'Shrek' Open Calls for Shrek and Donkey Held 1/25

Shrek: The Musical is seeking rock singers and hip-hop performers to audition for the parts of Shrek and the Donkey. Auditions will be held on Thursday, January 25th. Sign up will begin at 1:00PM at Chelsea Studios, located at 151 West 26th Street.

Performers are asked to bring a rock song with sheet music or your own song. Artists who do slam poetry may perform their own material. A piano accompanist will be provided.

Descriptions of Shrek and Donkey follow:

Shrek: 20s-30s. An ogre.  His brutish physical appearance disguises a warm heart. A lonely outsider with soul, strength, and wit. Values his peaceful solitary life in the swamp. Seeking actors with a powereful presence and strength with rock or R&B voices.

Donkey:  20s-30s. A performer with a contemporary, urban edge and great humor. Joins Shrek on his journey to capture Princess Fiona. Seeking unique performers. Especially from Slam Poetry and Hip-Hop worlds or clever actors or singers with great comic skill.

Opening on Broadway in 2008, the production will integrate the plots and characters of Shrek and Shrek 2, the 2001 film's even more lucrative 2004 sequel.

Shrek: The Musical will feature music by Jeanine Tesori (Caroline, or Change, Thoroughly Modern Millie) and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (High Fidelity, Rabbit Hole).  Jason Moore (Avenue Q) is set to direct.

Shrek is DreamWorks Animation's first venture in legitimate theatre. The production was initiated by Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sam Mendes when the studio made a first-look deal with Mendes' producing entity, Neal Street Productions, Ltd.   The two have been developing the project for three years.

The Shrek films, which have grossed more than $1 billion worldwide, featured the vocal talents of Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow, among others.