Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music and Department of Theatre Arts will present Shrek the Musical April 16-19 as its annual spring musical for the 2014-2015 theatre season. Performances will be held in Jones Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m. on April 16-18 as well as a 2:30 matinee on Sunday, April 19. Tickets are $12 each.

“Shrek the Musical tells the story of Shrek, everyone’s favorite ogre, who embarks on a quest to save his swamp. Joined by loyal and wisecracking Donkey, this unlikely hero rescues the beautiful and feisty Princess Fiona from her tower guarded by a fire-breathing, love-sick dragon,” explained Daniel Inouye, associate professor of theatre arts and director of the production.

“Through his adventure Shrek learns the value of true friendship and love, and that some fairy tales should really be updated,” Inouye said. “Add to this the diminutive Lord Farquaad, a gang of fairytale misfits and a cookie with a serious attitude problem, and you have got a must-see musical comedy!”

The production is a two-act adaptation of the children’s book Shrek! by William Steig and the DreamWorks Animation motion picture Shrek, with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire.

“We wanted to do a modern musical that has lots of audience appeal,” Inouye noted. “Everyone is familiar with the animated films, and when we got a chance to produce this musical it just seemed like a great fit for our students and a show that our audiences would love to see.”

Serving alongside Inouye are Musical Director David Stanley, OBU instructor of music; Choreographer Grace Whitaker, a 2011 Ouachita graduate; and Technical Director Eric Phillips, professor of theatre arts and chair of OBU’s Department of Theatre Arts.

Will Stotts, a freshman musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark., will play the lead role of Shrek. “I am looking forward to presenting this hilarious, but also beautiful, story to the audience. It has such a great message, with a whole lot of laughter here and there,” he stated. “I am also pretty excited to sing and dance as a big green ogre in front of my peers. … It is the most fun I have ever had putting together a show. The same goes for a lot of my castmates, and that will show through our performance.”

All ages are encouraged to attend the production. “This is a show for absolutely everyone. It has a beautiful message, an incredible score and we might also have a life-size dragon puppet,” said Stotts. “Come for one of the most fun theatrical experiences of your life!”

Other principal cast members include Kenderick Scorza, a senior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark., as Donkey; Benjamin Stidham, a senior musical theatre major from Dallas, Texas, as Lord Farquaad; and Cami Willis, a senior musical theatre and church media/production arts double major from Flower Mound, Texas, as Princess Fiona.

Tickets may be purchased at the OBU Box Office on weekdays from 1-5 p.m. or online at www.obu.edu/boxoffice. For more information, call the box office during business hours at (870) 245-5555 or email [email protected].

 

By Anna Hurst

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Cast Members:

• Dragon: Kayla Walker, a sophomore musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.

 

• Pinocchio: Blaine Surber, a senior musical theatre and mass communications double major from Sulphur Springs, Texas

 

• Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy: Hailey Weiner, a junior musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark.

 

• White Rabbit: Eli Ash, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.

 

• Fairy Godmother: Hailee Draughon, a freshman musical theatre major from Mesquite, Texas

 

• Peter Pan & Knight: Garrett Sayers, a junior musical theatre major from Greenwood, Ark.

 

• Ugly Duckling & Mouse: Mattie Bogoslavsky, a senior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.

 

• Pig One: Jalin C. Wesley, a senior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.

 

• Pig Two & Knight: Ezra Elliot, a freshman musical theatre major from Cabot, Ark.

 

• Pig Three & Knight: Michael Pere, a sophomore musical theatre major from Roland, Ark.

 

• Teen Fiona & Dwarf: Bret Sanders, a sophomore musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark.

 

• Big Bad Wolf & Knight: Kyle Osmon, a junior musical theatre major and mass communications minor from Rogers, Ark.

 

• Humpty Dumpty: Jessica Smith, a senior musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.

 

• Witch: Bethany Gere, a senior musical theatre and communications sciences and disorders double major from White Hall, Ark.

 

• Mama Bear: Angela Morgan, a senior musical theatre major from Bryant, Ark.

 

• Papa Bear & Mouse: Hannah Hines, a sophomore musical theatre major from Russellville, Ark.

 

• Elf & Mouse: Tara Clem, a senior musical theatre major from Texarkana, Texas

 

• Young Shrek: Jacob Carson Lewis, age 9, from Arkadelphia, Ark.

 

• Young Fiona (Thurs & Sat): Mallorie Corozza, age 11, from Arkadelphia, Ark.

 

• Young Fiona (Fri & Sun): Merrilee Parker, age 11, from Arkadelphia, Ark.

 

• Mama Ogre: Esther Atkinson, a freshman musical theatre major from Rogers, Ark.

 

• Papa Ogre: Aaden Jones, a sophomore musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.

 

• King Harold & Knight: Cory Feuerbacher, a senior music major from Wylie, Texas

 

• Queen Lillian & Bluebird: Alexis Morgan, a sophomore music/choral education major from Frisco, Texas

 

• Captain of Guard: Tyler Lewis, a junior theatre arts and Christian studies double major from Fayetteville, Ga.

 

• Thelonius (executioner): Walter Dodd, a junior theatre arts major from Little Rock, Ark.

 

• Pied Piper: Taylor Ford, a sophomore biology and theatre arts double major from Dayton, Texas

 

• Bishop: Lauren Hutcheson, a junior musical theatre and education double major from Bossier City, La.

 

• Greeter: Tori Clark, a senior music/choral education major from Bonnerdale, Ark.

 

Chorus Members and Dancers:

• Townspeople: Stacy Hawking, Hannah Fender, Lauren Hutcheson, Taylor Ford, AJ Valdez, Tori Clark, Bret Sanders, Tyler Lewis, Walter Dodd

 

• Duloc Dancers: Stacy Hawking, Hannah Fender, Lauren Hutcheson, Taylor Ford, AJ Valdez, Aaden Jones, Alexis Morgan, Bret Sanders, Cory Feuerbacher, Esther Atkinson

 

• Guards: Stacy Hawking, Hannah Fender, Lauren Hutcheson, Taylor Ford, Aaden Jones, Cory Feuerbacher

 

• Tap Dancing Rats: Stacy Hawking, Hannah Fender, Lauren Hutcheson, Alexis Morgan, Bret Sanders, Bethany Gere

 

Lead Crew Members:

• Stage Manager: Natalie Williams, a music and theatre arts double major from Little Rock, Ark.

 

• Assistant Stage Manager and Marketing & Development Crew Head: Kathleen Suit, a junior theatre arts major from Hot Springs, Ark.

 

• Assistant Stage Manager: Dallas Sleeman a sophomore theatre arts major from Kentwood, Mich.

 

• Dance Captain and Build Crew: Stacy Hawking, a junior musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark.

 

• Rehearsal Accompanists: Susan Monroe, staff accompanist, and John Briggs, instructor of music and staff accompanist

 

• Shop Technical Director and Rigging/Fly: Marshall Pope, theatre shop technical director

 

• JPAC Technical Director and Lighting Designer: Joey Licklider, JPAC manager

 

• Scenic Designer and Assistant Lighting Designer: Eric Phillips, professor of theatre arts and chair of OBU’s Department of Theatre Arts

 

• Sound/SFX Designer: Benjamin Stidham, a senior musical theatre major from Dallas, Texas

 

• Costume Supervisor and Hair/Makeup Supervisor: Drew Hampton, an assistant professor of theatre arts

 

• Costume Designer: Amanda Murray, a 2013 Ouachita graduate

 

• Hair/Makeup Designer and Assistant Costume Designer: Kaylee Nebe, a senior musical theatre major from Mesquite, Texas

 

• Assistant Costume Designer: Tara Clem, a senior musical theatre major from Texarkana, Texas

 

• Costume Co-Crew Heads: Anna Darr, a freshman musical theatre major from Alexander, Ark., and Hannah Fender, a sophomore musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark.

 

• Hair/Makeup Crew Head: Lauren Hutcheson, a junior musical theatre and education double major from Bossier City, La.

 

• Properties Masters / Co-Crew Heads: Bethany Gere, a senior musical theatre and communications sciences and disorders double major from White Hall, Ark., and Tyler Lewis, a junior theatre arts and Christian studies double major from Fayetteville, Ga.

 

• Publicity/House Supervisor and Poster & Program Design: Adam Wheat, fine arts administrator

 

• House Manager & Lobby Crew Head: Abby Root, a sophomore theatre arts and education double major from Arkadelphia, Ark.