Shrek: The Musical Comes to Pierson

[caption id="attachment_47758" align="alignnone" width="800"] Pierson Middle and High School students rehearse their musical production of "Shrek" in the Pierson High School auditorium on Monday. Hudson Galardi-Troy will play the evil Lord Farquaad. Michael Heller photo.[/caption]

Pierson Middle High School will bring film’s most lovable ogre to life this weekend, February 4 through February 7, when it stages “Shrek: The Musical.” This once upon a time type fairy tale tells the story of a big green ogre who is both feared and targeted by all of the other fairy tale creatures in and outside the mythical land of Duloc.

The title role of Shrek is played by eighth grader Yanni Bitis with a voice and stage presence beyond his years; Yanni was last seen on the Pierson stage in last year’s high school show “The Addams Family.” Princess Fiona, who hides what she views a terrible secret, is portrayed by eighth grader Lola Lama. Seventh grader Ryan Brown steps lively as Donkey with a natural knack for timing and a delightful sense of the comedic stage. Lord Farquaad is played by seventh grader Hudson Galardi-Troy dancing, singing and capturing the greedy villain in the story from just four-feet high. Pinocchio, is played in the not-so-easy all falsetto by a real boy, eighth grader Dylan Kruel.

Mezzo-soprano Abby Hallock, Eva Doyle, Lucie Gardella, Gaylin Davey, Stallard Babcock, Ava DiLorenso and Lillian McGuire round out featured actors in the performance. The cast is supported by more than a dozen high school production staff including assistant director Denis Hartnett and stage manager Kerrie Vila.

This final middle school production in the auditorium pre-renovation is also the final middle school production for long-time director Paula Brannon. Ms. Brannon will direct her final show at Pierson in April with the high school production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Into the Woods.”

“Shrek: The Musical” will be performed Thursday, February 4 through Saturday, February 6 at 7 p.m. A Sunday matinee will be at 2 p.m. Performances will be held at Pierson Middle-High School, 200 Jermain Avenue, Sag Harbor. Tickets are available at the main office or by emailing agalanty@sagharborschools.org.