaby. He was also seen on Broadway as Terk in Disney’s Tarzan, and Seaweed in Hairspray.  LORD FARQUAAD: Tony Award® nominee Christopher Sieber is currently starring on Broadway in Monty Python’s Spamalot and has also been seen in Broadway’s , Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Thoroughly Modern Millie.  PINOCCHIO: John Tartaglia was nominated for a Tony Award® for his performance in the Tony Award®-winning and is currently the executive producer and star of Disney Channel’s “Johhny and the Sprites.”  DRAGON: Kecia Lewis-Evans is currently starring on Broadway in Chicago and was recently seen on Broadway as Trix in The Drowsy Chaperone.

“Who made SHREK THE MUSICAL?”

 The creative team behind SHREK THE MUSICAL is comprised of some of the most innovative people working in the theatre today. The shows these artists created have received: . 20 Tony® Awards . 16 Drama Desk Awards . 8 Olivier Awards . The Grammy® Award . The Pulitzer Prize®

The Creative Team David Lindsay-Abaire (book and lyrics), first came to theatergoers’ attention with dark comedies such as Fuddy Meers and last year won the Pulitzer Prize® for his Tony® nominated play, Rabbit Hole. Jeanine Tesori (music), made her Broadway debut with the Tony Award®-winning Best Musical Thoroughly Modern Millie and enjoyed critical acclaim in New York and

London for Caroline, or Change. Jason Moore (direction) helmed the Tony Award®-winning Avenue Q, and most recently directed the sold-out, limited engagement of Jerry Springer: The Opera at Carnegie

Hall. Tim Hatley (sets and costumes) created sets and costumes for the smash Broadway musical, Spamalot as well as receiving the Tony Award® for . Hugh Vanstone (lighting) was nominated for his work on Broadway’s Spamalot and Art, as well as winning three Olivier Awards for his work on The West End. Josh Prince (choreographer) is making his Broadway debut with Shrek The Musical. He choreographed the sold-out, limited engagement of Jerry Springer: The Opera at Carnegie Hall and the upcoming at Lincoln Center.

“When will SHREK THE MUSICAL come to Broadway?”

 SHREK THE MUSICAL will play an exclusive world premiere engagement at The in Seattle, August 14th to September 21st  Previews for groups begin November 11, 2008 with Opening Night set for December 14, 2008 at the legendary .