Batavia’s ‘Shrek the Musical’ stretches comedic muscles
BUTLER TWP — Batavia Studios’ upcoming production of “Shrek the Musical” sees its cast of children and teens “delving into these silly characters” from the 2001 movie. It’s a dive the actors are taking seriously.
Aidan Krepin, who plays the titular character, said he prepares for rehearsals and performances by listening to the Broadway cast recordings of the musical’s songs. Doing so helps him understand what his character is feeling during a particular number.
“The way I have to zone in on a scene is relating emotions to how Shrek would feel at that time, so I'm not just pretending to do an emotion, I’m really trying to genuinely replicate it,” Aidan said. “So listening to the music really helps me get into the headspace.”
Audiences can see Aidan and a cast of more than 50 youths ages 12 to 18 in performances of “Shrek the Musical” at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 30 and 31, and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, at Succop Theater at Butler County Community College, 107 College Drive in Butler Township.
While Aidan will be appearing in all four performances of the musical, he will portray Shrek in only two of them. He will take the role of Papa Ogre in the other two performances. Antonia Botti-Lodovico, director of “Shrek,” said the studio double-cast the show to give everyone in the program a chance to play a named character while also portraying a minor character.
Because the studio works with children from a young age to near adulthood, its leaders work to make sure they get an experience that they can learn from in more ways than one, Botti-Lodovico said.
“We strive to make sure every last student in the program gets one moment to show them off,” she said. “It’s important for us to have two casts, so that the students can understand the importance of not only being leaders in a show, but also being part of an ensemble team in a show.”
No matter which cast an audience views, Botti-Lodovico said they will be treated to a story that takes cues from the animated film, but through an adaptation that has taken on a life of its own since its Broadway premiere in 2008.
Botti-Lodovico said some of the props made for Batavia’s production were assembled by the young actors, like the Gingerbread Man puppet and Pinocchio’s nose. She added that although the studio doesn’t have the same budget as a Broadway production, the actors can transport audiences to the world of the story through their performances and the stage sets.
“It has been really fun to take this movie that is really fantastical and bring it on stage,” Botti-Lodovico said.
And although the show is a comedy-musical that riffs on fairy tale tropes and characteristics, the actors are learning how to embody the characters they play. It helps people watching the show integrate themselves into the story.
Isa Pater, who plays Mama Bear and Pinocchio, explained that after more than a dozen shows with Batavia, she has learned how to embody a character, instead of just saying their lines.
“Antonia really works with us in the scenes, and she talks to you based off of your experience level. So, when I was younger, she wouldn’t go into as much depth as she does now for scenes,” Isa said. “When we were staging for Pinocchio she was talking to me through what he was maybe thinking, she also gives you a chance to find things to add.”
Lincoln Chips, who plays Lord Farquaad, said he, too, tries to think through the emotions and actions of a cartoonishly evil character, for comedic effect and to demonstrate who the other characters are dealing with.
“I guess I think more about it now. I think about what my face looks like. How I do it. I think about it more,” Lincoln said.
Roman Runco, who plays Donkey, wants to pursue acting in college, so he takes any role he gets more seriously than when he was a young child. He said a role like Donkey, one of the leads of the show, gives him a chance to explore acting.
“Whenever we were younger, you’re just having fun with it,” Roman said. “I really take into consideration what character I’m playing, rather than just, ‘I’m in a musical.’”
For tickets to “Shrek the Musical,” visit bataviastudios.com.
