About the work
Shrek the Musical is a musical with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, based on the 2001 DreamWorks animated film and William Steig's picture book. Its 2008 Broadway premiere brings the quirky fairy-tale parody to the stage with elaborate costumes and plenty of heart. Colourful, funny and family-friendly, the show celebrates being different and the message that true beauty comes from within.
Plot
The grumpy green ogre Shrek lives contentedly alone in his swamp until the power-hungry dwarf Lord Farquaad banishes all the fairy-tale creatures of his kingdom to that very place. To get his swamp back, Shrek strikes a deal: he is to free the Princess Fiona, trapped in a tower, so that Farquaad can marry her and become king. Accompanied by the tirelessly chattering Donkey, Shrek sets off on the journey, braves dragons and dangers – and falls in love along the way with Fiona, who guards a secret of her own. In the end, the love of the outsiders triumphs over beauty norms and class snobbery.
Cultural significance
Shrek the Musical translated one of the most successful animated films of its time into a warm-hearted stage show and became a popular family production around the world. With Tesori's versatile score and Lindsay-Abaire's pointed lyrics, it combines fairy-tale parody, pop-culture references and a warm-hearted message about self-acceptance. The anthem "Freak Flag", in which the fairy-tale creatures proudly own their otherness, became a small encouraging classic of the modern family musical.