Happily ever ogre: Middle schoolers give Shrek musical their all
Mar 6, 2020
Friends Academy middle schooler Francesca Selvaggio as the Dragon in Shrek Jr., The Musical. Photos by: Kate Robinson
James Dorsey as Donkey and Landon Rodrigues as Shrek do a musical number during the performance.
A scene from the show with Shrek (Landon Rodrigues), Fiona (Sophia McCarthy), and Lord Farquaad (Liam Waldron).
Several scenes involved almost the entire cast.
Even the youngest audience members were enthralled with the show. Five-year-old Kayleigh Fermino watches with grandmother Lori Chandler.
A host of animals, fairy tale characters, and ogres made the rafters ring at Friends Academy on March 6 at the first performance of the spring musical, Shrek Jr.
Seventh and eighth graders from the Academy performed in dazzling costumes to an auditorium full of families with enthralled youngsters.
Faculty members Putnam Murdock, Jim Bean, and Colin Martin directed the musical, which is based on the popular animated film Shrek.
The production starred Sophia McCarthy as Princess Fiona alongside Landon Rodrigues in the titular role, with James Dorsey providing much of the comic relief as Donkey.
“It was awesome,” said Academy alumna Natasha Southworth, who brought her daughter Lucy, 3, to see the show. “They did amazing.”
“I went here, and I remember singing songs onstage at Friends. I remember having to sing a love song — it was so embarrassing,” she added with a laugh.
“I’m so amazed that the kids lasted the whole time, too,” said Natasha’s best friend Margo Connolly, who brought her three-year-old son Roger Masson. “They were into it.”
“It’s nice that this was free,” she added. “Some of the singers were really good.”
The next performance of Shrek Jr. will take place on Tuesday, March 10 at 6 p.m. at Friends Academy.
