Shrek the Musical at Parker’s PACE Center shines musically, though its scale occasionally slows the pace.

Everyone’s favorite grumpy green ogre has stomped into Parker with Shrek the Musical, a co-production between Parker Arts and Sasquatch Productions now playing at the PACE Center.

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film, the stage musical follows Shrek on an unlikely quest alongside a fast-talking Donkey and a fiery princess, all while a parade of fairy-tale misfits crashes the party. With a book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and a buoyant score by Jeanine Tesori, the show aims squarely at families while sneaking in messages about acceptance and found families.

This local production delivers those pleasures generously. It is handsomely produced, confidently performed and musically strong, even if its ambitions sometimes work against its pacing. At nearly three hours, including intermission, this Shrek is larger than life in ways that are both delightful and, occasionally, cumbersome.

Big voices, with strong musical leadership

The production’s greatest strength is its musical foundation. Music director Tanner Kelly leads a tight, nine-piece live orchestra conducted by Collin Sinclair, and the combination of band and vocals is consistently impressive. Tempos remain crisp, harmonies are clean and the cast sounds confident throughout an evening in a score that ranges from intimate character moments to full-throated ensemble showstoppers.

Cooper Kaminsky anchors the show with a winning performance as Shrek. The accent is spot-on, the vocals are warm and assured, and Kaminsky’s reactions are often just as entertaining as the punchlines themselves. Kaminsky strikes a balance between gruffness and vulnerability, making Shrek’s emotional arc feel earned.

Libby Shull’s Princess Fiona is an excellent fit for this production, bringing manic energy, sharp comedic timing and genuine command to the role. Her chemistry with Kaminsky is especially strong in “I Think I Got You Beat,” where playful one-upmanship gives way to something unexpectedly tender and sincere.

Shull is well supported by Teen Fiona (Kayla Curneen) and Young Fiona (Sarah Holmes), whose comically heartbreaking trio, “I Know It’s Today,” lands as one of the evening’s vocal highlights. The three Fionas blend beautifully, balancing humor and yearning in a way that clearly charts the character’s emotional journey long before she ever meets her ogre.

Mosés Brown, meanwhile, leans fully into Donkey’s sassy, fast-talking exuberance, finding plenty of humor in musical numbers like “Don’t Let Me Go” and “Make a Move.” The performance stays grounded and varied, making Donkey feel like the show’s emotional conduit rather than simply its comic engine.

The large ensemble does much of the heavy lifting in this production, populating Shrek’s world with fairy-tale creatures, Duloc guards and townspeople who are consistently well-defined. Whether embodying the regimented absurdity of Duloc or the joyful chaos of the misfit fairy-tale characters, the ensemble commits fully to both character and choreography.

Will Bryant’s Lord Farquaad is vocally strong and broadly funny, particularly in “What’s Up, Duloc” and “The Ballad of Farquaad,” but his performance also highlights some of the production’s pacing challenges. In scenes like the Muffin Man exchange with Gingy, jokes are occasionally extended with whispered asides to guards. The desire to milk scenes is understandable and frequently rewarding, but it contributes to a lengthy runtime.

Bekah-Lynn Broas as Gingy / Sugar Plum Fairy in ‘Shrek the Musical’ | Photo: Becky Toma

Design spectacle vs. storytelling momentum

Director Kelly McAllister clearly set out to match the scale of the PACE Center’s large stage, and scenic designer Jeffrey Rusnak provides an elaborate, highly mobile set to do just that. Two-story castle units rotate into different locations, large pieces roll on and off and additional elements descend from the flies.

Visually, it’s an impressive playground. Practically, it slows the show down.

Many scene transitions are handled manually by actors and crew, and the cumulative effect is a stop-and-start rhythm that undercuts the story’s natural momentum. There is also a slight visual disconnect between the cartoonish physical sets and more realistic projected backgrounds, which clash rather than complement each other.

Lighting designer Jenna Gragg creates a colorful, storybook palette, but characters are sometimes left in shadow, particularly when positioned upstage. Julie Snow’s costume design captures the recognizable looks for Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and Farquaad while outfitting the large ensemble of fairy-tale characters with playful specificity. The costumes do a lot of storytelling work and help unify the production’s tone.

That visual world is further strengthened by props designer August Stoten. From the “Beware Ogre” sign and the silly DJ stand to the expressive Gingy puppet, the props consistently support the comedy. The dragon puppet, which Stoten operated with obvious care and personality, is a clever practical effect that is complemented by Thurzday’s soaring vocals.

Heather Westenskow’s choreography is another highlight, especially in large ensemble numbers like “What’s Up, Duloc?” and “Freak Flag,” which are inventive and cleverly character driven. A moment where the ensemble physically constructs Farquaad’s “growth” through partner choreography is a standout bit of stagecraft.

Thurzday as the Dragon in ‘Shrek the Musical’ | Photo: Becky Toma

Who should see it?

Shrek the Musical at the PACE Center is a well-sung, well-performed and enthusiastically staged production. The cast commits fully, the orchestra sounds terrific, and the show’s heart is very much in the right place. That said, its scale comes at a cost. Lengthy transitions and indulgent comic beats stretch the evening longer than it needs to be — posing a potential challenge for younger audience members.

Still, for audiences who love the film, enjoy big musical theatre spectacles or want to see a strong local cast tackle a technically demanding show, this Shrek offers plenty to enjoy.