The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre opens its 61st season with “Shrek The Musical,” June 2-12. 

In this musical production based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks animated film, unlikely hero Shrek, an ogre, finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess. 

Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with attitude, and more than a dozen other fairytale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. “Shrek The Musical” is irreverent fun for the whole family.

Quin Gresham directs this production. The 2022 season marks his eighteenth year as producing artistic director. During the most recent season, he directed Murder on the Orient Express, his adaptation of A Christmas Carol, and Elvis the Musical. His other Lyceum credits include Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, The Wizard of Oz, The Music Man, Camelot, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Producers, Hairspray, West Side Story, Into the Woods, 1776, Peter Pan, and Driving Miss Daisy. He was honored in 2020 as the recipient of the Missouri Arts Award for Leadership in the Arts. 

Choreographer Phillip Attmore’s Broadway credits include Hello, Dolly!; Shuffle Along...; Irving Berlin’s White Christmas; and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Attmore is a three-time Astaire Award winner, Playbill “Breakout Performance”Award winner, and NAACP Theatre Award nominee. 

Music direction is by Brett Kristofferson who returns to The Lyceum after music directing last season’s The Little Mermaid.

Michael Mendez makes his Lyceum debut in the titular role. He was a member of the original Broadway cast of Chaplin. Other New York credits include Hey! Look Me Over!, and Fat Camp the Musical. Among his regional credits are Man of La Mancha, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Damn Yankees, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Music Man, and more. 

Mendez will appear opposite his wife, Marissa McGowan, who makes her Lyceum debut as Fiona. Marissa appeared on Broadway in the revival of Kiss Me Kate, in the role of Kate/Lilli; A Little Night Music; Les Miserables; and Bonnie & Clyde. In addition to a long list of regional theater credits, she has television credits that include Major Crimes, Odd Mom Out, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and Lisey’s Story. 

André Jordan makes his Lyceum debut as Donkey, and previously played the role in the national tour of Shrek The Musical. His Broadway credits include Diana the Musical, and national tours of Legally Blonde and Madagascar Live! UK. 

Perry Ojeda plays Lord Farquaad and previously entertained Lyceum audiences as Lumiere in Beauty & The Beast. He has performed on Broadway in On The Town, Blood Brothers, Norah Ephron’s Imaginary Friends, and in London’s West End in Dolly West’s Kitchen. 

Nakiya Peterkin makes her Lyceum debut as Dragon/Mama Ogre. She played Mama Morton in the national tour of Chicago, Gary Coleman in Avenue Q, and Sofia in The Color Purple.

The cast also includes Emma Andrews as Teen Fiona/Ugly Duckling, Corey Barrow as Papa Ogre/Straw/Pied Piper/Bishop, Max Boone as Peter Pan, Maggie Dexheimer as Young Fiona/Baby Bear, Lauren Echausse as White Rabbit, Christian Fary as Big Bad Wolf, Steven Gagliano as Bricks, Eleanor Hardwick as Mama Bear, John Kinney as Pinocchio, Pearl Matteson as Humpty Dumpty, Anthony de Marte as Sticks, Mitchell Martinez-Kurtti as Young Shrek/Dwarf, Tony Merritt II as Papa Bear/Thelonius, Nick Monaldo as Guard,  Joseph Oliveri as Mad Hatter, Rebecca Russell as Gingy/Fairy Godmother, and Monica Senecal Palmer as Wicked Witch.

The production team includes Scenic Designer Dani Calandro, Lighting Designer Kaitlyn Breen, Resident Costume Designer Garth Dunbar, Sound Designer Jon Robertson, Production Stage Manager Tony Dearing, and Assistant Stage Manager Ivan Dario Cano.

This production is rated G. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted. Single tickets for Shrek The Musical are $46 for adults, with senior, student/child, and public safety discounts available. Show dates are June 2-12. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m. and matinees begin at 2 p.m. For tickets, visit LyceumTheatre.org or call 660-837-3311.

The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), professional theater located in the historic 19th-century village of Arrow Rock, Missouri. The Lyceum has been entertaining audiences for more than six decades, producing musicals, dramas, and comedies. Each year, this 416-seat theater attracts professional actors, designers, stage managers, directors, and technicians who take residence in Arrow Rock to bring patrons Broadway-caliber productions.

The Lyceum Theatre is affiliated with Actors’ Equity Association, the Union for Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States, and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.