By Bridges Sayers
Nestled amongst the beautiful red rocks of St. George is the stunning outdoor theater, Tuacahn. One comes to expect a great deal from the fantastic company of performers, and when I first saw the season announced, I knew I would not face disappointment.
On Friday evening, my boyfriend, his younger sister, and I went to see Shrek The Musical. This family-friendly show follows a similar plotline to the animated movie, with a few more fun kicks. Shrek, and his unwanted pal Donkey, set off on a journey to rescue the beautiful, spunky Princess Fiona from her dragon-guarded tower. Naturally, the hilarity-filled trek is full of ups and downs, genuinely touching musical moments, and spectacular dances.
I love Shrek and have seen the movie and the live theater version many times. As such, I am fairly picky about the show itself. I can easily say that the Tuacahn’s Shrek not only met, but exceeded my expectations. Director Scott S. Anderson truly worked magic with the cast, bringing out the best of both the show itself and the cast members’ unique talents. I particularly enjoyed the choreography by Mara Newbery Greer. The dances were not only a spectacular fit for the songs, but were very unique and innovative. I loved that they were so different from the typical dances while still remaining true to the show.
Overall, the actors themselves were brilliant. Princess Fiona, played by the wonderful Whitney Winfield, was an absolute hit with the audience. She had that amazing vivacity that the role demands, coupled with phenomenal vocals and effortless dance skills. I think what truly sets her apart, though, was her ability to really engage with the role in terms of her physicality. She was not afraid to use her body, and she owned the stage with her confidence and enthusiasm. She also beautifully played off of Young Fiona (Ellie Felice Seegmiller) and Teen Fiona (Ellee Anderson). Their trio, “I Know It’s Today,” was beautifully done.
One of the biggest stars of the show, though, was Donkey (Andre Jordan.) Any time he entered the stage, my eyes were drawn straight to him. He brought a unique humor to the role, which was entirely his own, and absolutely deserved the roaring applause he received at the end of the show. His performance during “Make A Move” was nothing short of hysterical, and my whole group was in stiches. It was by far the funniest performance of it that I have ever seen (and I have seen it several times.)
Steve Judkins, who played the role of Shrek was great and I particularly loved his performance of “Build A Wall”—he truly brought the power and passion the song demands. This Shrek was very good, but was surrounded by performers who were amazing.
Other notable cast members include Jennifer Leigh Warren (Dragon, Mama Ogre), Jeffrey Scott Stevens (Lord Farquaad), and Brian Nelson (Pinocchio, Baby Rat). These amazing performers brought phenomenal vocals, truly fun acting, and only served to heighten an already wonderful show. I particularly wanted to comment Jennifer Leigh Warren for her beautiful rendition of “Forever”—it was the first time that I have heard it and understood the words and fell in love with her voice. I’ll admit I was disappointed to not see her on the stage as she sung it though, but that’s a personal preference more than anything. I would have loved to see her sing it in addition to merely hearing it.
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The costuming (Janet Swenson) was stunning. I loved the dress on Fiona, and the costumes for all of the leads were just perfect. I really wouldn’t have changed a thing. Everything was vibrant and fun. The scenic design (Doug Ellis) was also outstanding. I loved the set pieces, and I thought using books as a part of the scene made it very fun. The lighting and special effects, typical of a Tuacahn show, were well placed and added to the enjoyment of the performance.
Overall, the setting was simply perfect for this musical. The Tuacahn is a very large theater, and as such, was able to appropriately tackle this enormous show. The seating is stadium-style, so there’s not a bad seat in the house. I would, however, recommend bringing something soft to sit on, as the chairs can get a little uncomfortable after sitting for so long. They do have pads you can rent there for $2. It is a bit hot out, naturally, but they do all that they can to ensure that the audience members remain comfortable through utilizing enormous fans to keep the air flowing.
They start the show a bit later than most other places would (8:45 PM) to help keep cool. Because of this, the show does not end until around 11:15 PM, so be aware of that when thinking about bringing kiddos. The show is very age appropriate, but the lateness might be hard for some young ones. Because of how big the space is, it’s pretty important to arrive early to get good parking. I recommend arriving around 8:00 at the latest. Don’t worry about just sitting around, though. There’s a huge gift shop (with AC!), places to take pictures, and the gorgeous red rocks to enjoy. Also, if you don’t want to find something to eat before going, you can always eat the show-themed dinner that they have before the show. It’s a little more pricey (about $13 per person this year), but in previous years it has been very fun and yummy. They also offer tours of the backstage area ($5/person) starting at 6:15 before the show.
In all, I would absolutely recommend Shrek the Musical to anyone who’s been hesitant about going to see a Tuacahn show. I have gone two years in a row now, and I am in awe of the talent and sheer pleasure of seeing their productions.
Tuacahn Amphitheater presents Shrek the Musical by David Lindsay-Abaire.
Tuacahn Amphitheater 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins, Utah 84738.
Shrek runs select evenings until October 20.
Tickets: $24 to $82
Contact: 800-746-9882
Tuacahn Center for the Arts Facebook Page
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