The $24 Million Dollar Musical - Shrek Opens on Sunday on Broadway

Variety reports on DreamWorks chief Jeffrey Katzenberg's pitch to Wall Street analysts this week on the company's health and included is information on the financial status of SHREK. 

The paper notes that "Sunday's opening of "Shrek" on Broadway reps a $24 million investment, to be amortized over three years, Daly said. No returns are expected until 2010, but if the show's a hit, examples such as "Wicked" or "The Lion King" suggest annual revenue from tours and merchandise could be $100 million to $150 million. Profit would be $30 million to $50 million a year."

SHREK THE MUSICAL will open at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway @ 53rd St) on Sunday, December 14, 2008. Preview performances began on Saturday, November 8, 2008.

SHREK THE MUSICAL stars Tony Award® nominee Brian d'Arcy James as Shrek, Tony Award® winner Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona, Tony Award® nominee Christopher Sieber as Lord Farquaad, Tony Award® nominee Daniel Breaker as Donkey and Tony Award® nominee John Tartaglia as Pinocchio.

Joining these actors are Cameron Adams, Haven Burton, Jennifer Cody, Ben Crawford,Bobby Daye, Ryan Duncan, Sarah Jane Everman, Aymee Garcia, Leah Greenhaus,Justin Greer, Lisa Ho, Chris Hoch, Danette Holden, Marty Lawson, Jacob Ming-Trent,Carolyn Ockert-Haythe, Marissa O'Donnell, Denny Paschall, Rachel Resheff, Greg Reuter, Adam Riegler, Noah Rivera, Heather Jane Rolff, Jennifer Simard, Rachel Stern,Dennis Stowe, David F.M. Vaughn.

SHREK THE MUSICAL is an entirely new musical based on the story and characters fromWilliam Steig's book Shrek!, as well as the Dreamworks Animation film Shrek, the first chapter of the Shrek movie series. SHREK THE MUSICAL played a pre-Broadway engagement at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre from August 14th to September 21st.

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, who staged the Tony Award®-winning Best Musical, Avenue Q and Jerry Springer - The Opera in Concert at Carnegie Hall.

SHREK THE MUSICAL is Dreamworks Animation's first venture in legitimate theater. The production was initiated when Sam Mendes, a big fan of the first Shrek film, suggested the idea of creating a musical to Dreamworks Animation's Jeffrey Katzenberg around the time the second film was in production. The musical is being produced by DreamWorks Theatricals (Bill Damaschke, President) and Neal Street Productions, Ltd (principals Sam Mendes and Caro Newling).

Other members of the SHREK THE MUSICAL creative team include Tony Award®-winning set and costume designer, Tim Hatley (Monty Python's Spamalot, Private Lives, among others), three-time Olivier Award-winning lighting designer, Hugh Vanstone, whose Broadway credits include Monty Python's Spamalot, Bombay Dreams, The Blue Room and Art, and sound designer Peter Hylenski (Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me and Cry-Baby).
The choreography is by newcomer Josh Prince, and Tim Weil (Rent) is serving as music director.

Tickets for SHREK THE MUSICAL are available by calling Telecharge.com at (212) 239-6200, (800) 432-7250 outside the NY metro area, online at Telecharge.com, or in person at The Broadway Theatre box office (1681 Broadway @ 53rd St). Group sales are available by contacting Telecharge Group Sales at 212-239-6262, or 800-432-7780.

For more information, visit www.shrekthemusical.com