Sam Parisi said the message is “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
Sam Dyer agrees that’s important.
“Just be yourself,” he said. “Don’t let anybody tell you what you need to be or who you need to be. Be who you want to.”
Those responses were given when they were asked what the message is behind the musical “Shrek Jr.,” which will be presented by Immanuel Lutheran School performing arts students at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the school, 520 S. Chestnut St., Seymour.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students in kindergarten through eighth grade. They may be purchased in advance at the school office or the night of the show at the door.
In the musical based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film and Broadway musical, beauty is in the eye of the ogre, according to a show synopsis online at mtishows.com.
It’s a “big bright beautiful world” as everyone’s favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairy tale misfits on an adventure to rescue a princess and find true acceptance. Part romance and part twisted fairy tale, “Shrek Jr.” is an irreverently fun show with a powerful message for the whole family.
“If you want to laugh, come in. You will be dying the whole time. It’s so fun. It’s amazing,” said Dyer, an eighth-grader who is playing the lead role of Shrek.
When he heard the school was doing this production, Dyer said he knew he wanted to audition because he grew up on the movie.
“I watched it all the time. It’s such a good movie,” he said. “It’s funny in the weirdest ways possible. It’s funny for all ages. As a young kid, I was laughing my head off, and now that I’m older, I understand some of the jokes in different ways, and it’s still funny.”
Parisi, a seventh-grader who is playing Shrek’s sidekick, Donkey, also said he was familiar with the movie.
“Me and my sister used to play it on repeat all the time,” he said.
When it came time for auditions, Dyer said he was OK with landing the role of any of the male characters: Shrek, Donkey or Farquaad. Parisi, though, was leaning toward Donkey.
“Because I knew Sam with his excellence was going to get Shrek, and Emory Helton was perfect for Farquaad, so I felt that I could play a pretty funny character like Donkey,” Parisi said.
Leah Schneider, music director at the school, and Paul Scheiderer, director of music for the school and Immanuel Lutheran Church, are the directors of the show.
Schneider said they chose to do the production because it involved characters instead of real people.
“The students have done a great job embracing their character roles, and they have really come to life,” she said. “The students have been great to work with.”
When choosing a show, Scheiderer said they look for accessibility, humor and one the cast and audience will enjoy.
“We felt that ‘Shrek Jr.’ had all of these,” he said.
Scheiderer said one of his favorite parts of performing a show is seeing the students embrace their roles.
“We started rehearsing this show in January, and as students are more thoroughly comprehending their roles, their character also grows,” he said. “I particularly enjoy when a group of students comes up with something and asks me for my thoughts. Oftentimes, it is very good, and I move ahead with their ideas.”
When asked their thoughts on the message of the show, the directors agreed with the two actors’ comments.
“The message of the show involves everyone. All are welcome and able to participate,” Schneider said. “I would love everyone to come see the show and hopefully feel the love, joy and acceptance at the end of the show.”
Scheiderer said there is a message that all people are unique and should be treated with dignity.
“The fairy tale creatures and ogres are exiled from Duloc because they are different. As their characters grow, they discover their worth and their mistreatment,” he said. “The fairy tale creatures enter the show woeful, disappointed and cheated, and as the show progresses, they find their worth and gain the confidence to stand up to Farquaad. It is our hope that the audience hears this message and examines their own self-worth and dignity.”
If you go
What: Immanuel Lutheran School’s production of “Shrek Jr.”
When: 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday
Where: Gymnasium at Immanuel Lutheran School, 520 S. Chestnut St., Seymour
Tickets: $5 for adults and $3 for kindergarten through eighth grade students; available to purchase in the school office or at the door
Directors: Leah Schneider and Paul Scheiderer
Cast: Sam Dyer, Claire Hatfield, Emory Helton, Sam Parisi, Samantha Kamman, Emma Mellencamp, Olivia Keller, Daniel Neawedde, Zachary Lister, Eli Williams, Cheyenne Hallett, Lauren Brown, Jane Browning, Emma Doriot, Kohlie Hallow, McKenna Bobb, Ben Dyer, Daniel Bode, Corbin Adair, Kameron Williams, Alana-Jo Hammett, Kinsley Storey, Valerie McIntosh, Brody Pendleton, Jude Michael, Jack Mellencamp, Dan Tracey, Walker Sutherland, Noah Lawrence, Marissa Baker, Kenlei Bragg, Ali Brooks, Hannah Burns, Anna Carson, Mina Croquart, Abi Gillis, Autumn Hanners, Katy Luedeman, Lyla Schepman, Brinley Sinclair, Maddie Smith, Bella Wehmiller, London Williams, Trista Wischmeier, Adam Alberring, Brady Hageman, Aaron Abner, Christopher Pumphrey, Reed Roeder, Lincoln Wessel, Cash Stein, Josiah Nay