Mohican Community Theatre to present 'Shrek the Musical'

LOUDONVILLE – Mohican Community Theatre (MCT), under the Loudonville Theatre and Arts Committee (LTAC), will perform "Shrek the Musical" for five performances at the Ohio Theatre in downtown Loudonville.

Performances are Saturday, June 18, at 7 p.m.; Sunday, June 19, at 2 p.m.; Friday, June 24, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, June 25, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, June 26, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for students and free for children four and under (as long as space is available). All seats are reserved seating only. Presale tickets are available online at http://www.theohiotheatre.com and at the Ohio Theatre Box Office at 419-994-3750. Remaining tickets will be available at the door beginning an hour before each performance on a first-come basis.

Marissa Burd, co-founder of MCT, is directing the musical with Isabeau Murray, last seen directing "The Snow White Variety Show" in 2019. Helping Burd and Murray are Rachel Kelly as vocal director; Mary Murray as costume and prop coordinator; and Sally Hollenbach as technical director. 

A large cast of 32 will perform the 2008 Broadway musical comedy based on the 2001 DreamWorks Animation film of the same name. With music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire, the show has all of your favorite elements from the original movie, plus elements of its sequels and the 1990 book "Shrek!" by William Steig. This musical is appropriate for all ages, especially children and those who love the movie. 

The title role of Shrek will be played by Jon Fogle, a long-standing MCT parent and set builder, who is ready to step onto the stage in his first lead role since his high school days. Other leads include some new faces to the MCT stage, including Emily Roblin, a first-year math teacher at Loudonville Junior High School, playing Princess Fiona; Shane Byler, Berlin resident and last seen in Homes Center for the Arts’ "Little Women" on 2021, playing Donkey; Nathan Roblin, husband to Emily and a records clerk for Ashland University’s Correctional Education Program, playing Lord Farquaad; and Rachel Miller, an RN from Baltic who was also last seen in "Little Woman" playing Dragon. Returning to the MCT stage in a leading role are LHS choir director – and last seen in "Nunsense" – Rachel Kelly, playing Gingy; and Josh Weber, an original member of MCT’s first production of "Oklahoma!" in 2015, playing Pinocchio. 

Featured performers playing fairy-tale creatures, guards, Duloc citizens and more include a mixed cast of families, past MCT performers, and new faces to our stage: Payton Brightbill, Laurie Bower, Hannah Carroll, Jenny Carroll, John Carroll, Rebekah Carroll, Allie Chambers, Hannah Endslow, Jacklyn Endslow, Natalie Endslow, Riley Fogle, Wesley Fogle, Jeremy Gessner, Amy Loveday, Scott Loveday, Emily Kern, Amber Manchester, Zach Manchester, Makenzie Mast, Lisa Nall, Kristie Perreira, Callie Scarberry, Leslie Weber, Carter Wright and Ana Zeigler.