Virginia Rep to Present SHREK: THE MUSICAL, 3/14-4/27

Virginia Repertory Theatre opens their biggest show in the Children's season, Shrek, The Musical on Friday, March 14 at the Children's Theatre of Virginia at Willow Lawn, 1601 Willow Lawn Drive. The show will run through April 27, 2014 and is based on the Academy Award-winning film, Shrek. With book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori, the timeless fairytale of rescued damsel in distress takes many fun and quirky twists as the green and stinky swampland ogre saves Princess Fiona and wins her love. The show lasts about two hours with intermission and is best enjoyed by children and adults alike 5 years and older.

Director Robin Arthur is excited to be working in her hometown with such an incredibly positive, talented, and fun group of people. "What an exciting and joyful experience! We hope that audiences have as much fun as we are having during the rehearsal process." Arthur's directing credits for Virginia Rep include Honk!, Beauty and the Beast and Into the Woods.

Costume designs by Elizabeth Weiss Hopper (Quilters, The Full Monty, James Joyce's The Dead for Virginia Rep) will transform actors into famous fairy tale creatures. Set designer Brian C. Barker (Tartuffe, Music Man, Spring Awakening, for Virginia Rep) and lighting designer Lynne M. Hartman (Madeline's Christmas, Seussical, Honk! for Virginia Rep) are well known for their design talents on the Virginia Rep stage. Virginia

Rep is delighted to welcome back Music Director, Sandy Dacus (Spring Awakening, Madeline's Christmas, Sound of Music for Virginia Rep) for this lively musical.

Jason Marks, a recipient of the Theresa Pollak Prize for Excellence in the Arts in Theater (Richmond Magazine) returns to Virginia Rep in the role of Shrek. Marks has been seen on the Virginia Rep stage in numerous productions including The Producers, My Fair Lady (RTCC nomination), Seussical and Guys & Dolls (RTCC Award, Best Supporting Actor in a Musical). Ronnie Brown, a two-time RTCC Award Nominee for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor in a Play is returning to the Willow Lawn stage for the third time in the role of Donkey. Virginia Rep credits include The Velveteen Rabbit and Scorched Earth.

Recently seen at Virginia Rep as Shelby in Steel Magnolias at Hanover Tavern, Aly Wepplo returns as the feisty Princess Fiona. Other Virginia Rep credits include Seussical and 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Virginia Rep is happy to welcome Robert King as Lord Farquaad to his first production at the Children's Theatre of Virginia. Also joining the cast are Ronnie Brown (Donkey), Matt Shofner (Pinocchio), Ellie Wilson (Young Fiona), and Hanna Clinton (Teen Fiona). Brianne Chin, Keydron Dunn, Brent Gallahan, Ashlee Heyward, Audra Honaker, David Janeski, Carolyn Meade, Sara Meinhofer, Todd Patterson, Mark Persinger, Joe Winters, and Hannah Zold round out the ensemble.

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 804-282-2620 or by visiting www.virginiarep.org. Discounted Group Rates are available. Student matinees are available through April 25 and will take place at 10:30 a.m.

Virginia Repertory Theatre, located in Richmond, VA, combines the talents and strengths of two nonprofit companies that shared facilities, resources, and management teams for over a decade. Now the heritages of Barksdale Theatre (founded in 1953) and Theatre IV (founded in 1975) live on in their new form, as Central Virginia's leading professional theatre company. Virginia Rep presents national caliber productions of the great dramas, comedies, and musicals including classics, contemporary works, and world premieres, always seeking to demonstrate the unique power of theatre to engage, enthrall, educate, and inspire. Productions are staged at four distinct venues: the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre and Theatre Gym at the downtown Virginia Rep Center, Virginia Rep's Children's Theatre of Virginia located at Willow Lawn, and Virginia Rep's Barksdale Season at Hanover Tavern.

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