July 25-26, August 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 2015
Keeping with the 2015 season theme, the Kitsap Forest Theater presented another movie turned into a stage musical with Shrek, the Musical, In addition the female lead of both the spring and summer shows was KFT alumnus Meagan Castillo,while Dawn Brazel (Music Director) was the witch in Shrek where she was the evil Nanny in Mary Poppins.
Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical is a TONY Award-winning fairy tale adventure with music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. It is based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William Steig.
The production staff was lead by 'new to Kitsap' director Nikki Fey-Burgett. She was assisted by Dawn Brazel (Music Director), Molly Hall (Choreographer), Misha Perritt (Costumer),and Stewart and Julie Shusterman (Sets). The musical accompaniment was done by Josh Zimmerman, assisted by Greg Smith, who programmed the keyboard. A bassist and drummer to filled out the 'band'.
Jason Gingold was the very green Shrek. Jason had to spend as much as an hour before each show getting his makeup and 'horns' on, proving Kermit the Frog's admonition that 'It isn't easy being green.' Meagan Castillo as the adult Fiona only had a couple of minutes at the end of the show to get on her green makeup. The younger Fionas were played by Anna Vizzare (teenager) and by Maria Pledger (adolescent). They had a beautiful trio between the three Fionas.
Adam Othman, former director of KFT productions, lowered himself (literally) to play Lord Farquaad. He spent the entire production on his knees (until the final bows).
Lani Smith and Jonathan Fowles were a great duo as the Mama and Papa Ogre.
As you can also see from the program, there was an amazing chorus in this production, filling out the stage with color and song.
Shrek is a very costume intensive show. By a stroke of good fortune, an excellent set of the basic costumes became available from a Canadian theater and KFT was able to purchase them. Gala Lindvall (producer) and Misha Perritt took a U-Haul up to Victoria to pick them up. Misha modified them for our cast and then made dozens of other costumes. KFT was fortunate enough to have another theater which wanted to buy the costumes. They were sold within a week to another Canadian theater.