A photo from the last time students were allowed to perform. The pandemic shut down many live performances and Greene Footlights was no exception. This weekend’s performance of Shrek JR. will be the first in two years. (Submitted photo)

GREENE - The curtains will rise this weekend on the Greene Footlights production of “Shrek, JR.”, which will be performed in the Greene Middle/High School auditorium on Friday and  Saturday, Nov. 12  and 13,  at 7 p.m., and  Sunday, Nov. 14. 

“Beauty is in the eye of the ogre!” “Shrek, JR.” is based on the 2001 Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film and the fantastic 2008 Broadway musical.  

According to promotional packets from Music Theatre International and DreamWorks, “It’s a ‘big bright beautiful world’ as everyone’s favorite ogre, Shrek, leads a cast of fairytale 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.Once upon a time, in a far away swamp, there lived an ogre named Shrek.  

One day, Shrek finds his swamp invaded by banished fairytale misfits who have been cast off by Lord Farquaad, a tiny terror with big ambitions. When Shrek sets off with a wisecracking donkey to confront Farquaad, he’s handed a task — if he rescues feisty princess Fiona, his swamp will be righted. Shrek tries to win Fiona’s love and vanquish Lord Farquaad, but a fairytale wouldn’t be complete without a few twists and turns along the way.

The pandemic shut down many live performances and Greene Footlights was no exception. This weekend’s performance will be the first in two years according to Footlights and Greene Middle/High School choral director Amanda Boel.“We are so blessed to be able to bring live theatre back to Greene Central School. The kids are so excited to be back on stage (and so am I),” said Mrs. Boel. “We invite everyone to come out and support the kids this weekend!”

Tickets will be available at the door for each day’s performance. Tickets are $8 for adults; $6 for students and seniors children 4 and under free.

Footlights cast members for Shrek, JR.:

Storyteller 1 – Morgan Quarella

Storyteller 2 – Alexandrea Walts

Storyteller 3 – Kaitlyn Ives

Shrek - Colten Smith 

Fiona - Naomi Burghardt

Teen Fiona - Aliveya Hannon

Young Fiona - Madelynn LaFave

Donkey - Josiah Boel

Dragon - Grazielle Lora

Farquaad – Sidra Root

Pinocchio - Bryson Zech

Mama Ogre – Summer Dean    

Papa Ogre – Laken Loveless

Little Ogre – Sherman Ludolph

3 Pigs - Holly Pierce, Shanna Krupp, Jazmine Garcia

Ugly Duckling – Marissa Kenyon

Mama Bear - Madison Crissell 

Papa Bear – Ashton Pezzino

Baby Bear – Amber Barbaro

Wicked Witch – Mackenzie Soto

Wolf - Graham Harper

Gingy - Zabelle Straniero

Peter Pan – Irelyn deHaan

Captain of the Guard - Andrew Robert

Guard 1 – Anthony Celentano

Guard 2 – Aiden Treiman

Guard 3 – Donte Wrench

Knight 1 – Samuel Suk

Knight 2 – Caleb Tennant

Knight 3 – Scot Miles

Knight 4 – Mason Giannetto

Pied Piper – Timothy Conpropst

Rats – Madison Wise, Aliveya Hannon, Maddie LaFave, Nali Basa, Natalee Cummings 

Three Blind Mice: Sophie Messinger, Macie Browning, Hailey Thompson

Bishop – Abbie Criddle

Grumpy Dwarf – Connor Boyle