Fall in love all ‘ogre’ again with ‘Shrek The Musical,’ coming to Charleroi Area this weekend

By TAYLOR BROWN
Senior Reporter
tbrown@yourmvi.com
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or in this case, an ogre.
That will be a life lesson taught on stage when Charleroi Area debuts “Shrek: The Musical” this weekend.
Showtimes are set for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday with an afternoon matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in advanced two hours before each performance
Nearly 90 students in 5th through 12th grade will take the stage — and help behind the scenes — to tell the story of Shrek (William Simms), a friendly ogre that is not nearly as scary as he looks, and his ornery sidekick Donkey (Hailey Simms) as they go on a wild adventure to save his swamp and a slew of their misfit friends, and of course, Princess Fiona (Lairah DiPietrantonio) from the tiny but vengeful Lord Farquaad (David White).
Director Melissa Vitali said choosing this year’s show was a bit difficult, but Shrek ended up being the right choice.
“It was a challenge to find a show that fit the kids and would be fun for them, but after speaking with the high school Drama Club members and the musical staff, we decided that Shrek was the show for us this year,” she said.
Based on the Oscar-winning smash hit film and an outrageous Broadway musical, with book and lyrics by David Lindsay–Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori, the story proves that despite all odds, it really is a “big, bright, beautiful world” as Shrek finds true acceptance among his friends, who end up being more like family.
More than 100 students participated in auditions for this year’s show, which is part romance and part twisted fairy tale, with 85 being selected for roles on stage and behind the scenes with the cast and crew.
Everyone’s favorite ogre, Shrek, will be played by William Simms.
As a senior this year, he is not a newcomer to the stage.
“I have been in five shows, and this one is much more demanding than the others were,” Simms said.
He has worked hard to get Shrek’s accent down for his lines, and his songs.
“The accent was hard, but the songs are fun to sing,” Simms said. “I like getting to perform a show I used to watch as a child.”
His eventual best friend, Donkey, will be played by his real life partner-in-crime, his younger sister, Hailey Simms.
Like her brother, Hailey Simms, a sophomore has participated in five musicals — as well as two talent shows and one showcase.
It’s her first leading role.

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Jenn Codeluppi / Mon Valley Independent
The cast of “Shrek the Musical” is shown during Wednesday night’s dress rehearsal. The show will open at Charleroi Area High School 7 p.m. Friday. To purchase this photo and more from our online photo gallery, go to our website at www.monvalleyindependent.com.