'Shrek - The Musical', a new musical planned for Broadway in 2005

Fri 15 Oct 2004 'Shrek - The Musical', a new musical planned for Broadway in 2005 Shrek - The Musical, a new musical planned for Broadway in 2005 , will be directed by Jason Moore with a book by David Lindsay-Abaire. Jason Moore is the director of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, 'Avenue Q', and the upcoming revival of 'Steel Magnolias' on Broadway. David Lindsay-Abaire is the author of numerous plays, including 'Kimberly Akimbo', 'Fuddy Meers' and 'Wonder of the World'. Produced by DreamWorks Animation and SCAMP Film & Theatre, Ltd. (Sam Mendes, Director), additional members of the creative team will be confirmed in the coming months with developmental readings of the new musical expected in 2005. Sam Mendes said "I have loved working as a producer over the last ten years, but the musical of Shrek is certainly the most exciting and ambitious project I have been involved with. To have a book writer as witty and talented as David Lindsay-Abaire is a great gift, and I am particularly thrilled that the ship is being steered by someone as gifted as Jason Moore. I know that they and their chosen collaborators will come up with something that is intensely theatrical, yet retains all the warmth, imagination and comic invention of the movies." Sam Mendes will serve as creative producer on Shrek - The Musical, a role he is familiar with having overseen more than 70 productions during his tenure as Artistic Director of London�s Donmar Warehouse Theatre between 1992 - 2002. Together with Executive Producer, Caro Newling, he transferred numerous productions to Broadway including 'The Blue Room', 'The Real Thing' and 'Electra'. Ms. Newling is a co-director of SCAMP Film & Theatre, Ltd. and will serve as a producer with Mr. Mendes on Shrek - The Musical. Also on board as Creative Consultants for the stage production will be 'Shrek' and 'Shrek 2' director Andrew Adamson and producer Aron Warner. Bill Damaschke, Head of Creative Production for DreamWorks Animation, and producer of its most recent release 'Shark Tale', will be supervising the production on the studio side. On the announcement Mr. Damaschke said "All of us at DreamWorks Animation are excited to be working with such incredibly successful Broadway talents. To have Jason Moore and Sam Mendes heading the Shrek team is a great way to kick off this endeavor." The character of Shrek, a lovable green ogre, has been featured in two highly successful motion pictures. 'Shrek' won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. The popular sequel, 'Shrek 2', was released this past summer. Shrek - The Musical will be DreamWorks� first venture in legitimate theatre. The production was initiated by Jeffrey Katzenberg and Sam Mendes when the studio made a first-look deal with Mendes� producing entity, SCAMP Film & Theatre Ltd.