The Revere Players cast and crew are rehearsing and getting ready to perform Shrek The Musical for this upcoming spring. 

The Revere Players have been rehearsing after school every day for the upcoming musical Shrek. Different than some of the previous musicals, Shrek is a more uplifting musical and leaves the audience with a good message. Shrek was written by David Lindsay-Abaire and the music was composed by Jeanine Tesori. Director of the Revere Players, Laurie Russell, explained why she chose to perform Shrek this year. 

  “I wanted to pick a comedy for the students. It was time for us to do something ‘out of the box’ where the students would be challenged to do something different. I think they will really enjoy performing in Shrek and I hope the audience enjoys it too,” Russell said. 

Auditions for the musical cast took place in January, and the top 45 students were chosen to be members of the cast. Since then, these students have been working on acting and vocal practice. Freshman Isabella Gardner, who plays the part of one of the Duloc singers and dancers, a villager and a dancing rat, explained what happens during a rehearsal. 

“We go to the band room to warm up and sing through different scenes. Then around [an hour later], we go up to the auditorium to block scenes, which is when we set up where we move around the stage or learn/run through dances,” Gardner said. 

The crew has been working on painting four backdrops for the musical. Shrek contains many different props and backdrops that will need to be built by the 25 high school students involved in crew. Additionally, there are six students working on lighting for the show. Co-stage manager Kyra Heijnen explained what the crew is currently working on.

“There are a lot of built drops and backdrops and there are a lot of scene changes,” Heijnen said. 

The musical will feature a fifteen foot long dragon and many other new props. Shrek also takes place in a unique location that will provide a challenge for the crew. Assistant director of the musical Rena Baker  explained what makes Shrek unique to other musicals. 

“It has a huge dragon puppet and many unique set pieces.  It is the most complicated show for stage make-up that we have produced,” Baker said. 

During crew, students paint sets, build props and work to make the musical run smoothly. Co-Stage manager Maggie Gerber explained what it is like being in crew. 

“I think it’s cool to see the process from the beginning to the end. The actors start off not knowing it, and we start off with empty backdrops and then it turns into the finished product,” Gerber said.

Shrek the Musical provides many opportunities for costumes and makeup. Since many of the characters are not humans, designing appropriate costumes provides a challenge for students. Russell explained what the costumes and makeup will look like. 

“[The] costumes are bizarre and the makeup is bizarre. [We will be] taking students from this character then transforming them to this character, and then transforming them back to this character, it’s going to be a real challenge,” Russell said. 

The musical will also feature a small ensemble of around twenty students playing instruments providing music for the show. These students are personally chosen by band director Brian Rizzo to play in the pit orchestra. Rizzo explained what the music for Shrek will be like. 

“This year the music features guitar and a combination of upright and electric bass, as well as a wide array of percussion instruments,” Rizzo said. 

With the construction of the new high school, this will be the last performance in the current auditorium. Russell explained what this means to the Players. 

“Our goal is to bring an epic show to our audience as it is the last show in our beloved theatre,” Russell said. 

The show will take place on April 30, May 1 and May 2, at 7 pm, and will also take place on May 3 at 2 pm. Tickets are $5 dollars for students. Pre-sale tickets for adults are $12 and $15 at the door. Senior citizens are $10.