DALLAS IS GETTING A MAKE-OGRE!

National Press Representative:

Catherine Major / C Major Marketing

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Local Press Representative:
Jo Ann Holt

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DALLAS IS GETTING A MAKE-OGRE

SHREK THE MUSICAL

PRESENTED BY DALLAS SUMMER MUSICALS

SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 17

AT THE MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

DALLAS, TX — DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. are pleased to announce that SHREK THE MUSICAL with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori, directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford, will be presented by Dallas Summer Musicals at the Music Hall at Fair Park for three weeks only, September 28-October 17. Single ticket prices range from $29-133.50 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, July 26. Tickets will be available at The Box Office, 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, all Ticketmaster outlets, by visiting www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 214-631-ARTS (2787). Group orders of 15 or more may be placed by calling 214-426-GROUP.

The role of everyone’s favorite swamp-dwelling ogre, Shrek will be played by Eric Petersen, who joins the tour from the Broadway production. He recently appeared as the socially challenged Barfee in the National tour of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Haven Burton, also from the Broadway Company will play the feisty Princess Fiona. Haven previously played Margo the Dog Whisperer on Broadway in Legally Blonde and understudied Elle Woods. Alan Mingo, Jr. is Shrek’s lovably annoying best friend Donkey. He was an original company member of The Little Mermaid where he played the role of Sebastian, and prior to that played the role of Tom Collins in RENT on Broadway. Todd Buonopane plays the vertically challenged villain Lord Farquaad. He performed on Broadway as Roger in Grease! and was a member of the original Broadway Company of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Rounding out the cast of misfit fairy tale characters, the peoples of Duloc and Far, Far Away are: Joe Abraham, Kevin Boseman, Holly Ann Butler, Carrie Compere, Emily Cramer, Tyrone Davis, Jr., Sandra DeNise, Scarlett Diaz, David Foley, Aymee Garcia, Brian Gonzales (from Dallas!), Justin Greer, Lisa Ho, Benjamin Howes, Madison Mullahey, Mara Newbery, Denny Paschall, Sarah Peak, Keven Quillon, Morgan Rose, Blakely Slaybaugh and David F.M. Vaughn.

“We are thrilled to send SHREK THE MUSICAL to theatres across the country,” said Bill Damaschke, President of DreamWorks Theatricals, “and for American families to experience their favorite ogre and fairy tale creatures live on stage.”

An entirely new musical, SHREK THE MUSICAL is based on the story and characters from William Steig’s book Shrek!, as well as the DreamWorks Animation film Shrek, the first chapter of the Shrek movie series.

SHREK THE MUSICAL tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his land. Joined by a wise-cracking donkey, this unlikely hero fights a fearsome dragon, rescues a feisty princess and learns that real friendship and true love aren’t only found in fairy tales.

SHREK THE MUSICAL features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer® Prize^-winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), music by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Caroline, or Change), and is directed by Tony® Award-nominee Jason Moore (Avenue Q) and Tony® and Emmy® Award-winner Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Promises Promises). SHREK THE MUSICAL has set and costume designs by Tony® Award-winner Tim Hatley (Private Lives, Spamalot), lighting design by Olivier Award-winner Hugh Vanstone (A Steady Rain), sound design by Peter Hylenski (Rock of Ages); choreography by Josh Prince, music supervision by Tim Weil, music direction by Andy Grobengieser, and orchestrations by Danny Troob and John Clancy.

SHREK THE MUSICAL was initiated when Sam Mendes, a big fan of the first Shrek film, suggested the idea of creating a musical to DreamWorks Animation’s Jeffrey Katzenberg around the time the second film was in production. The musical is produced by DreamWorks Theatricals (Bill Damaschke, President of DreamWorks Theatricals and Co-President of Production for DreamWorks Animation) and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. (principals Sam Mendes and Caro Newling).

The chart-topping original Broadway cast album for SHREK THE MUSICAL is available on Decca Broadway. DreamWorks Animation (NASDAQ: DWA).

SHREK THE MUSICAL will play September 28 through October 17 at the Music Hall at Fair Park, with the following performance schedule:

Tue., September 28, 8 p.m.
Wed., September 29, 8 p.m.
Thu., September 30, 8 p.m.
Fri., October 1, 8 p.m.
Sat., October 2, 2 and 8 p.m.
Sun., October 3, 2 and 8 p.m.

Tue., October 5, 8 p.m.
Wed., October 6, 8 p.m.
Thu., October 7, 8 p.m.
Fri., October 8, 8 p.m.
Sat., October 9, 2 and 8 p.m.
Sun., October 10, 2 and 8 p.m.

Tue., October 12, 8 p.m.
Wed., October 13, 8 p.m.
Thu., October 14, 2 and 8 p.m.
Fri., October 15, 8 p.m.
Sat., October 16, 2 and 8 p.m.
Sun., October 17, 2 p.m.

SHREK THE MUSICAL will be the 2010 State Fair of Texas musical. The State Fair will run from Sept. 24- Oct. 17 and tickets are $15 for general admission to the fair. Tickets to the musical will be honored as admission tickets to the fair on the day of the show purchased.

PRINCIPAL CAST BIOGRAPHIES:

ERIC PETERSEN (Shrek), Broadway: Shrek The Musical (Shrek Standby/Papa Ogre/Straw Pig). Other credits include: First National Tour of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Barfee), many Theatreworks USA productions, readings of Zorba (w/Antonio Banderas), Up Here, among numerous others. Regional: ...Spelling Bee (Northshore/Barrington Stage), The Foreigner (Engeman Theatre), The Producers (Barn Theatre), Oliver! (Charleston Stage). TV: "Law & Order," "Law & Order: SVU," "As The World Turns," "Evan & Gareth Trying To Get Laid," and an upcoming NBC pilot with Jimmy Smits. Eric is a proud graduate of Bradley University and member of Actor's Equity. Check out more at www.EricPetersenOnline.com.

HAVEN BURTON (Fiona), is elated to be playing a Princess at long last as she returns to her Shrek family. Originally from Los Angeles, she moved far, far away to Broadway where she was most recently seen in Shrek The Musical as Gingy and Sugar Plum Fairy, and she understudied Fiona and Teen Fiona. Other Broadway credits include Legally Blonde where she played Margot the dog whisperer while she understudied Elle, and in RENT where she played Maureen. She also performed in the First National tour of RENT in the role of Mrs. Cohen. Haven graduated with a BA from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts.

ALAN MINGO, JR. (Donkey). Broadway Credits: Sebastian in Disney's The Little Mermaid, where he was an original company member, Tom Collins in RENT. Prior to joining RENT on Broadway he staged, choreographed, and performed in the Italian version of RENT for Luciano Pavorotti. He also performed in both national companies. Other National tours: Seaweed in Hairspray, and Simba in the Los Angeles company and the first national tour of Disney's The Lion King. Regional Credits: The Wiz at La Jolla Playhouse, A Christmas Story: The Musical at Kansas City Rep. TV Credits: "Frasier," "Law & Order," "The Wayne Brady Show," and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." M.F.A.: University of California, Irvine. www.alanmingo.com.

TODD BUONOPANE (Lord Farquaad) appeared on Broadway as Roger in Grease and in the original Broadway Company of ...Spelling Bee. Off-Broadway, he was seen in Henry & Mudge, Don’t Quit Your Night Job and The Butter and Egg Man. Regional favorites include Mr. Snow in Carousel, Ralph Malph in Happy Days, Herschel in Gemini, The Musical (Barrymore nomination). Television/Film credits include the recurring role of Jeffrey Weinerslav on 30 Rock, The Black Donnellys, Law & Order: CI and the new film A Kiss For Jed Wood. BFA in Musical Theater from the University of Michigan. Special thanks to whole Shrek team and the boys at Talent House.

CREATIVE BIOGRAPHIES:

DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIRE (Book & Lyrics) was most recently nominated for two Tony Awards for his work on Shrek The Musical: Best Book of a Musical and Best Score (with composer Jeanine Tesori). Prior to that he was awarded the 2008 Ed Kleban Award as America’s most promising musical theatre lyricist and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play Rabbit Hole, which premiered on Broadway at MTC’s Biltmore Theatre. Rabbit Hole also received five Tony Award nominations, including Best Play, and the Spirit of America Award. His other shows include Fuddy Meers, Kimberly Akimbo, Wonder of the World, High Fidelity and A Devil Inside, among others. In addition to his work in theatre, David's screen adaptation of Rabbit Hole is scheduled for release this Fall. It stars Nicole Kidman and is directed by John Cameron Mitchell. David is a proud New Dramatists alum, a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and the Juilliard School, as well as a member of the WGA and the Dramatists Guild Council.

JEANINE TESORI (Music) has written four Tony-nominated scores for Broadway: Twelfth Night (Lincoln Center); Thoroughly Modern Millie (lyrics, Dick Scanlan); Caroline, or Change (lyrics, Tony Kushner), and Shrek The Musical (lyrics, David Lindsay-Abaire). The production of Caroline, or Change at the National Theater in London received the Olivier Award for Best New Musical. Her first musical, Violet, written with Brian Crawley, received the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1997. She has been the recipient of many other honors including Drama Desk and Obie Awards, and was cited by ASCAP as the first woman composer to have “two new musicals running concurrently on Broadway.” She composed the music for the New York Shakespeare Festival’s Mother Courage, as translated by Tony Kushner, starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline. She has written songs for the movie Shrek The Third. Her film scores include Nights in Rodanthe, Winds of Change, Show Business and Wrestling With Angels. She composed songs for the movie Disney DVD releases Mulan II, Lilo and Stitch II and The Little Mermaid III. She has produced sixty CD’s for Silver-Burdett Ginn’s Making Music and the original cast albums for Twelfth Night, Violet and Caroline, or Change. Ms. Tesori, a Barnard graduate, is on the council of the Dramatists Guild. Her next project is a new musical with the playwright Lisa Kron.

JASON MOORE (Director). Broadway: Shrek The Musical, Avenue Q, Steel Magnolias. Carnegie Hall: Jerry Springer: The Opera. Off-Broadway: Speech and Debate (Roundabout), Avenue Q (the Vineyard), Guardians (the Culture Project), The Crumple Zone. Associate directing: Les Misérables (Broadway, national tour), Ragtime (Vancouver). Writer: The Floatplane Notebooks (Charlotte Repertory Theatre). TV directing: episodes of “Dawson’s Creek,” “Everwood,” “One Tree Hill” and “Brothers and Sisters.” Jason has a BS in performance studies from Northwestern University.

ROB ASHFORD (Director) is director and choreographer of the current Broadway revival of Promises, Promises (Tony nomination, Best Choreography) starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth. Other Broadway credits include Thoroughly Modern Millie (2002 Tony Award, Best Choreography), The Wedding Singer (Tony nomination), Curtains (Tony nomination), Cry-Baby (Tony nomination). In London, A Streetcar Named Desire starring Rachel Weisz at the Donmar Warehouse (Olivier nomination, Best Revival), Parade at the Donmar Warehouse (Olivier nominations for Direction and Choreography), Evita (Olivier nomination), Guys and Dolls (Olivier nomination), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Olivier nomination), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Once in a Lifetime (National Theatre). Other credits include Parade (Mark Taper Forum), Candide (English National Opera, La Scala, Milan, Chatelet, Paris), Tenderloin, Bloomer Girl, A Connecticut Yankee… and Pardon My English (Encores!). He provided choreography for the film Beyond the Sea directed by and starring Kevin Spacey. Mr. Ashford won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography for his work on the “81st Annual Academy Awards,” and was recently appointed an Associate Director at The Donmar Warehouse in London.

JOSH PRINCE (Choreographer). Broadway: Shrek The Musical (Outer Critics Circle Nom). Off-Broadway: The Kid (The New Group). New York City: The Bridge Project (BAM/The Old Vic ’09/’10); The Jerry Springer Opera (w/Harvey Keitel) at Carnegie Hall; Camelot (w/Gabriel Byrne) with the NY Philharmonic at Lincoln Center (PBS); and All Singing All Dancing (Town Hall ‘09). Josh also recently had the pleasure of choreographing the 2010 Kennedy Center Spring Gala. Additional credits: Tales From The Bad Years (Theater Works Palo Alto, dir.); Calvin Berger (MTC 7@7 Series, Dir.); Emerald Man (NYMF, Dir.); Barnum (Dir.); Cabaret (Dir.); Guys and Dolls; One Way Ticket To Hell (Dir.); The Full Monty; The Big Funk (Dir.); La Boheme; Anything Goes and Singin’ In The Rain.

TIM HATLEY (Set, Costume & Puppet Design). Winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Costume Design for his work on Shrek The Musical. Winner of 2002 Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Private Lives on Broadway. Winner of the 2002 Olivier Award for Humble Boy and Private Lives in the West End and a 1997 Olivier Award for Stanley at the Royal National Theatre. Broadway credits: Spamalot, Private Lives, Vincent in Brixton, The Crucible, Stanley. Film credits: Stage Beauty, Closer and Notes on a Scandal. Previous theatre work includes working with Theatre de Complicite, Royal National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, English National Opera and London’s West End. Graduated from Central Saint Martins School of Art, London.

HUGH VANSTONE (Lighting) has designed lighting for plays, musicals and operas in London, New York and around the world. He has received three Olivier Awards for his work in London. New York credits: A Steady Rain (Schoenfeld), God of Carnage (Jacobs), Mary Stuart (Broadhurst Theatre – TONY & Drama Desk nominations for Best Lighting), Shrek The Musical (Broadway), Boeing-Boeing (Longacre); Spamalot (Shubert - TONY nomination for Best Lighting); Bombay Dreams (Broadway); Life (x) 3 (Circle in the Square); Uncle Vanya, Twelfth Night and Hamlet (BAM); The Graduate (Plymouth); Follies (Belasco); Blast! (Broadway); The Unexpected Man (Promenade); The Blue Room (Cort); Closer (Music Box); Art (Royale).

PETER HYLENSKI (Sound Designer). Grammy, Tony and Olivier award nominated. Selected Broadway: Shrek the Musical; Rock of Ages; Lend Me A Tenor; Cry Baby; The Times They Are A-Changin; The Wedding Singer; Sweet Charity; Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me; Little Women; Brooklyn. Other credits: Le Reve: Wynn Las Vegas; Ragtime (West End); Walking with Dinosaurs; Mame; Opening Doors; The Scottsboro Boys; Annie. He has designed for Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and The Kennedy Center. Recently Peter co-produced the cast album of Shrek, the Musical with Jeanine Tesori and was the re-record mixer on his fourth film for the American Museum of Natural History titled: Journey to the Stars.

DREAMWORKS THEATRICALS (Producer) was established in 2007 by DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (NASDAQ: DWA) to produce stage productions based on its films and other original and adapted works. Bill Damaschke serves as President of DreamWorks Theatricals and Co-President of Production for DWA. DWA is devoted to producing high-quality family entertainment through the use of computer-generated (CG) animation. DWA’s current and upcoming film slate includes How to Train Your Dragon, Shrek Forever After and Megamind; past titles include Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, Kung Fu Panda and Monsters vs. Aliens. Shrek was the winner of the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Jeffrey Katzenberg currently serves as DWA’s CEO and on the Board of Directors and was a co-founder of DreamWorks Studios in 1994. Shrek the Musical is DWA’s first venture in legitimate theatre.

NEAL STREET PRODUCTIONS (Producer) formed in 2003 by Sam Mendes, Caro Newling and Pippa Harris to produce film and theatre. Films: Revolutionary Road, Jarhead, Stuart: A Life Backwards, Starter for Ten, Things We Lost in the Fire. Theatre: The Bridge Project with Brooklyn Academy of Music/Old Vic Theatre, Mary Stuart, West End Premiere of Three Days of Rain, Sunday in the Park with George, The Vertical Hour. Mendes and Newling established and ran the Donmar Warehouse Theatre, London, 1992 to 2002, originating some 70 productions including, on Broadway, The Blue Room, Electra, True West and the Tony Award winners Cabaret, The Real Thing, Take Me Out. www.nealstreetproductions.com

ABOUT DREAMWORKS ANIMATION. DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series, live entertainment properties and online virtual worlds, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by FORTUNE^® Magazine for two consecutive years. In 2010, DreamWorks Animation ranks #6 on the list. All of DreamWorks Animation’s feature films are now being produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 19 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon. DreamWorks Animation’s upcoming feature film releases for 2010 are Shrek Forever After and Megamind.

For more information, visit www.ShrekTheMusical.com or www.DallasSummerMusicals.org. Join the award-winning Shrekster.com, the Official Fan community of Shrek The Musical delivering news, media and exclusive contests to fans of the Shrek Series and Shrek the Musical. Log in and join your city group for access to the most up to date news, information and member’s only exclusive content from Shrek and Donkey’s first “whirlwind, big city adventure” across the country: www.shrekster.com/dallas.

Season sponsors for Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, are WFAA TV Channel 8 and American Airlines. Now celebrating its 70^th season, Dallas Summer Musicals, Inc. (DSM) is the largest producer of live theatrical entertainment in the Southwest, the second oldest summer theater organization in the United States, and the sixth largest non-profit theater company. DSM has been entertaining North Texas audiences with the finest in live, musical theatre entertainment since 1941. In addition to presenting national Broadway tours, DSM also produces shows on Broadway, presents and tours local productions, and is involved in developing new works. Dallas Summer Musicals’ affiliates include DSM Management Group, Inc. (DSMMGI), which manages the Music Hall at Fair Park.

As a non-profit organization, DSM relies on a variety of funding sources to bring the Best of Broadway to Dallas at affordable ticket prices, as well as to preserve the beautiful historic theatres, educate young audiences and create important community programs. DSM’s Seats for Kids program provides a meaningful arts education experience to thousands of low income, at-risk and special needs children. DSM and the Dallas Police Department partner together to provide positive incentives for youth that are at risk for gang membership through the Stage Right program. In addition, the DSM Academy of Performing Arts offers professional theatre arts training and scholarships to talented students in need. Ticket sales alone do not sustain these endeavors. Only support from committed businesses, foundations and individuals make these programs possible. For more information about Dallas Summer Musicals, presented by Comerica Bank, visit their website at www.DallasSummerMusicals.org or call (214) 421-5678.

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For media information about this show or the Dallas Summer Musicals, and for videotape, photos, interviews or reviewer’s passes, please call Jo Ann Holt at 469-363-7371 or send inquiries to joannholt@gmail.com.