Broadway Features and Reviews
Broadway Shrek Origins Revealed
DreamWorks' Jeffrey Katzenberg and Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire to discuss William Steig's Shrek character's journey from page to stage.
Shrek’s Broadway invasion begins this Spring. Although the Broadway production is not expected in town until the holiday season, Broadway fans and orge-thusiats will get a sneak inside look at the new musical at a panel discussion at The Jewish Museum in New York City on March 3.
Shrek’s creative father is the great New Yorker cartoonist William Steig, and the panel will focus on his work as a children’s book illustrator and author. Steig's picture book Shrek! — which means "fear" in Yiddish — inspired the Academy Award-winning film Shrek, its sequels, and the upcoming Broadway musical. The Shrek musical will no doubt be front and center in the discussion. In addition to Katzenberg and Linsday-Abaire, director Jason Moore will be on hand. Perhaps the panel will address a recent New York Post article suggesting there were obstacles in casting the title character and his donkey pal. While the obvious choices for Shrek would seem to be Broadway’s current monster-green laugh machine, Shuler Hensley from Young Frankenstein or giant Scottish comedian Billy Connolly, perhaps the panel will announce a new name. Already cast in the show are Sutton Foster (Young Frankenstein) as Fiona, and Tony® Winner Christopher Sieber as Lord Farquaad. The new musical is set to begin performances on Broadway in November. This would put Shrek head-to-head with Broadway’s current Green King, The Grinch. Could be the biggest Broadway battle since the Astor Place riots.
At the heart of the panel discussion will be Shrek’s unique appeal to young and old. The distinguished panel also includes historian Leonard Marcus and Shrek the Third director Chris Miller. Steig is currently receiving his first major exhibition at The Jewish Museum. A limited number of tickets for the discussion are still available to the public for $15. For information contact The Jewish Museum at 212.423.3337 or visit www.thejewishmuseum.org.
