R.I.P. Shrek the Musical

Ladies and gentlemen, I am sad to report that Shrek the Musical has closed on Broadway... After Seattle previews in September of 2008, the show opened on Broadway in The Broadway Theatre on December 14 of the same year. Generally favorable reviews brought the show over 440 performances before financial issues forced the show to close.

The original cast featured Brian d'Arcy James (Titanic, The Apple Tree, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as Shrek, Daniel Breaker (Passing Strange) Sutton Foster (Young Frankenstein, Little Women, Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Princess Fiona, Christopher Sieber (Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, Into the Woods, Spamalot) as Lord Farquaad, and John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, Beauty an the Beast) as Pinocchio, The Magic Mirror, and the Dragon Puppeteer. The ensemble and swings Broadway credits include shows such as Legally Blonde, Cats, Les Miserables, Annie Get Your Gun, Seussical, Annie, Grease, and Alter Boyz. Very few cast changes were made in the run of the show, with two notable replacements being Robb Sapp taking John Tartaglia's place during Tartaglia's leave of absence, and Ben Crawford (original stand-by for Shrek) replacing James as Shrek exactly one year into the show's run.

In June excitement was high for everyone in the show (and me!) when it was announced that the show was nominated for eight Tony Awards, including Best Costume Design, Best Musical, Best Leading Actor (Brian d'Arcy James), Best Leading Actress (Sutton Foster). Out of the eight nominations the show only received the award for Costume Design. A majority of the other awards went to Elton John's show "Billy Elliot" (against which I still have a grudge...)

The Original Cast Recording was released March 24, 2009, featuring (almost) all the songs from the show. "More to the Story" sung by Princess Fiona (Sutton Foster) was a song cut from the show in previews but recorded and released exclusively to iTunes. On October 4, 2009 the hit song "I'm a Believer" was added to the show as a post curtain call number, this song was recorded by most of the original cast and also released on iTunes. Dreamworks has also announced recently that they are planning to release the show on DVD this year. 

So, I want to say farewell to one of my favorite shows ever to grace the Broadway stage. First national tour is set to start this Summer, and I know I'll go see it when it comes to town! In the mean time, I'm going to be listening to the cast album, and singing at the top of my lungs.

2010

It's 2010, a new year! But, of course you already knew that...
Now that I've gotten used to 2009, they have to go and change it! Darn politicians!
Resolution time I guess... First I'd like to go on record by saying that I don't like to make resolutions, they are too easy to break. But 'll give it a shot! Soo...
- I'd like to make a short film, and finish it! Have a few ideas, not sure what I want to try first but I've always wanted to make one.
- I'd like to book a few shows, preferably solo ones, working on a new program specifically for a library Summer program.
-I want to lose 50 pounds, climb Mt. Everest, solve the Tiger Woods issue, and kick my smoking habit. :)
- And I'd like to get a lead in a Broadway musical (this one probably isn't going to happen this year, but I'll just put it out there...)
Looking forward to Seussical rehearsals starting next week, I've memorized all I can, I'm ready to go!