Behind the rough exterior, grumpy attitude and crude jokes is an ogre with a good heart.
The titular creature in “Shrek the Musical” may use gross-out humor to make kids giggle and clever quips bringing smiles to grown-ups’ faces.
But don’t let it’s positive message go unheeded — everyone can learn a lesson from a wily band of fairy tale characters.
The community will have the chance to follow Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and all of the characters from their fantastical world, as Creative Grounds Fine Arts Academy stage “Shrek the Musical” today through Sunday. Young actors from throughout Johnson County and the area have been working for the past few months to master the show’s catchy lyrics, quick humor and energetic dance numbers.
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The COVID pandemic has forced the theater troupe to alter its practices and performances, rehearsing while masked and spaced out to socially distance. The show will go on, weather permitting, at Mallow Run Winery’s outdoor amphitheater. A special streaming option will also be available online each of the three nights.
“It has this great storyline of redemption, of grace and love,” said Mark Landis, executive director of Creative Grounds Fine Arts Academy. “What makes you special and what makes you different in the whole process is your uniqueness. You’re beautiful as unique individuals — that’s the lesson.”
This will be the 22nd production of the Creative Grounds Fine Arts Academy. The troupe was originally founded in 2014 as a ministry of Center Grove Church. But in late 2018, the academy made the transition to an independent nonprofit.
The organization is built upon the idea of inclusion. Opportunities for youth theater remain scarce on the southside, so the academy has been successful by ensuring that anyone who wants to take part in its camps and performances has that opportunity, Landis said.
That has been increasingly important during the pandemic, where school productions and other activities have been shut down, Landis said.
In August, Creative Grounds staged “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” at Mallow Run. Hundreds of people came out, spread out on the winery’s spacious grounds and safely distanced. The success of the show inspired organizers to try for one more outdoor performance while weather permitted, Landis said.
“Shrek” seemed like a good fit for what the troupe was looking for — the ability to accommodate either a large or small cast, depending on how many people came out to participate, as well as something organizers could stream online in the case of another COVID shutdown.
Music Theater International, which Creative Grounds works with to get rights for most of their productions, had the streaming rights for “Shrek.”
In addition, the student leaders in the group chose it as one of their priorities.
“They get to have input in the selection of a production. ‘Shrek’ and the show we’re doing in the spring, ‘Les Miserables,’ were the two choices the students gave,” Landis said.
The musical also allowed Landis and other directors to help illustrate the importance of being yourself and being comfortable with who you are.
“Fiona, who thinks that she’s only going to be beautiful as a ‘normal’ princess, finds out that she’s beautiful even if she’s an ogre,” Landis said. “That’s why we loved the show so much. We were able to talk to the kids about being unique and owning your differences.”
Rehearsals for the show came together in early September, giving cast, crew and directors just about two months to put on a show. Normally, Creative Grounds organizers are working on costumes, choreography, casting and other details three or four months in advance.
So this was completely unprecedented for them, Landis said.
“What’s been different is we’ve shrunk our size of preparation down quite a bit,” he said. “We added a night of rehearsal, and I changed up how I taught music, just to make the most of our time.”
In addition, actors found time to practice on their own at a local park.
“I have been blown away by the speed at which this show has come together,” Landis said. “I’ve been so impressed by this cast, their work ethic. Their desire to excel and to grow has been evident throughout this.”
Opening night of the show was Nov. 5, with productions planned for last weekend as well as the next four days, as long as the weather allows it. Streaming the show was important for organizers to present “Shrek” to those who felt safer watching from home, Landis said.
Preferred seating is available at the show for $2 extra, in which a chair will be provided. Otherwise, people are encouraged to spread out with their own blankets and chairs.
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"Shrek the Musical"
What: A live youth theater performance based on the popular movie series
Who: Creative Grounds Fine Arts Academy
When: 7:30 p.m. today through Sunday (weather permitting)
Where: Mallow Run Winery, 6964 W. Whiteland Road, Bargersville
Tickets: $10 for adults, $7 for students; preferred seats with a chair provided are $2 extra. The first weekend’s run of show will be streamed online for those who cannot attend in person.
How to buy tickets online: thelittleboxoffice.com/cgfinearts
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