The Harlan County High School Drama Club will bring a musical to the stage.
Shrek the Musical will be performed at Harlan County High School on April 16 for the middle schools and April 18 for the students and parents.
Shrek the Musical, by David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori, is a tale of an unexpected hero, his side-kick donkey, and a spirited princess not wanting to be rescued. This comedic production teaches the acceptance of others and not judging a book by its cover.
The leading roles are played by Caleb Couch (Shrek), Emily Witt (Princess Fiona), Emilia Dunn (Donkey), Sol Branson (Lord Farquuad), Kaydence Wynn (Dragon, Big Bad Wolf), Kylie Ward (Pinnochio), Jasmine Major (Sugar Plum Fairy, Gingy), Mark Lawson (Magic Mirror), Sophia Wynn (Young Fiona, Little Pig #1), Finn Dunn (Teen Fiona, Peter Pan), Masyn Whitehead (Mama Ogre, Fairy Godmother), Maverick Morgan (Papa Ogre, Papa Bear), Savannah Pennington (Humpty Dumpty, Blind Mouse #1), Harper Farmer (Baby Bear, Blind Mouse #2), Jovi Tye (Ugly Duckling, Blind Mouse #3), Bani Chaudhari (Little Pig #2), Harper Farmer (Little Pig #1), Zoe Jones (Wicked Witch, Priest), Eli Daniels (Baby Shrek, Grumpy, pig #3), Kaylie Johnson (Mama Bear) and Caley Meadows (Mad Hatter).
“All theater serves a purpose. During this play, I want the students to take away empathy. In Shrek, we are watching a bunch of people be ostracized from society and learning to love themselves and one another, and that’s an important lesson for anyone to learn,” said drama club director Jennifer Freyer.
Caleb Couch, who plays the leading role, believes there is an important lesson for himself to learn as well.
“With Shrek the Musical, I have to be vulnerable and throw away my shield,” he said. “I’m excited for the audience to see that because it’s something they’ve never seen out of me.”