Oswego High Senior Chosen First Chair In All-State 'Shrek' Production

OSWEGO, IL — An Oswego High School musician has earned flute and piccolo first chair in the Illinois All-State Theatre production of "Shrek, the Musical."

Senior Tawney Kellogg is spending the week at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival at the University of Illinois' Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, where the musical is being performed. The event is closed to festival participants, and no tickets are for sale to the public.

In its 48th year, the Illinois High School Theatre Festival features a select ensemble of high school performers and technicians from across the state. The festival is the largest and oldest non-competitive high school theater festival in the nation, according to District 308 officials.

This year's production of "Shrek, the Musical" is based on the Oscar-winning, beloved "Shrek" movie. The musical, a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure features songs from composer Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire.

Numerous students from throughout the state auditioned for "Shrek, the Musical," and 125 were selected for the final production. Among them, also repping Oswego, is Oswego East High School senior Luke Ahlquist, who was cast to play Pied Piper.

"We couldn't be more proud of you!" Oswego East Theatre said in a congratulatory Facebook post in July 2022. "Hooray for this awesome opportunity and we can't wait to see you on stage in January during the Illinois High School Theatre Festival!"

Rehearsals for the musical took place over several long weekends in the fall, with final rehearsals happening in the last few days before the performances.