Casting: Flexible-sized ensemble cast with standard dance requirements
Character Breakdown
Shrek: Our story’s title character, Shrek is a big, green, terrifying ogre who lives alone on a swamp. He embarks on a journey to help the fairytale creatures that Lord Farquaad has banished from Duloc and, at the same time, rid his home of other creatures who might fear and ridicule him. While Shrek carries out Farquaad’s order for him to bring Farquaad Princess Fiona to marry, Shrek falls in love with Fiona. He begins as a seemingly grumpy, short-tempered hermit, but reveals his big heart, sheds his protective layers, and eventually shows himself as a real hero.
Gender: male
Age: 25 to 50
Donkey: A sassy, smart-mouthed talking donkey joins Shrek on the run from Farquaad’s guards. Quite the chatterbox, he is not deterred by Shrek’s looks or temper and practically forces himself into Shrek’s good graces. Easily frightened and pushy, Donkey is also an optimistic fellow with a lot of heart.
Gender: male
Age: 20 to 50
Lord Farquaad: The comically short, ruthless ruler of Duloc, he is in search of a princess to marry so that he can become king. He has an intensely unfair bias against fairytale creatures that stems from resentment of his father. Self-absorbed, self-deceiving, lonely, and cruel, he never changes.
Gender: male
Age: 30 to 50
Fiona: The beautiful princess of Far Far Away, she is under a curse that transforms her into an ogre every night when the sun sets. Rescued by Shrek from the tower where she is imprisoned, she eventually falls in love with him. Quirky, blunt, and multi-talented, she is not an ordinary princess.
Gender: female
Age: 20 to 35
Dragon: The Dragon has been charged with guarding Princess Fiona in her isolated castle. She eventually falls in love with Donkey and attempts to keep him there forever. Imposing and flirtatious, she is tired of her job as the glorified guard and baby-sitter.
Gender: female
Age: 25 to 50
Gingy: A gingerbread man initially kidnapped by Lord Farquaad, his wit and resolution help him both avoid trouble and inspire the rest of the fairytale creatures. Gingy can be played as a Puppet who is operated and voiced by the actress appearing as Sugar Plum Fairy; or as an actress in a gingerbread cookie outfit.
Gender: female
Age: 20 to 50
Pinocchio: The leader of the fairytale creatures, Pinocchio is an animated puppet whose nose grows every time he lies. He is filled with plenty of sass, but has a penchant for lying.
Gender: male or female dressed as a boy
Age: 20 to 40
Ensemble: Fairytale Creatures (Big Bad Wolf, Three Little Pigs, White Rabbit, Fairy Godmother, Peter Pan, Wicked Witch, Ugly Duckling, Three Bears, Mad Hatter, Humpty Dumpty, Elf, Dwarf, Three Blind Mice); Angry Mob; Happy People; Guards; Knights; Rats