Lights dimmed. Smoke spewed from Mitchell Theatre’s stage. The audience quieted as Taylor Theatre presented “Shrek the Musical.”
Tracy Manning, managing and artistic director of theatre, directed the musical, which was performed Nov. 14-16 and 20-22. The show, which was originally produced on Broadway, was based on the DreamWorks film “Shrek” and the book “Shrek!” by William Steig.
The lead actors included Mark Cosgrove as Shrek, Gabrielle Hamilton as Fiona, Milo Guevara as Donkey and Gavin Kastner as Lord Farquaad.
A highlight of their performance was the humor, Kettie Olson, a sophomore psychology major and one of the house managers, said.
“I always come in forgetting how funny it is,” she said.
The show also portrayed goodness, truth and beauty despite not being a traditional Christian show. Though it did not include hymns or Scripture reading, the cast’s determination to portray and honor God with their acting was clear, Olson said.
The musical reveals the beauty of diversity. This is a biblical principle; people are created in God’s image, she said.
“I think it's a musical that can be looked at as just whimsical and fun, but I think it also has some deeper ideas when we challenge ourselves to think,” Manning said. “It has some really deep theological and philosophical things that are true.”
“Shrek the Musical” addressed questions surrounding identity, self-acceptance and community.
Taylor’s Theatre department uniquely approaches art and expression that is not traditionally considered Christian, she said. The program asks students how to interact with the world from a Christian perspective, rather than fearing or disengaging with it. This idea is not taught in Christian circles often.
Faith should be integrated with all aspects of life, and religion should not be restricted to quiet time, church and worship, Manning said.
This holistic approach transcends Taylor’s Theatre department.
“At Taylor, no matter what the discipline is, we’re attempting to integrate our faith and our study and our life,” Manning said. “We’re not compartmentalized.”
“Shrek the Musical” modeled this by plumbing philosophical depths without detracting from lighthearted moments of laughter, Olson said.
Part of the fun behind “Shrek the Musical” came from being a part of its committed production crew, she said. She was grateful to play a part in the production process.
Taylor’s theatre community is close-knit and the rehearsal process is a special bonding experience, Olson said.
“I’ve grown to love the show more and more because I love the people who are in it,” she said.
Students involved in this program often play multiple roles within productions, Olson said. For example, Hamilton played Fiona and was co-head of costumes.
This produces well-rounded actors by providing students with hands-on experience both on and off stage, she said.
The show’s set design, props and decorative elements revealed the attention to detail and dedication of the backstage production crew, Callie Davis, a sophomore nursing major and audience member, said.
“I think my favorite aspect was probably the props. They were all very detailed, especially the dragon,” Davis said. “It was really cool to see it being used in the musical. I could tell how much effort they put into making it.”
