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Shrek Confirms Drury Lane Opening for June 2011

Shrek Confirms Drury Lane Opening for June 2011

Date: 2 July 2010

Today (2 July 2010), on the same day that Shrek Forever After, the final chapter in the hit animated series opens in the UK, producers have confirmed that the Broadway stage musical based on the first of the films will indeed have its long-rumoured West End premiere at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane next year. Shrek The Musical will open on 7 June 2011, following previews from May. Tickets go on public sale on 1 October 2010.

The screen-to-stage adaptation of the irreverent alternative fairy tale about a lonely green ogre, who finds happiness and conquers a fearsome dragon with the help of a wise-cracking donkey and the tough-talking Princess Fiona, is produced by Sam Mendes’ Neal Street Productions and, in the company’s theatrical debut, the Hollywood studio Dreamworks (Mendes took the idea to Dreamworks when the second film was in production).

The musical has a score by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. It’s directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford and designed by Tim Hatley, with lighting by Hugh Vanstone, sound by Peter Hylenski and choreography by Josh Prince.

Shrek The Musical premiered in December 2008 on Broadway, where it ran for just over a year. The West End offering will be based on the revamped US touring production, which launches from Chicago this month and features new songs, additional scenes, “improved illusions” and “a newly styled dragon”, as previously reported.

SHREK PERFORMING AT THE TONY AWARDS IN NEW YORK

Casting has not yet been announced for the West End production, but amongst the names mentioned in the press or wish-listed on the Whatsonstage.com Discussion Forum are Amanda Holden, Sheridan Smith, Julie Atherton, Summer Strallen, Emma Williams, Lorna Want, Kimberley Walsh, Rebecca Thornhill and Broadway’s Sutton Foster for Fiona, Clive Rowe for Shrek, Giles Terera for Donkey and Joseph Connor for Pinocchio.

Currently at Drury Lane, Oliver!, which celebrated its 50th birthday this week with a special appearance from original Fagin Ron Moody, finishes on 8 January 2011 after a two-year run.

- by Terri Paddock

Related Content

Booking Tickets & Show Listings
Shrek - The Musical Listing Page
Internal Links
Amanda Holden up for Shrek at Drury Lane Next May??? - 25th Jun 2010 Gossip
Shrek Set for March 2011: Drury Lane or Palace??? - 17th Jun 2010 Gossip
Michael Ball Doesn't Go Green in Shrek??? - 19th Mar 2010 Gossip
Would Shrek Make a Monster Hit at Palladium??? - 6th Nov 2009 Gossip
Shrek Musical Goes Green in West End in 2010??? - 6th Jul 2009 Gossip
Shrek Gets West End Green Light After Broadway??? - 15th Dec 2008 Gossip
Mendes Nabs Moore for Shrek, Gill for Wine & Roses - 15th Oct 2004 News
Sam Mendes Sounds Out Shrek for Broadway??? - 15th Oct 2002 Gossip
Oliver! Closes at Drury Lane 8 Jan, Moody Guests - 23rd Jun 2010 News
Photos: Moody Returns as Fagin for Oliver! 50th - 1st Jul 2010 News
Shrek closes on 24 Feb, Charlie moves Chocolate Factory to Drury Lane - 31st Aug 2012 news
Shrek toppled by Charlie at Drury Lane? - 31st Aug 2012 gossip
Legally Blonde's Carley Stenson goes green as Shrek's Princess Fiona - 8th Mar 2012 news
Photos: New Shrek cast mark first performance - 1st Mar 2012 photos
Chisnall & McDermott Lead New Shrek Cast from 29 Feb - 8th Nov 2011 news
Photos: Bailey & Van Outen Make Shrek Media Night - 22nd Oct 2011 photos
Photos: Cheryl Cole & Nicola Roberts at Kimberley Walsh's First Shrek Outing - 6th Oct 2011 photos
Photos: First Pic of Kimberley Walsh as Shrek's Princess Fiona - 22nd Sep 2011 photos
Kimberley Walsh Replaces Pregnant Holden in Shrek - 24th Aug 2011 news
News of the World Shock Horror - 8th Jul 2011 blog
Top Ten: Screen-to-Stage Musicals - 21st Jun 2011 features
Review Round-up: Fairy Tale Opening for Shrek? - 15th Jun 2011 roundup
1st Night Photos: Shrek Paints West End Green - 15th Jun 2011 photos
Shrek The Musical starstarstar - 14th Jun 2011 reviews
Photos: Lindsay & Shrek Cast Get Ogre Excited - 14th Jun 2011 photos
Opening: Shrek, Derren Brown, Tenor & Betrayal - 13th Jun 2011 news
Photos: Shrek Gala, Cast & Creatives Meet Prince - 9th Jun 2011 photos
WOS Magazine Is Shrek Green, Jun/Jul Out Now - 2nd Jun 2011 news
Photo: Holden & Shrek Cast 'Believe' on BGT Tonight - 31st May 2011 photos
Photo: First Peek of Shrek Principals in Costume - 3rd May 2011 photos
Top Five: Royal Wedding Shows - 27th Apr 2011 features
Galas: Shrek, West End Eurovision & Ghost CD - 6th Apr 2011 news
Musical Cast: David Bedella in Chicago, Shrek - 22nd Feb 2011 news
Photos: Leads Come Together for Shrek Launch - 2nd Nov 2010 photos
Past/Present/Future for ... Nigel Lindsay - 7th Oct 2010 interviews
Shrek Gets Major Makeover for West End??? - 10th Sep 2010 gossip
Lindsay & Harman Confirmed for West End Shrek - 3rd Sep 2010 news
Holden & Blackwood Confirmed for London Shrek - 30th Jul 2010 news
Mendes Nabs Moore for Shrek, Gill for Wine & Roses - 15th Oct 2004 news


Reader Comments


CommentDate
Have just seen the video for Shrek and it looks fantastic! Are What's On Stage planning an outing? - Julia Wood

04 Sep 10

I Wonder if Caroline Keiff should be in Shrek as Mama Ogre & Humpty Dumpty. - Billy

08 Jul 10

Does anyone know who is casting the production yet? - Danni

05 Jul 10

The muffin man who lives at drury lane is going to be a major joke here - Scott

02 Jul 10


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