Show guide
Shrek The Musical
Shrek The Musical brings the beloved animated ogre and his fairy tale friends to the stage in a comic, heartwarming adventure about accepting yourself. It opened on Broadway in 2008, adapted from the popular DreamWorks film.
- Broadway premiere
- 2008
- Music by
- Jeanine Tesori
- Genre
- Comedy
- Setting
- Timeless
Shrek The Musical: quick answers
What is Shrek The Musical about?
- Shrek The Musical follows a grumpy ogre whose swamp is overrun by fairy tale creatures banished by the tiny tyrant Lord Farquaad. To win his land back, he sets off with a talkative Donkey to rescue Princess Fiona, who hides a curse of her own.
When did Shrek The Musical open on Broadway?
- Shrek The Musical opened on Broadway on December 14, 2008, at the Broadway Theatre, after a Seattle tryout, and closed on January 3, 2010, after 441 performances. It won the Tony Award for Best Costume Design from eight nominations, including Best Musical.
What kind of musical is Shrek The Musical?
- Shrek The Musical is a family musical comedy with an original score by Jeanine Tesori (music) and David Lindsay-Abaire (book and lyrics), adapted from the 2001 DreamWorks Animation film. I'm a Believer, first played only as exit music, was added as a company finale in October 2009.
Where and when is Shrek The Musical set?
- Shrek is set in a storybook fairy tale kingdom, moving from Shrek's swamp to Lord Farquaad's Duloc and Fiona's dragon-guarded castle, with no real-world time period.
Has Shrek The Musical played in London's West End?
- A revised, scaled-down Shrek opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane in May 2011 and closed on February 24, 2013, after 715 performances. Nigel Harman won the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Role in a Musical as Lord Farquaad.
Is there a Shrek The Musical movie?
- The musical is based on DreamWorks Animation's Shrek (2001), with the voices of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow, which won the first Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. A filmed performance of the stage show was released in 2013.
The story of Shrek The Musical
The show follows Shrek, a gruff but good hearted ogre who just wants to be left alone in his swamp, as he reluctantly sets out to rescue Princess Fiona in order to reclaim his land from the diminutive Lord Farquaad. Along the way he is joined by a talkative Donkey, and the journey becomes as much about friendship and self acceptance as it is about the rescue itself.
Set in a storybook fairy tale world populated by familiar characters, the musical leans into its comedy while still delivering a sincere message about embracing what makes you different. It keeps the film's irreverent humor while expanding the story for the stage.
The music and the makers
Shrek The Musical features an original score by Jeanine Tesori, with lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, who also wrote the book. The music is playful and comedic, moving between big Broadway style production numbers, cheeky pastiche, and warmer character ballads that give Shrek and Fiona genuine emotional depth.
Tesori's score matches the film's blend of silliness and heart, using humor and spectacle to entertain while still finding room for sincere moments about loneliness and belonging. It is a score built to work for both longtime fans of the movie and newcomers to the story.
Shrek The Musical on Broadway
Shrek The Musical opened on Broadway in 2008, bringing elaborate costumes, prosthetics, and a full fairy tale ensemble to life on stage. It quickly became popular with family audiences drawn in by the familiarity of the film and the promise of live spectacle.
Since its Broadway run, the show has become a widely licensed favorite for schools and regional theatres, prized for its comedy, its accessible songs, and its message about looking past appearances. It continues to introduce the world of Shrek to new theatregoing audiences.
Shrek The Musical: frequently asked questions
When did Shrek The Musical open on Broadway?
Shrek The Musical opened on Broadway in 2008.
Who composed Shrek The Musical?
The music is by Jeanine Tesori, with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire.
What is Shrek The Musical based on?
It is based on the DreamWorks animated film Shrek, set in a comic fairy tale world.
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