• The purpose of this production is to teach our students the theater arts and build community. We want our 5th graders to have fun and enjoy creating this show together. 
• Every student who registers will be cast in the show.
• Casting will be done by our director and Open Arts Alliance staff and is entirely at their discretion. No parents or students will be involved in the casting process.
• All rehearsal conflicts must be listed in the registration form. If a student misses too many rehearsals, it is at the discretion of the director to recast that student to a smaller role. 
• Both parent and student must read and sign the show agreement on the registration form.
• It is at the director's discretion to recast a part if a student is not meeting the good behavior standards they have agreed upon in their show agreement.
• Please note: no refunds will be issued after casting has been announced, except in the case of extenuating circumstances.
• Questions? Contact Tami at nmsdramaprogram@gmail.com.

SHREK KIDS INFORMATIONAL VIRTUAL MEETING:

Thursday, January 14, 2027 · 8:00 – 8:30pm

https://meet.google.com/tvr-nvys-arg
 

(To be Announced)

Auditions:

• Auditions: February 1st from 3:30-6:00pm
• Cast Announced: February 5th

Rehearsals (times subject to change):

• February 16th: Tuesday from 3:30-5:00pm
• February 18th to February 25th: Mondays and Thursday from 3:30-5:00pm
• March 1st to March 18th: Mondays and Thursday from 3:30-5:30pm (no rehearsal March 8th)
• March 22nd to March 31st: Monday through Friday 3:30-6:30pm (no rehearsal March 23rd, 26th)

Performances (times subject to change):

• Thursday, April 1st: 2:30-3:30pm (dress rehearsal assembly for students) 
• Thursday, April 1st & Friday, April 2nd: 7:00-8:00pm 

NMS Shrek Schedule 2027.pdf

Storyteller 1, Storyteller 2, and Storyteller 3 emerge to tell a fairy tale, which begins with Mama Ogre and Papa Ogre telling seven-year-old Young Shrek that it’s time to leave the house and grow up. Shrek leaves his parents and makes his new home in a swamp. He cuts off society and decides that his own company is all he needs (“Big Bright Beautiful World”).

Shrek’s isolation is interrupted when the Captain of the Guards brings on the Fairy-Tale Creatures, including Pinocchio, Big Bad Wolf, Pig #1, Pig #2, Pig #3, Wicked Witch, the Three Bears, Peter Pan, Ugly Duckling, and Fairy Godmother, to dump them in the swamp; Lord Farquaad has banished them from the Kingdom of Duloc. The Fairy-Tale Creatures are lamenting their lives (“Story Of My Life”) when Shrek returns from an errand to find his swamp full of outcasts. Shrek decides to find Farquaad and demand he remove the creatures from his home.

Shrek is struggling to find Duloc when Donkey runs onstage, avoiding the Guards from Duloc. Shrek scares away the Guards, and Donkey pledges he will help Shrek find Duloc since Shrek saved Donkey’s life. Donkey and Shrek arrive at their destination, where they are greeted by the Duloc Performers (“What’s Up, Duloc?”). Performer introduces them to Lord Farquaad, who calls in Gingy for questioning about the whereabouts of Fiona, a princess Farquaad intends to marry. Gingy, scared of Farquaad’s threats, reveals Fiona’s location. Farquaad shares his plan to find Fiona and make her his bride, thus making him a king. Farquaad calls in the Dulocians for the raffle drawing of who will be tasked with rescuing Fiona from her dragon-guarded tower.

Right as Farquaad is about to announce a name, Shrek and Donkey arrive. Shrek insists Farquaad remove the Fairy-Tale Creatures from his swamp, and Farquaad guarantees he’ll meet Shrek’s demand once Shrek brings Fiona to Farquaad. Shrek agrees, and a Guard hands him a file of all the information he’ll need to accomplish his task.

Meanwhile, in the dragon-guarded tower, Young Fiona, Teen Fiona, and Fiona sing about the day they’ve been dreaming of: being rescued by a prince (“I Know It’s Today”). Shrek and Donkey approach the tower and smell the Dragon. Shrek puts on a helmet he finds and charges forward. Donkey decides to wait for Shrek, but after hearing the Dragon’s roar, Donkey changes his mind about being alone and runs to find his ogre friend. When she realizes the day has arrived, Fiona panics, running to prepare herself for rescue, and poses in bed, pretending to be asleep. Shrek finishes climbing the tower and shakes Fiona awake. Fiona is upset by her broken expectations of rescue, but the Dragon’s roar interrupts the moment. Fiona, Shrek, and Donkey flee into the woods.

Fiona celebrates Shrek’s victory and asks if Shrek will take off his helmet so that the two can share in “true love’s first kiss.” Shrek finally reveals his face, and Fiona is shocked and disappointed: she admits she expected someone different. Shrek reminds Fiona she’ll meet the real person responsible for her rescue the next day, and jokes about Farquaad’s small stature, which irritates Fiona. Before their conversation gets too heated, Shrek passes gas, causing Fiona to smile. Fiona burps in response, and the two carry on in a call-and-response fashion. They laugh and smile at each other, and Donkey notices the romance between them (“Make A Move”). Fiona realizes it’s sunset and flees into a barn to sleep.

The Storytellers then share Fiona’s secret: A curse was placed on her that turns her into something different at night. This curse will only be broken when she experiences true love’s kiss, at which time she will take her true form.

Donkey confronts Shrek about Shrek’s feelings for Fiona, and Shrek insists a princess could never love an ogre. Donkey, frustrated, leaves for firewood. When Donkey returns to find Shrek gone, he checks the barn and runs into Fiona in her cursed state: an ogress. Fiona explains the history of her curse to Donkey, who realizes that Shrek and Fiona are truly the perfect match. Shrek brings Fiona a sunflower at the very moment Fiona expresses that she is desperate for her true love’s kiss, believing herself unlovable as someone who is “ugly.” Shrek, overhearing this conversation from outside the barn, mistakes the person she’s talking about to be himself and is deeply hurt. He believes his fate is clear and leaves the sunflower, hopeless to be with Fiona.

As the Rooster crows the next morning, Fiona emerges from the barn, finds the sunflower, and sings about pondering true love (“The Next Morning”). Shrek approaches, and Fiona is just about to confess her feelings for Shrek when he loses his temper about the hurtful things Fiona said the night before. Fiona mistakenly thinks he’s confirming that he could never love her because of the way she looks as an ogre. Believing that she has no future with Shrek, Fiona commands she and Farquaad be married that very day.

Donkey is prodding Shrek to go after Fiona when the Fairy-Tale Creatures trudge onstage, having been evicted from Shrek’s swamp. The Fairy-Tale Creatures encourage Shrek by telling him to be himself in the boldest of ways “(Freak Flag”). Shrek accepts himself for who he is and decides to go after the princess.

In Duloc, the Bishop is marrying Farquaad and Fiona when Shrek, Donkey, and the Fairy-Tale Creatures interrupt. Fiona, upset, rushes off, and the Fairy-Tale Creatures demand their homes back from Farquaad. When he refuses to meet their requirement, Pinocchio brings on Dwarf, Farquaad’s long-lost father. The Crowd is shocked that Farquaad is half-dwarf, and Farquaad throws a tantrum, insisting he’s a real king.

Fiona, interrupting Farquaad’s meltdown, returns in her ogress form. Farquaad threatens to lock Fiona away, but the Dragon enters and torches Farquaad, allowing the wedding to proceed. Shrek kisses Fiona, and she takes her true form: an ogre, just like her true love, Shrek. Everyone sings about how being special, and together, is what makes us strong (“Finale”).

ENSEMBLE – The DRAGON, STORYTELLERS, the CROWD, GUARDS, PERFORMER, the DULOC PERFORMERS, the DULOCIANS, the ROOSTER, and the BISHOP.

Storytellers – Narrate and move the story through Duloc

Shrek - May be a big, scary, green ogre to the rest of the world, but as the story reveals, he’s really just a big fellow with a big heart

Fiona - May appear to be an ideal princess straight from the fairy-tale books, but there is more to her than that stereotypical image. She is an audacious young lady with a wonderful sense of humor and – surprisingly – manners akin to those of a teenage boy.

Teen & Young Fiona - Share their parts of Fiona’s story locked in the tower through the song “I Know It’s Today”

Donkey - A brash, loud, fast-talking animal with no concept of “quiet time.”

Lord Farquaad - A very short man with gargantuan ambition! He is solely interested in gaining as much power as possible.

Mama and Papa Ogre - Send Young Shrek off on his journey at just 7 years old! 

Pinocchio -  The wooden boy who cannot tell a lie without being belied by his growing nose. Pinocchio begins in a sour mood but ends the story as a natural leader among the Fairy-Tale Creatures.

Pig #1, Pig #2, Pig #3 - One of the classic three little pigs with a German twist.

Ugly Duckling - Finds camaraderie among his fellow fairy-tale outcasts.

Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear, Wicked Witch, Big Bad Wolf - Fairytale Characters who are banished from Duloc

Gingy - Based on the Gingerbread Man who runs away like a fugitive from his baking captors.

Peter Pan - The boy who never grew up, and he continues to act the part in this story.

Fairy Godmother - The sweet, benevolent woman she’s often imagined to be, but this time, she’s upset not only because of the eviction but also because the Guards broke her wand.

Captain of the Guards - Leads the search for the Fairytale Creatures

Dwarf - Lord Farquaad’s long lost father

When are auditions? 

The auditions will be on Monday, February 1st. Casting will be done entirely by OAA staff. No students or parents will be involved in casting. Students should practice singing a song. It can be any song they know (Happy Birthday, Star Spangled Banner, etc.), they do not need to sign a song from the show. 

 
My child has several conflicts with rehearsal dates, but wants to participate, should I still sign them up?

We want this to be a very inclusive opportunity for all of the 5th grade, so we would encourage him or her to register if they want to be part of the production and can make a majority of rehearsals. All rehearsal conflicts need to be listed on the registration form. Any conflicts with these rehearsals need to be discussed with the director. Please be aware that students who have many conflicts will be cast in smaller roles. 

My child wants to be involved but does not want to be on stage. Are there any opportunities to just work behind the scenes?

We want every student to learn the show, play a part, and take their bow at the end of the performance to get the full theater education experience. We will not have purely behind the scenes roles and instead have cast members be involved in the whole process. The ensemble is a great option for kids who don't want to be center stage. If your child would prefer a smaller ensemble role, they can let Mrs. Dunn know their preference at auditions.  There is no behind the scene/stage crew opportunities for this production.

How is the PTA funding the show?

Producing a show is an expensive undertaking. Your program fee plus ticket sales will go towards licensing fees and show materials, fees for our director and music instructors, set, costumes, sound and lights, programs and more. While the 5th Grade Musical is a PTA sponsored event, it is self-funding. 

 When will tickets go on sale?

Tickets will be sold in March. Tickets will be general admission.

How can parents help?

We need lots of volunteers to help make costumes, supervise rehearsals, help make set pieces and help on show day with costumes, tickets and more. We will have rehearsal and performance volunteer opportunities listed soon. If you would like to be actively involved in the planning committee, email nmsdramaprogram@gmail.com.

Open Arts Alliance was born from the belief that arts education should be accessible to all, and should not end when you leave school. Through theatre, Open Arts Alliance creates a social intervention between students, their peers and senior citizens, resulting in a powerful and lasting change in participants.

Open Arts Alliance empowers youth through performing arts education in a supportive environment fostering creativity, confidence and self expression. Our programs nurture the next generation of leaders both on and off the stage while strengthening community bonds and creating a lasting impact.

We further our mission through classes, programs, and community outreach, using the arts as a common ground for conversations. Our holistic approach sees theatre not as just an end-product, but a process by which we can improve the lives of our students—young and young at heart— while furthering the landscape of arts in our community and town. Our student leadership councils empower the next generation of arts volunteers to engage with civic responsibility and community service based on empathy fostered within the arts. 

For more information about Open Arts Alliance please visit www.openartsalliance.com