Shrek

For all you fans of giant green ogres out there, some news today about Shrek The Musical, which is gearing up for its November 8 Broadway previews. The show, which has been having a trail run in Seattle, will get a new donkey for its New York run. The Associated Press reports (via the NYT) that Tony nominee Daniel Breaker, who dazzled last season in Passing Strange, will be taking over the role from Chester Gregory. But that's not it: the voice of the Dragon, is actually going to be that of eight women, instead of one performer with a chorus. The play opens officially on December 14 and features Brian d'Arcy James as the title character; Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona; Christopher Sieber as the evil Lord Farquaad; and John Tartaglia as Pinocchio. Tickets are on sale now at www.shrekthemusical.com.

Producers of the stage adaptation of Shrek were having a hard time casting the lead of Disney's hit movie these past few months, struggling to find a stage actor who was jovially plump, attractive and had the comedy chops to stand up to Mike Meyers' original performance. They've finally found their leading ogre: Brian d'Arcy James, the singing actor who was recently seen in the Off-Broadway musical Next to Normal, has landed the title role of the green ogre in Shrek the Musical, which will bound its way into the Broadway Theatre Nov. 8, according to Playbill. Who will play his partner in crime, Donkey?  read more »

Shrek is ditching the magic kingdom and coming to Broadway. Although, don't expect Cameron Diaz and Mike Myers to come out of their recording booths to prance around on stage any time soon. Shrek The Musical will premiere in Seattle in August this summer and then transfer to New York (at a theater to be announced) in early November. Spamalot helmer Tim Hatley will direct.

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