WHEN Shrek the Musical opens at the Newport Performing Arts Theater on Oct. 31, audiences can expect more than fairy-tale parody and pop culture gags. For director Dexter Santos and the Full House Theater Company (FHTC), the swamp is a stage where outsiders find belonging, and where an all-Filipino cast can bring fresh layers to a global hit.
Based on the 2001 DreamWorks animated film and the children’s book by William Steig, Shrek has been embraced worldwide for its wisecracking humor and unexpected tenderness. The Broadway musical adaptation, with music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, first opened in 2008 and has since been staged across the globe. Philippine audiences first saw it in 2014, but this year’s revival at Newport World Resorts promises a bigger, bolder spectacle.
“This is a world-class production with a distinctly Filipino heart. It’s a celebration of love, friendship, and unapologetic real self,” said John Lucas, chief hospitality officer of Newport World Resorts, during a press conference on Aug. 13.
Leading the cast is veteran theater actor Jamie Wilson as the green-skinned ogre, joined by Krystal Kane as Princess Fiona, Topper Fabregas as Donkey, Alfredo Reyes as Lord Farquaad, and Julia Serad as Dragon.
The ensemble includes a full roster of fairytale misfits, from Pinocchio to the Big Bad Wolf, who belt out anthems like “Freak Flag” and the feel-good finale “I’m a Believer.” For Wilson, the role resonates beyond comedy.
“He’s been outcast by society just because he was born an ogre. Because of everybody telling him how he should act, he realizes that, ‘No, I don’t have to be like that. I can be a hero, and so can everybody else should you choose to be,’” Wilson explained.
Associate director Michael Stuart Williams echoed that sentiment, describing the production as “wildly funny, heartwarming, and visually spectacular,” but one that ultimately peels back to “reveal something real and relatable.”
In the Philippines, that message of belonging hits home. As singer Marvin Ong, understudy for Donkey, noted, many Filipinos know what it’s like to be judged for sexuality, appearance, or social class.
“Without being preachy, I think the truth is that everybody wants to belong,” he said.
Assistant director Cara Barredo added that the production takes care not to turn its “freaks” into caricatures.
“In our version, the freaks and the fairy folk are just going to be themselves without making fun of what they’re supposed to be,” she said.
Meanwhile, Wilson, who has often been cast in villainous roles, joked that he himself resembled Shrek before shaving his goatee.
“If they only knew, I’m a mamon, I’m a teddy bear,” he said, adding that like his character, he knows what it’s like to be judged by appearances.
The Newport staging also aims to dazzle visually. Santos has described his approach as “theme park blocking,” with elaborate set pieces, vibrant choreography, and even an “extensive dragon scene” designed to delight both children and adults. Meanwhile, artistic director Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo said the size of the theater challenged the team to push further.
“Because our stage is so massive, we really need to make it visually stimulating for the children. The material is a little bit adult, so it might just go over their heads, and they may not even be familiar with the cartoon anymore,” Lauchengco-Yulo explained.
The creative team includes music director Ejay Yatco, choreographer Stephen Viñas, video designer GA Fallarme, sound designer RV Dimaculangan, and costume execution by Eric Pineda, with prosthetics crafted by Carlos Tiongco. The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Nicky Jacinto, provides the live score.
Shrek the Musical runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 17 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are available through Ticketworld, Newport World Resorts Box Office, and Helixpay.
