BWW Exclusive: Alexander Gemignani, Julia Murney, Rob McClure, Michael James Scott to Lead SHREK at the MUNY this June

The Muny announced principal casting for the second show of its fantastic 95th Season, Dreamworks Shrek The Musical, directed by John Tartaglia and choreographed by Vince Pesce. Shrek is sponsored by US Bank.

Alexander Gemignani will star as Shrek, with Julia Murney as Princess Fiona. Joining them will be Rob McClure as Lord Farquaad, Michael James Scott as Donkey, and Natalie Venetia Belcon as Dragon. This will be John Tartaglia's Muny directorial debut, after his critically-acclaimed performance as the Genie in last year's production of Disney's Aladdin.

"These are five of the finest talents working on Broadway today," said Muny Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. "I'm thrilled they'll be joining John and Vince in creating a new and vibrant production of Shrek for the Muny audience."

Based on the classic film that has charmed generations, Shrek The Musical has a book by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori.

The Muny production features scenic design by Steve and Sam Gilliam, sound design by Jason Krueger, lighting design by Nathan Scheuer and costume design by Andrea Lauer. Greg Anthony serves as the musical director, and the production stage manager is Michael T. Clarkston.

Alexander Gemignani (Shrek) Broadway: LES MISERABLES (Drama League nomination), Sweeney Todd (Drama Desk nomination), Assassins (Theatre World Award), The People In The Picture, Sunday in the Park With George. Off-Broadway: Road Show at the Public (Drama League nomination), Headstrong at EST and Avenue Q at the Vineyard Theatre. Favorite Regional: The Three Sisters at Cincinnati Playhouse, The Boys From Syracuse at The Shakespeare Theatre of DC and the title character in the world premiere musical Saint-Ex at The Weston Playhouse. Concerts: The NY Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall, The NY Pops at Carnegie Hall, and The LA Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl. TV/Film: Homeland, The Good Wife, Empire State (pilot). His solo show, All At Once, premiered at the Kennedy Center in 2011. Alexander is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Julia Murney (Princess Fiona) last appeared on Broadway as Elphaba in Wicked after playing the role on the national tour for which she received an Acclaim Award. Other New York credits include Lennon, Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party (Drama Desk nomination), Falling, The Vagina Monologues, A Class Act, Saved, Crimes of the Heart, Queen of the Mist, Closer Than Ever, and Time and Again (Lucille Lortel nomination). She's been seen regionally all over the US - Signature, Williamstown, Reprise!LA, Sacramento Music Circus, NCT, Lyric, Rubicon and Goodspeed, to name a few - and in concert she has performed at Carnegie Hall, Joe's Pub, 54 Below, Feinstein's, The Kennedy Center, Caramoor, Town Hall and Birdland as well as with the Philly, Cincinnati, and Boston Pops. Among her TV credits are 30 Rock, Sex and the City, Brothers and Sisters, Ed, NYPD Blue, all three Law and Orders and about a "gazillion" voiceovers. A Syracuse University graduate, her recordings include the original cast albums of The Wild Party and A Class Act, the Grammy-nominated Actor's Fund Benefit of Hair and her first solo album, I'm Not Waiting which is available on Sh-K-Boom records and at juliamurney.com.

Rob McClure (Lord Farquaad) received raves for his performance as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin The Musical on Broadway (2013 Outer Critics Circle Award nomination, 2013 Drama League nominee), a role he originated at La Jolla Playhouse (Craig Noel Award winner). Prior to that, he charmed audience and critics alike with another title role, leading the cast of Where's Charley? at Encores. A two-time Barrymore Award winner, Rob starred on Broadway as Princeton/Rod in the Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q. He made his Broadway debut in the 2002 Broadway revival of I'm Not Rappaport with Judd Hirsch and Ben Vereen. Other selected credits include Avenue Q (1st national tour, Helen Hayes nomination), Amadeus (Mozart, Walnut Street Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour, The Muny), The Game's Afoot (world premiere by Ken Ludwig, Cleveland Playhouse), The Producers (Carmen Ghia, Walnut Street Theatre), The Flea and the Professor (world premiere, Adren Theatre) and Johnny Baseball (world premiere, American Repertory Theater).

Michael James Scott (Donkey) is currently playing Dr. Gotswana, a featured role he created in the Broadway hit show The Book of Mormon. Other Broadway credits include Mamma Mia!, All Shook Up, The Pirate Queen, Tarzan, Hair, and Elf. Guest co-star in the TV Series The Carrie Diaries. Associate Choreographer/Cast of the revival of Hair in London's West End. Off-Broadway: Featured in Here's to Joe Opposite Donna McKechnie, Jerry Springer: The Opera at Carnegie Hall, standby for Ben Vereen in the international tour of Fosse (he then assumed the role.) Regional: Aida, Ragtime, South Pacific, and Cinderella, to name a few. For the past five years, he has sung with the critically-acclaimed singing group, The Broadway Boys. Michael is a B.F.A. Musical Theatre graduate of the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University.

Natalie Venetia Belcon (Dragon) is happy to be making her debut at The Muny. Natalie originated the role of Gary Coleman in Avenue Q, Columbina in The Glorious Ones, Phyllis in The Last Smoker in America, Tracy in Radio City's Christmas Spectacular (2011) and various supporting characters in The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin. She was also in Play On for PBS Great Performances and Rent. TV and Film include: The Education of Max Bickford, Damages, Sugar Hill, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and many others.

To purchase Season Tickets by phone, call (314) 361-1900, extension 550, or order online at www.muny.org. The Muny Box Office is now open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday.