LITTLE ROCK — A disgruntled, bad-tempered, swamp-dwelling ogre reluctantly becomes a knight-errant to reclaim the deed to his land, and discovers along the way true friendship — albeit with an annoying wise-cracking donkey; fights a fearsome dragon (who falls in love with the donkey, by the way); and finds true love with a quarrelsome princess.
It’s not just the stuff of hit animated films any more.
DreamWorks Theatricals has turned it into a hit musical, Shrek The Musical, with music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, based on the story and characters from William Steig’s book Shrek! and, of course, the original animated film.
The NETworks Presentations touring production will be onstage, under the aegis of Celebrity Attractions, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday at Robinson Center Music Hall, West Markham Street and Broadway, Little Rock.
Lukas Poost plays the title character, with Liz Shivener as Princess Fiona, Andre Jordan as Donkey and Merritt David Janes as Lord Farquaad.
Rounding out the cast of misfit fairy-tale characters and denizens of Duloc and Far, Far Away: Willie Dee, Annie Fitch, Susan Leilani Gearou, Kelly Teal Goyette, Alexa Kerner, Rachel Khutorsky, Schuyler Midgett, Lyonel Reneau, Adam Steiner, Erin Sullivan, Chase Todd, Sarah Tranchina, Nadia Vynnytsky, Ryan Everett Wood, Chris Woods, Luke Yellin, Ian Frazier, Mara Gabrielle, Ryan Rubek and Laura Smith.
The show is being “welcomed by” the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Tickets are $27, $37, $47, $52, $57 and $67 (plus handling fees). Call (501) 244-8800 or (800) 982-2787 (ARTS) or visit Ticketmaster.com.
Weekend, Pages 34 on 10/27/2011