Shrek the Musical will open on Oct. 31 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, bringing the beloved DreamWorks tale to life onstage for the holiday season.
Produced by Newport World Resorts’ Full House Theater Company (FHTC), the show marks the company’s return to family-oriented productions. FHTC co-artistic director Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo said the company has not staged a children’s musical since Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2017.
“So, ushering in Christmas and Halloween, which is really geared for children, we decided to bring back a musical that is good for families. Shrek was the obvious choice,” she said.
The production aims to create an immersive experience reminiscent of a theme park, with elaborate prosthetics, wigs, and costumes, as well as puppetry for characters such as the Dragon. Director Dexter Santos said a new design for the Dragon was created specifically for this production.
“My dream for this production is for audiences to feel like they are entering a theme park. It would be nice for children to come and watch, becoming a new generation of theatergoers,” he said.
The musical combines humor and heart, appealing to both children and adults. Jamie Wilson, who plays Shrek, said the production closely follows the Broadway script while allowing the cast to explore character layers. Topper Fabregas, cast as Donkey, added that the humor “caters to the adult, but the whole show is such a feast and such a riot. How nice that we get to be a core memory for children who will come to watch the show.”
The show also delivers a message of inclusivity through the song “Freak Flag,” celebrating diversity and belonging, according to Alfredo Reyes, who plays Lord Farquaad.
Shrek the Musical features a book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori, based on the DreamWorks Animation film and the book by William Steig. It was originally produced on Broadway by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, and is presented through arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
Performances run from Oct. 31, with additional shows in November. Tickets are available at Ticketworld, Newport World Resorts Box Office, and Helixpay, priced from P1,500 to P4,500. For inquiries, call 7908-8888 or email info@fhtcentertainment.com.
