‘Shrek The Musical” brings Dreamworks’ animated film to Kelsey Theater when the show opens on Friday, May 30. A reception with the cast and crew follows the performance. Producers include John Maurer, his wife, Diana Gilman Maurer, and his brother, Dan Maurer — all former West Windsor residents.
A musical adaptation of the film, it is set in the Kingdom of Duloc. The classic rescue of the damsel in distress is not proceeding according to protocol, and mix in an ogre, a feisty princess, a donkey who won’t shut up, a bad guy with a short temper, a cookie with an attitude, and more than a dozen other fairytale misfits for a musical comedy for all ages.
Citizens of the kingdom from Plainsboro include Kristen Kane, Rosie Karlin, and Scott Karlin. West Windsor citizens include Jonathan Logan and Michael Mitgang. Kathy Slothower of Plainsboro is the costume designer.
Kristen Kane of Plainsboro plays the elf and the blind mouse. A 2012 graduate of High School North, she is a student at MCCC and is pursuing a degree in musical theater. Her previous performances at Kelsey include the roles of Tracy Turnblad in “Hairspray,” Mrs. Potts in “Beauty and the Beast,” and Narrator in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” She was also a featured singer in “Godspell” and an ensemble member in “Carrie: The Musical.”
Kane, a member of the Princeton Girlchoir for 10 years, has played piano since she was 7 and French horn since she was 12. She studies voice with Patricia Bartlett.
Rosie Karlin of Plainsboro plays the roles of Mama Bear, Duloc Greeter, and Rat Tapper. Her favorite productions and roles include “The Drowsy Chaperone” (Mrs. Tottendale), “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (Usherette), “Tom Sawyer” (Aunt Polly), “Singing in the Rain” (Miss Dinsdale), “The Emperor’s New Clothes” (Deena), “Winnie the Pooh” (Kanga), and “Fools” (Sophia Irena Elenya Zubritsky). Last fall she was the assistant stage manager for “Spamalot” and was on the running crew for “Avenue Q” last spring.
When not on stage, she teaches music and Spanish to preschoolers in Plainsboro and Princeton, and tap to adults and seniors at the Dance Corner in West Windsor. Karlin is married to Scott, also an actor in the production. Their daughter, Molly, also active in theater, is a graduate of High School North and has performed in several leading roles at Kelsey.
Scott Karlin of Plainsboro plays the roles of Papa Bear, Magic Mirror, and Thelonious. He was on the Kelsey stage last November in “Spamalot” playing a variety of roles including the Black Knight. His favorite past roles include Andre Thibault in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” Joe/Josephine in “Sugar,” Leon Tolchinsky in “Fools,” Captain von Trapp in “The Sound of Music,” and John the Baptist/Judas in “Godspell.”
Karlin’s other stage credits include “Aida,” “A Few Good Men,” “Tom Sawyer,” “Emperor’s New Clothes,” “Harvey,” “Annie,” “The Pajama Game,” “Carnival,” “Oliver,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “No Time for Sergeants,” “Anything Goes,” “Seussical,” and “The Miracle Worker.” Backstage, he has worked running crew for “Avenue Q” and “Winnie the Pooh.”
Jonathan Logan of West Windsor plays a guard. A freshman at High School North, he has attended the Tomato Patch performing arts program at Kelsey Theater for the past five summers. Past roles at Kelsey include a pirate in the Yardley Players’ production of “Peter Pan” in March, and Ralph Herdman in “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” in 2012.
At Community Middle School he played the role of Charlie Brown in “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” and Stanley Larson in “Mystery at Shady Acres.” In 2010 he performed a juggling act in the WW-P CMS talent show. A bass player, he is in the jazz band and chamber orchestra.
Michael Mitgang of West Windsor plays a guard and a Duloc dancer. A freshman at High School South, he is a member of the school’s Chorale, Pirate Players Theater Group, and performed in an ensemble role in “Grease,” the spring musical. This is his first production with Maurer Productions, but he has appeared in “Annie Get Your Gun, “Camp Rock, “High School Musical Jr.,” and “Bugsy Malone Jr.” at Kelsey Theater.
His middle school credits include the Father in “Once on This Island” and a leading role of Tony Tenor in “It’s Curtains For You.” He has taken dance lesson since he was little and is looking forward to showing off his moves.
John Maurer, the artistic director of MPO, considers the show to be the most complex production in the company’s nine-year history. As master puppeteer, he has created 16 hand-crafted puppets — including a 24-foot dragon. The show features 35 actors, more than 60 fairytale costumes, and scores of props.
“There are a lot of great songs and signature moments from the movie, but I especially love how the world of Duloc is fully realized with so many memorable characters,” says director Laurie Gougher. “There’s something in this show for everyone and adults will enjoy themselves as much as children.”
Shrek, the Musical, Kelsey Theater, Merer Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $20. Weekends, May 30 to June 8. 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheater.net.
