SHREK Tour Review Roundup

SHREK THE MUSICAL tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon, rescues a feisty princess and learns that real friendship and true love aren't only found in fairy tales.

SHREK THE MUSICAL features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize® winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), music by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Caroline, or Change), and is directed by Tony Award® nominee Jason Moore (Avenue Q) and Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Promises Promises). SHREK THE MUSICAL has set and costume designs by Tony Award® winner Tim Hatley (Private Lives, Spamalot), lighting design by Olivier Award winner Hugh Vanstone (A Steady Rain), sound design by Peter Hylenski (Rock of Ages); choreography by Josh Prince, music supervision by Tim Weil, music direction by Andy Grobengieser, and orchestrations by Danny Troob & John Clancy.

Individual tickets to SHREK THE MUSICAL are $25 - $90 and are on sale now. For more info visit: http://www.shrekthemusical.com/news.html

Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune: You know that talking donkey in "Shrek"? On Broadway, he was one sardonic, smug steed. In Chicago, you can actually imagine him chomping blades of grass in your own backyard. You know that dragon? On Broadway, the beast was 17 feet of cold, hard pink. In Chicago, you feel like you could wrap your arms around the fire-breathing gal. Especially with her new retro-disco number. Instead of rearing back in your seat in horror at the millions of dollars being spectacularly consumed before your eyes, you lean toward that misunderstood puppet-dragon, who still packs the requisite spectacular punch.

Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun Times: The top-drawer first national touring company of Broadway's "Shrek" arrived at the Cadillac Palace Theatre here Sunday night, and it's a surprisingly goofy, grand-scale delight. The hip zaniness and verbal agility of the show's book and lyrics come courtesy of playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (and the offbeat appeal of William Steig, the The New Yorker magazine's master cartoonist who penned the original children's book, Shrek!).

The Fourth Walsh,  Chicago Now: Winning the audience ogre, Eric Petersen (Shrek) is the gentle soul trapped in a monster body. Larsen delivers the humor and song with a light touch and giant presence. He is fiendishly charming giggling over a one liner or belting out a tune. Alan Mingo, Jr. (Donkey) is hysterical as an ass desperately seeking friendship. He channels Eddie Murphy's signature style and hoofs it up a notch with donkey hips and a strong singing voice.

Scott C. Morgan, The Daily Herald: Not having seen the 2008 Broadway incarnation, I can't fully detail all the tweaks and fine-tuning made on this screen-to-stage musical adaptation of the hit 2001 animated film. But what's currently on display definitely makes clear that "Shrek the Musical" delivers loads of family-friendly fun. Both the DreamWorks film franchise and William Steig's original children's book irreverently tweaked traditional fairy tales and elements of Disney animated features. "Shrek the Musical" carries on the tradition with an extra dose of musical theater parody.

Philip Potempa, NYI.com: All of the favorite moments and characters from the first "Shrek" film are in place. It's impossible not to laugh at a giant Gingerbread Boy cookie, frowning and crying, while tortured and taunted on an equally giant cookie sheet. Just like the film, "Shrek the Musical" is fantastic fairy tale fun. But it's the interaction between the title character (whose Scottish accent comes and goes, especially during his musical numbers) Shrek, played by Chicagoan Eric Petersen, and the other two principal leads, Alan Mingo, Jr. as Donkey and Haven Burton as Princess Fiona that's less amusing, especially during the second act.

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