In just two months, eighth graders will bring a fantastical fairy tale to real life. For the first time in 11 years, “Shrek the Musical” will revisit the Pinewood Performing Arts scene. The show, directed by Carrie McRobbie, will be performed from December 11th to 13th.

   The musical adaptation of “Shrek” closely follows the plot of the movie. Shrek, an “ugly” ogre, is living peacefully all alone in a swamp. The idea of social interaction sounds worse than ever, and Shrek wants to be left alone. His worst nightmare comes true, as a gaggle of little fairytale characters invade his swamp after Lord Farquaad banishes them from his kingdom. Lord Farquaad and Shrek strike a deal, and Shrek sets out to rescue the trapped princess Fiona. This initially undesirable quest ends up being a wild adventure for Shrek that leads to unexpected discoveries.

   Although the synopses are similar, that doesn’t mean the story is easily translated into musical material.

  “An especially hard part of [staging] Shrek is that it was [originally] a movie and not written with a musical in mind, so we have to adapt,” Sarah Ellis, who plays Fiona, said. 

   Another distinct aspect about “Shrek The Musical” is the relatability of the characters and their experiences. 

   “[Shrek] is a unique one because it’s twisting the perfect standards of a fairytale,” Lund Smith, who plays the role of Shrek, said. “You don’t have to be a Prince Charming, [and] you don’t need to be a beautiful princess.”

   At the moment, the show is halfway complete, with act one just about finished. The actors and directors are happy with their progress and motivated to power through act two with the same resilience. 

   Throughout rehearsals leading up to this point, actors and directors have approached challenges head on. Ellis, Smith, and McRobbie all agree that the large class size of 25 makes it crucial that they be productive. Even if everybody isn’t actively performing, as most stage time is allotted to Shrek and Fiona, class time should be taken seriously: choreography and numbers must be practiced, and time can’t be wasted chatting. 

   Performing Arts teachers Katie Linza and Rob Bergenstock have assisted greatly with this issue. “Having Ms. Linza and Mr. Bergenstock‘s hands on deck really helps [with music and line-running],” McRobbie said.

   With the progression of the musical, the eighth graders’ confidence has greatly improved.

   “A lot of students lack the self-belief and the confidence in the beginning that they can actually do what is being asked of them,” McRobbie said. “But, they always rise to the challenge.”