Shrek, The Musical - Nov. 2-5
Oct. 20, 2017 -- The Heights High annual fall musical, Shrek, The Musical is November 2, 3 and 4, 7:00 p.m. and November 5, 4:00 p.m.
The show will be presented in the renovated Heights High auditorium at Cedar and Lee and will include more than 200 high school students performing in two casts, the pit orchestra and managing the backstage operations.
Students in lead roles in Shrek, The Musical: Grant Heineman, Tedd Byers, Bella Marotta and Sophie Gilson, (back row, L-R). Malcolm White, Hannah Gilson, Lily Kerr-Jung and Alyssa Smith, (front row, L-R).
Tickets are $15, $12 & $9 and are available
online or 1-866-967-8167. For more information, call 216-320-3069.
| Role | Cast A | Cast B |
| Shrek | Tedd Byers | Tedd Byers |
| Princess Fiona | Sophie Gilson | Hannah Gilson |
| Donkey | Malcolm White | Malcolm White |
| Lord Farquaad | Gerald Shazor | Gerald Shazor |
| Dragon | Bella Marotta | Alyssa Smith |
| Gingy | Lily Kerr-Jung | Lily Kerr-Jung |
| Pinocchio | Grant Heineman | Grant Heineman |
| Big Bad Wolf | Garrett Vandall | Garrett Vandall |
| Three Little Pigs | Remi Godard | Will Davis |
| | Caroline Imka | Caroline Imka |
| | Connor Karboski | Connor Karboski |
| White Rabbit | LaShaun Morrow | LaShaun Morrow |
| Fairy Godmother | Clare Peppler | Clare Peppler |
| Peter Pan | Christain Hall | Christain Hall |
| Wicked Witch | Olivia Sormaz | Olivia Sormaz |
| Sugar Plum Fairy | Lily Kerr-Jung | Lily Kerr-Jung |
| Ugly Duckling | Chip Vandall | Chip Vandall |
| Three Bears - Papa | Jackson Marshall | Jackson Marshall |
| Three Bears - Mama | Mikaiah Truitt | Mikaiah Truitt |
| Three Bears - Baby | Brooke Chaney | Brooke Chaney |
Mad Hatter
| Jesse Grosse | Jesse Grosse |
| Humpty Dumpty | Kiarah Balfour | Kiarah Balfour |
| Elf | Hannah Timm | Hannah Timm |
| Dwarf | Nareus Hardin | Nareus Hardin |
| Little Shrek | Abigail Burkle | Jordan Kilgo |
| Mama Ogre | Mikaiah Truitt | Erykah Hawkins |
| Papa Ogre | Jackson Marshall | Jackson Marshall |
| King Harold | Zach Brust | Zach Brust |
| Queen Lillian | Alexis Dixon | Alexis Dixon |
| Young Fiona | Clara Walker | Clara Walker |
| Teen Fiona | Sydney Ball | Sydney Ball |
| Captain of the Guards | Hasson Majied | Hasson Majied |
| Knights | Nareus Hardin | Nareus Hardin |
| | Christian Hall | Christian Hall |
| | Evan Pitts | Evan Pitts |
| Rats | | |
| Three Blind Mice | Judea Lowe | LaShaun Morrow |
| | Peyton Marshall | Peyton Marshall |
| | Anyssa Hanna | Anyssa Hanna |
| Bluebird | Sydney Ball | Sydney Ball |
| Bishop | Peyton Marshall | Peyton Marshall |
| Thelonius | Sukito Truitt | Sukito Truitt |
Greeter
| Manny Vaughn | Manny Vaughn |
| Duloc | | |
| Prisoners | | |
Nearly 175 elementary students and 60 middle school students will sing in the chorus.The story is about a large green ogre named Shrek and fairytale characters who invade his swamp. The is love, an epic adventure with a princess, discussions of social acceptance and a really annoying donkey in this show.The show’s theme of friendship and acceptance is relevant to the lead performers who spoke about the show.“The finale song [This is Our Story] is really the theme of the show,” said senior Hannah Gilson, who plays Fiona with her twin sister Sophie. “The chorus is ‘we are different and united, you are us and we are you, this is our story,’ that describes Heights High and the Vocal Music Department,” she continued. 
Senior Bella Marotta (in the role of the dragon) said “Part of the show’s message is ‘yes, you might be a freak, but we accept you.’”Junior Alyssa Smith (also in the role of dragon) loved learning the dance steps. “Working with a choreographer has been great,” she said.The head of the dragon costume .Senior Malcolm White plays the donkey. “Learning more about comedy and playing a role that gets to annoy people has been really fun,” he said.The show’s producer is Vocal Music Director Jesse Lange. “This show is family friendly but with some great adult humor,” he said. “It has a healthy message for students and adults and uses our deep talent pool.”The middle school and elementary students will perform in the chorus for several numbers. "We love including the younger students, it adds so much fun to the show. Most of our lead performers remember being in the fall musicals when they were younger. Now they get to be the role models for the next generation of Heights High performers," Lange continued.Instrumental Music Director Dan Heim is directing the show’s pit orchestra. Forty six students will perform in two pit orchestra casts with senior Melanie Graham and junior Maria Tarnay in the role of concertmaster.Five professional musicians will round out the orchestra, including alumnus Kelsey Ferguson, ‘12.“The music challenging with some very fun songs,” said Mr. Heim. “ I'm especially thrilled to have so many students taking on this challenge with dedication and energy.”
The 25 Stage Crew members work under the direction of Keith Newman, the school’s technical theater director. “This show has great props and costumes,” he said. “And the dragon is pretty cool.” Mr. Newman guides the crew in designing and building sets, designing, hanging and focusing the lights, creating sound effects, placing microphones and speakers and programming the sound board. Heights alumnus Cory Molner (‘04) is helping with lighting design. Stage crew members Emma Hodges (with drill) Jericho Matheny, Christian Hall and Peter Williams (L-R).Senior Maureen Rynes is the stage manager.Mr. Newman and the stage crew also work with the Audio Engineering Program teacher Mark Bennekamper and his students.The Career and Technical Education’s cosmetology program students will apply the stage makeup. Donna Pollard is the Cosmetology teacher and is coordinating the work.Besides the students in the lead roles, many high school students are dancing and singing in the chorus.And, last but not least, many parents are involved as volunteers in the following roles: ushers, costume support, rehearsal support, dialogue practice, transportation, feeding hungry actors and most important, loving and supporting the students. The lead roles in the musical: