Special to the Enquirer   

“Let Your Freak Flag Fly!” Hartselle Drama draws its 2022-23 theatre season to a close with Shrek the Musical, the light-hearted and award-winning musical based on the much-adored movie of the same name. 

Based on the Dreamworks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William Steig, Shrek the Musical follows an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and more than a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand – and his name is Shrek. 

Lisa King directs a cast of 63, all students in Hartselle Junior High and high school’s theatre program. Backstage, there are more than 40 crew members running everything from lights to wardrobe. This is the largest show King has produced. 

“Shrek the Musical is an exciting show because it’s such a creative challenge with a great message,” King said. “Shrek, played by senior Kooper Rooks, goes on this incredible journey to learn to accept himself. We have to find a way to create his world not only with our incredible performers, but through lights and puppetry and costumes and makeup. This may well be the strongest company I have had, and I know they are going to do Shrek’s story justice.” 

Shrek will be performed March 21-25 at the Hartselle High School auditorium with performances for local schools March 22 and 23. 

Tickets are available for purchase on MySchoolBucks or by contacting Lisa King at lisa.king@hartselletigers.org or 256-612-1208. 

About Shrek the Musical 

Shrek the Musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com. 

Music by Jeanine Tesori. Book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire. Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film. 

About Hartselle Drama 

Hartselle Drama is the umbrella program for all theater programs at Hartselle Junior High and Hartselle High School. It oversees drama courses at HJHS, theatre classes at HHS, Thespian Troupe 8419 and Junior Thespian Troupe 89739. Each year it produces a spring musical along with multiple smaller shows and cabarets. Students are given opportunities to perform, compete and earn scholarships for their talents and creative efforts. Troupe 8418 and 89739 have each been recognized for excellence at district, state and national levels of competition.