New Stars Announced for West End SHREK for 2012

Dean Chisnall will play Shrek and Neil McDermott will play Lord Farquaad in the West End stage hit SHREK THE MUSICAL® from February 29, 2012. They will join Richard Blackwood who will continue in the role of Donkey in the hit musical at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Dean Chisnall currently understudies Nigel Lindsay in the role of Shrek. The producers, DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, are thrilled that he is to fill the title role in SHREK THE MUSICAL®. His West End theatre credits include, Love Never Dies at the Adelphi, La Cage aux Folles at The Playhouse, Never Forget at the Savoy and on tour, Evita directed by Michael Grandage at the Adelphi, and The Woman in White directed by Trevor Nunn at the Palace. An original cast member, Dean has played Farquaad's henchman, Theolonius, and Papa Ogre in the stage musical alongside cover for Shrek.

Neil McDermott became a household name playing bad boy Ryan Malloy in BBC1's EastEnders. In tandem with his TV career he has enjoyed parts in La Cage aux Folles at the Menier Chocolate Factory, Follies at London Palladium and The Sound of Music at London Palladium. Television and film roles include The Royal, Doctor Who, Casualty, Rosemary & Thyme and Goal!.

Current stars Nigel Lindsay and Nigel Harman will perform for the final time as Shrek and Lord Farquaad respectively, on February 27, 2012.

Further casting will be announced shortly.

SHREK THE MUSICAL® has been seen by more than 300,000 people at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane since the new stage production began preview performances on May 6, 2011. A Royal Gala was hosted in June 2011 by Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chief Executive Officer of Dreamworks Animation SKG, attended by HRH The Prince of Wales in aid of The Prince's Foundation for Children & The Arts. In July, BBC Radio 2 celebrated the opening of Shrek The Musical with the specially programmed 'Friday Night is Music Night - A Musical Shrektacular'. Tickets are currently on sale for performances up to October 21 2012.

Produced by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, SHREK THE MUSICAL® is based on the story and characters from William Steig's book Shrek! and the Oscar®-winning Dreamworks Animation feature film Shrek, the first chapter in the series of irreverent fairy tales.

SHREK THE MUSICAL® currently stars Nigel Lindsay as Shrek, Richard Blackwood as Donkey, Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad and Kimberley Walsh as Princess Fiona.

SHREK THE MUSICAL® tells the story of the swamp-dwelling ogre who embarks on a life-changing adventure in order to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey who won't shut up, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon, rescues the feisty Princess Fiona and learns that real friendship and true love aren't only found in fairy tales. With all-new songs, and an old favourite in I'm a Believer, this spectacular stage musical brings to life the original film's cast of dysfunctional characters and the accompanying subversive fun.

The Anglo-American creative team is led by directors Jason Moore and Rob Ashford and includes David Lindsay-Abaire (Book and Lyrics), Jeanine Tesori (Music), Tim Hatley (Scenic, Costume and Puppet Design), Hugh Vanstone (Lighting Design), Peter Hylenski (Sound Design), and Josh Prince (Choreography).

SHREK THE MUSICAL® played on Broadway from December 2008 to January 2010 and was nominated for eight Tony Awards®, winning Tim Hatley the Tony for Best Costume Design of a Musical. A production opened in Chicago on July 25, 2010 and toured 60 cities in the United States.

SHREK THE MUSICAL® began previews at London's Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on May 6, 2011 and officially opened on June 14, 2011.

To book online visit: www.ShrekTheMusical.co.uk