Shrek Comes to Camden County College

By Meredith Classen

Come along with us for an adventure in the “big bright beautiful world” of everyone’s favorite ogre in Mainstage Center for the Arts’ production “Shrek, The Musical, Jr.!”

This hilarious fairy tale has everything: a green ogre, a wise-cracking donkey, feisty Princess Fiona, and Lord Farquaad - the tiny terror with big ambitions.

Watch every unexpected twist and turn along the way July 29 and 30 at 7:30 p.m., and July 31 at 10:30 a.m. at the Dennis Flyer Theatre in Lincoln Hall at Camden County College in Blackwood.

Ticket prices: $10 for children/senior citizens and $11 for adults. For tickets and information about all of Mainstage’s shows, visit www.mainstage.org or call 856-227-3091.

Thursday evening performances are interpreted for those with hearing impairment.

Group rates are available.

This production is sponsored by Beneficial Bank and Bowman & Company; our summer season is sponsored by AP Construction and McDonald’s.

We are especially excited to bring you “Shrek, the Musical, Jr.” because it is brand new to Mainstage. Not only is the show full of heart, it offers a unique sense of humor that will appeal to both children and adults.

In addition to seeing some of your favorite fairy tale characters come to life, expect to see some spectacular makeup effects and even an ogre transformation!

“Shrek, The Musical, Jr.” stars Gabe Echevarria as Shrek, Delaney Burke as Fiona, Kiara Johnson as Donkey, Dylan Odri as Lord Farquaad, and Allison Maselek as Gingy.

The curtain opens on a trio of storytellers sharing the tale of a little ogre named Shrek. Beginning as a young ogre, we join Shrek as he makes his own place in the world, finding contentment alone in his swamp on the edge of the kingdom of Duloc.

Then, Shrek’s world is turn upside when Fairy Tale Creatures – exiled from the kingdom by the evil Lord Farquaad – are banished to his peaceful swamp.

These uninvited visitors lead Shrek on an adventure of fire breathing dragons, boiling-hot lava, a wise-cracking Donkey, a talking Gingerbread Man, and Princess Fiona who redefines beauty in her search for “true love’s kiss.”

Mainstage Center for the Arts began in 1989 when Producing Artistic Director, Edward P. Fiscella, Jr., a then-teacher at the Glen Landing Middle School in Gloucester Township, answered the plea of his students to create a theater program that would encompass their long summer vacation. With the help of Executive Director, Joseph Bretschneider - also an educator - the Gloucester Township Board of Education and the Department of Recreation, Summer Stage was born!

Their mission has been to create a vibrant and nurturing environment for youth and adults. Using the performing arts as a catalyst for individual expression and growth, Mainstage enriches the quality of life for its South Jersey community.

Today, 27 years later, Mainstage has become part of the fabric of South Jersey communities.

Mainstage’s programs now reach an annual audience of over 50,000 and serve over 1,000 children directly through classes and workshops. An ever-larger base of young people is reached through in-school assemblies and educational outreach, sometimes averaging 2,000 children a program.

I had the pleasure of talking with Shrek Director, Francine Odri, about this summer:

Meredith: How did you hear about Mainstage?

Francine: One of my mom’s coworkers actually found a flyer for Mainstage when I was 10. I had been very bored in summer and she was looking for something for me to do. We live 45 minutes away in Lumberton, but I’ve been making that drive to camp every Summer Stage day since 2003 because of my love for Summer Stage!

Meredith: So many of the Mainstage staff started as campers in summer stage and have gone on to careers in education and the arts! Tell me about how you became involved at Mainstage and how those experiences have influenced you outside of Mainstage.

Francine: Being a Summer Stager at Mainstage has influenced my career choice. I started as a camper in 2003 and remained one for 7 years, growing as a performer and making life-changing friends along the way. In 2010, I became an intern for the “Wizard of Oz” and the next year I was an Assistant Director for “Aladdin Jr.” (2011) and then an AD again for “Mulan, Jr.” (2012).

In 2013 I became a lead Director for “Schoolhouse Rock LIVE! Jr.” and then for “Willy Wonka, Jr.” in 2014 and am now directing “Shrek, the Musical, Jr.” in 2015! Mainstage has greatly influenced my choice to pursue theatre and theatre education in college (graduated in 2014 from Drew University with a BA in Theatre and English and Minor in Dance) and to continue to pursue performing (I acted in multiple plays during college and just finished a college program internship with Disney). Mainstage has helped me grow as both a performer and a teacher, and for that reason I’m choosing to pursue theatre education as a career. I owe Mainstage so much, and I’m so happy to get the opportunity to work with this great organization!

Meredith: Tell me about your favorite memory at Summer Stage – either as a camper or on staff.

Francine: My favorite memory as camper would be my first Flying by Foy rehearsal as Wendy in “Peter Pan” (2008). As a staff member, the opening night of “Schoolhouse Rock LIVE! Jr.” (2013): being able to celebrate with my staff the amazing work we had done and seeing how well the show came together was one of the proudest moments of my life.

Meredith: Last question: word association time! What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the words “Summer Stage”?

Francine: Magical! Happiness! Lifelong friendships!

Mainstage Center for the Arts has an exciting summer season of entertainment for the whole family! In addition to “Shrek, The Musical, Jr.,” you can join Dorothy and Toto as they travel “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” in “The Wizard of Oz;” enjoy the classic tale of the little wooden puppet, Pinocchio, in “Disney’s My Son, Pinocchio, Jr.”; experience a truly ‘happily ever after’ in “Once Upon A Time – A Musical Revue;” ’Step In Time’ at the supercalifragilisticexpialidocious musical adventure, “Mary Poppins – The Broadway Musical;” and end the summer with a watch the ’Advice-A-Palooza’ adventures of Edwina Spoonapple in “Dear Edwina, Jr.”

The attached images were provided