Shrek: The Musical

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Steve Noll

Costumed cast members of "Shrek: The Musical" on stage.

Mercury Players Theatre and OUT!Cast Theatre in rehearsal for "Shrek: The Musical," 2022.

Mercury Players Theatre, generally one of Madison's more experimental troupes (leaning toward new or unusual works), is starting the season unusually — with a crowd-pleasing surprise: Shrek: The Musical, a Broadway concoction based on the animated film. It's produced in collaboration with OUT!Cast Theatre. Shows at 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays (4 p.m. on Oct. 8) and 4 p.m. Sundays.

Mercury Players Theatre & OUT!Cast Theatre, 9/23-10/8, Bartell Theatre at 8 pm Thursdays-Saturdays (4 pm on 10/8) and 4 pm Sundays. $30 ($15 ages 16 & under).

media release:  The Bartell Theatre, 113 E Mifflin Street, will kick off the 2022-2023 season on Friday, September 23, 2022, with the family-friendly musical comedy “Shrek,” based on the classic 1999 animated movie. This Mercury Players Theatre (a co-production with OUT!Cast Theatre) will run for 3 weeks through October 8. This will be an all-ages show (with a movie-like PG rating for body function jokes). The show is performed with an intermission to allow patrons to check out the new bar selections as well.

All performances will require patrons ages 5 and above to be vaccinated for Covid-19. Masks will be optional but recommended. The cast and crew of Shrek are 100% vaccinated.

“Shrek” is being co-directed by Brandon Hartman, who is new to the Bartell but comes with a theater background. Steve Noll will co-direct and produce with him, allowing him to learn the scale and scope of the Drury stage in the Bartell. The cast of 25 local actors (including two father/daughter actors) is a large-scale production with a live band of 9, led by music director Lizzie Haller. Heidi Hakseth will handle choreography, which will include a big tap-dancing rats sequence.

Mercury/OUT!Cast co-productions include last years smash success “Clue,” along with shows like “Xanadu: The Broadway Musical” and “The Rocky Horror Show.” Noll has also directed two of Mercury’s family “panto” spoofs and will co-write and direct Mercury’s panto this December based on “Star Wars: The Mandalorian.”

“Shrek” will run for 10 performances and all tickets ($15-$30) are reserved seating. Tickets will also be digital/contactless. Tickets can be purchased at BartellTheatre.org or calling the Bartell Box Office (Tue- Fri 2p-6p) at 608-661-9696.