Metea Valley High theater to open ‘Shrek the Musical’ with April 25 preview
Metea Valley High School theater will be bringing a message of acceptance and being true to oneself with their spring production, “Shrek the Musical.”
This heartwarming story of acceptance and being true to oneself is a message that will always be relevant.
This classic story was written as a book in 1990 by William Steig and then adapted into the beloved film in 2001. Those who grew up during this time can remember how ingenious the script was when it first came out in theaters.
Mike Meyers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow voiced the animated characters. The film became a Broadway hit in 2008, with music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics and book by David Lindsay-Abaire.
“This show is the definition of magic; it was made possible because of the countless hours of work and passion that the students and staff poured into this production. I feel incredibly fortunate every single day to work with this level of talent and expertise,” said director Brenda Perez de Tejada.
“Over 100 people dedicated their time and energy for three months so that our audiences could experience the magic and morals of this story,” Perez de Tejada said. “There are beautifully big musical numbers, special effects (see students fly!), nostalgic jokes and characters, and gorgeous live orchestrations by students.”
Perez de Tejada said there was so much talent this year that they will have two different lead casts who will each have two performances. There also is an understudy cast to create as much of a real-world experience for the students in the school’s theater program.
The understudies have learned both an ensemble and a lead track throughout the rehearsal process and will be ready to jump onstage if the need arises. That means that there are three variations of this show to explore. You can attend more than one performance.
The opening preview on April 25 will include a character meet-and-greet at 5:45 p.m. This is to ensure that any younger children (or adults) can take pictures with some cast members before curtain, in case some of them don't stay awake through the entire show.
The opening preview will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 25, and 6:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 2-3, and Sunday, May 5, in the high school PAC Auditorium, 1801 N. Eola Road in Aurora.
General admission tickets are $15 or $10 for students and senior citizens.
Tickets can be purchased online. Arrive at least 15 minutes before showtime. Shows will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. Concessions will be available.
For tickets or more information, find “Metea Valley High School” on gofan.co or contact Metea Valley main office at (630) 375-5900.
Perez de Tejada said, “We are sure that you and your entire family, no matter what age, will walk out of our theater with an abundance of joy and in awe of our student's talent. If you have little ones at home, they will love this one.”
Join Metea Valley High School Theater on Facebook or follow @TheaterMVHS on Twitter or Instagram.
“Shrek the Musical” is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.