Shrek: The Musical to open at the Broadway Theatre on 14 Dec, following previews from 8 Nov

DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. have announced that Shrek: The Musical will open at the Broadway Theatre on 14 Dec 2008, following previews from 8 Nov 2008.

The musical is to play an exclusive world premiere engagement at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, 14 Aug to 21 Sep 2008, prior to it's Broadway opening.

As previously reported Tony Award winner Sutton Foster (Princess Fiona), who is currently starring as Inga in Broadway�s Young Frankenstein, is to play Princess Fiona, she will be joined by Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber as (Lord Farquaad), who is currently in Broadway�s Spamalot; and Kecia Lewis-Evans as (The Dragon), who was most recently seen on Broadway as Trix in The Drowsy Chaperone.

Additional casting, including the title character and his friend Donkey, will be announced soon.

An entirely new musical based on the story and characters from William Steig�s book Shrek, as well as the DreamWorks Animation film Shrek, the first chapter of the Shrek movie series.

Shrek features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner, David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), music by Jeanine Tesori (Olivier Award-winner for Caroline, or Change and three-time Tony Award nominee).

Shrek will be directed by Jason Moore, who staged the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Avenue Q, and be choreographed by newcomer Josh Prince.

Set and costume design by Tim Hatley and lighting by Hugh Vanstone.

Dreamwork Animations have released three box-office hit animation movies based on William Steig children's book written in 1990, about a young ogre who finds the ogre of his dreams when he leaves home to see the world. The name 'Shrek' is taken from the German and Yiddish word "Schreck"/"Shreck", meaning "fear, terror".

Shrek will be Dreamwork Animations's first theatrical production. The production was initiated by Jeffrey Katzenberg, Chief Executive Officer of DreamWorks Animation, and Sam Mendes, who has a long-term relationship with DreamWorks. Mendes, a big fan of the first Shrek film, suggested the idea of creating a musical to DreamWorks� Jeffrey Katzenberg around the time the second film was in production.

The musical is being produced by DreamWorks Theatricals (Bill Damaschke, President) and Neal Street Productions, Ltd (principals Sam Mendes and Caro Newling).