While most people are familiar with "Shrek," young actors from the Ovation School of Musical Theatre loved putting their own stamp on the characters in a revised performance of the popular comedy.
Bradenton resident Aurelia Yepez, 11, played a guard, peasant and a dragon in "Shrek the Musical Jr." She has been an Ovation student for a year and has participated in “The Greatest Showman,” “Moana” and “Hamilton.”
Now it was time to make her mark in "Shrek the Musical Jr."
“What I love about performing is you’re able to have your own free zone,” Yepez said. “There’s no limits to what you can and can’t do.”
Ovation held a summer camp June 2-13 at its East County school to prepare the students to present "Shrek the Musical Jr." The performances were presented to the public June 13-14.
"Shrek the Musical Jr." tells the story of title character Shrek, an ogre desperate to regain his swamp. Along the way, he embarks on a quest to save Princess Fiona with the help of his sidekick Donkey.
The young actors were between the ages of 11-18. The show was choreographed by Emma Mandzik and directed by Michelle McCord, the Ovation School of Musical Theatre owner.
“They learned it in five days, then we cleaned it up, costumes this and that,” McCord said. “What these kids have done is beyond miraculous.”
Lakewood Ranch resident Delaney Wilson, 12, has been a student for three years and she played Princess Fiona.
“I liked playing a crucial part and being a funny character, but also having a backstory,” Wilson said.
Lakewood Ranch resident Noah Gross, 14, has been an Ovation student for four years and he portrayed the character of Donkey.
“My role is so fun," Gross said. "He’s got a lot of songs and lines and he’s funny,” Gross said. “I love to sing and act and show off my talent.”
Ellenton resident Rusty Frantz, 14, portrayed the title character Shrek. It was his first show at Ovation, but he was previously in a different production of Shrek the Musical Jr., in which he played Lord Farquaad.
“Shrek is funny and I get to make people laugh,” Frantz said.
Parrish resident Collin Borg, 12, played the Big Bad Wolf. He wishes to be in more productions in the future.
“I bring craziness — my own unique twist,” Borg said.
"Shrek the Musical Jr." was put together from beginning to end in a span of two weeks at a summer camp led by Michelle McCord, the director and owner of Ovation School of Musical Theatre.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Amelia Shamieva, Mia Schneider and Gabriella Giobergia play the rats in the song "Morning Person."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Ovation students Rusty Frantz and Noah Gross play the beloved characters of Shrek and Donkey.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Ellenton resident Rusty Frantz, 14, and Lakewood Ranch resident Delaney Wilson, 12, play the lead roles of Shrek and Fiona.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch resident Delaney Wilson, 12, stars as Fiona in "Shrek the Musical Jr."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch resident Noah Gross, 14, plays Donkey who provides comedic relief to the audience.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Bradenton's Scarlett Radtke plays Pinocchio, who is annoyed the other characters don't recognize him as a "real boy."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Collin Borg, Scarlett Radtke, Amelia Shamieva and Rebecca Buehler are part of the cast of "Shrek the Musical Jr."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Parrish resident Rebecca Buehler plays Snow White and Bradenton resident Gabriella Giobergia plays Peter Pan.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Amelia Shamieva plays Mama Bear, Riley Makeever plays Wicked Witch and Mia Schneider plays Ugly Duckling in "Shrek the Musical Jr."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Parrish resident Avery Mankowski plays Gingy (the gingerbread man) and Parrish resident Collin Borg plays Big Bad Wolf.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Scarlett Radtke plays Pinocchio and Amelia Shamieva plays Mama Bear.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Parrish resident Noelle Androsyan plays Lord Farquaad, the comically short ruler of Duloc who wants to marry Princess Fiona to become king.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Bradenton resident Aurelia Yepez, 11, plays Dragon alongside Lakewood Ranch resident Noah Gross, 14, who plays Donkey.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Amelia Shamieva plays teen Fiona during the song "I Know It's Today" where the passing of time is portrayed by three different actresses who play Fiona.
Photo by Madison Bierl
Bradenton resident Aurelia Yepez, 11, plays three characters in "Shrek the Musical Jr." Along with playing a peasant and a guard, she plays Dragon who is the lead singer in the song "Forever."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Lakewood Ranch resident Noah Gross, 14, plays Donkey, who is surrounded by prisoners in the song "Story of My Life."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Ovation students Sadie Freeland, Aurelia Yepez, Gabriella Giobergia and Mia Schneider have a little fun before they begin their performance of "Shrek the Musical Jr."
Photo by Madison Bierl
Noah Gross, Collin Borg, Ethan Davidson, Aeric Frantz and Rusty Frantz are dressed in costume before their performance of "Shrek the Musical Jr." June 13 at Ovation School of Musical Theatre.
Photo by Madison Bierl
In "Shrek the Musical Jr.," Shrek saves Princess Fiona from a tower where she is being held, but Fiona soon learns her rescuer is an ogre.
Madison Bierl is the education and community reporter for the East County Observer. She grew up in Iowa and studied at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University.
