'Shrek' comes to Wilson

“Shrek The Musical,” produced by the Wilson Music Parents Association, will be staged in the William H. O’Connor Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. Jan. 23-25 and at 2 p.m. Jan. 26.

An unlikely hero, Shrek (junior Sam Georgal) finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside the wisecracking Donkey (senior Sierra Shepherd) and three feisty princesses (juniors Addie Selbert and Catherin Clark, and seventh-grader Haleigh Kopp) who know “I Know It’s Today” that they will be rescued.

Featuring familiar songs and a sidesplitting script, “Shrek The Musical” brings the beloved characters from the film to life on their way to discovering the big, bright beautiful world at the end of this storybook journey.

Director Gretchen Fournier said the cast of middle and high school students will put their unique spin on this fractured fairytale. The presentation will be “silly and funny, but at the heart of the show is finding the hero in us all.”

The creative team including students, advisers and parents has produced uniquely original designs for scenery, costumes (Laurie Clark), lights (with the help of Lockport Stage Works and Dan Wiegand), and sound (with the help of Glen Bernardis and a student technical crew). The press release also noted, “Musical Director Claudia Andres has worked wonders with this fresh mixture of less-experienced middle school kids alongside some veteran high school students.”

The musical is based on the Oscar-winning animated film. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students. On Thursday, tickets are discounted for senior citizens and students ($5).