MANSFIELD — Under the direction of Dauphne Maloney and Brian Nabors, the Mansfield Youth Theatre (MY Theatre) will present Shrek the Musical on the stage of the Renaissance Theatre in Mansfield.
Performances are at 7 p.m. on March 30 through April 1 and at 2:30 p.m. on April 2. Based on the Oscar-winning Dreamworks Animation film, Shrek the Musical features an upbeat score and all of the lovable fairytale misfits from the animated classic.
The cast of 50 local youth performers represent the following schools: Bellville Elementary, Central Elementary, Clear Fork Valley Local, Colonel Crawford, Crestview Schools, Homeschool, Lexington High School, Pioneer Career and Technical Center, Lucas Schools, Mansfield Christian, Mapleton High School, Ontario Schools, Ashland City Schools, Shelby Schools, St. Mary’s Mansfield, Willard City Schools, Mansfield City Schools, and Wynford Elementary.
In addition, the Renaissance is offering a free sensory-friendly performance for individuals with special needs and their families. Sensory-friendly accommodations are being made to the performance experience to provide a more pleasant experience for patrons particularly with Autism Spectrum Disorder, a complex developmental disability that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.
Accommodations for the sensory-friendly performance will include:
• Lower sound and light levels, especially during louder or more dramatic events
• The freedom for patrons to leave their seats or talk during the performance
• Designated quiet areas
• Places to move or stand while still enjoying the performance
• Lower crowd sizes
• Pre-show visits and videos to acclimate to the theatre environment
• Staff and volunteers trained in sensory-friendly accommodations
Through the support of an anonymous donor, the Renaissance staff and several members of the Encore League volunteers underwent training with Dr. Ryan Hourigan, Director of the School of Music at Ball State University and a parent of two teenage boys with autism.
Dr. Hourigan is a nationally-recognized author and advocate for the inclusion of students with disabilities in the arts, a teaching artist for the Kennedy Center Partners in Education program, and co-founder of the Prism Project at Ball State University.
Director Dauphne Maloney states, “We are honored and excited to be a part of this sensory- friendly performance of Shrek the Musical. One of the overwhelming messages that we hope our audiences will take away from the musical Shrek is within the lyrics of a song from the show. The lyric states, ‘What makes us special makes us strong…we are different and united; you are us and we are you.’
“As artists and educators, we know firsthand that the arts have the ability to impact the lives of everyone. The transformative power of the arts, and the ways in which an audience connects with an art form, should be shared with every audience member in a safe, supportive and inclusive environment.
“The Renaissance has made a firm commitment to creating arts experiences that can be shared and celebrated by all people. Offering opportunities like this for our audience allows our community to continue its growth toward inclusivity and acceptance.”
Cast members are as follows: Zavier Alterio, Lauren Bishop, Haley Barker, Jolie Booker, Henry Brinley, Lillian Casey, Haley Clingman, Bryce Dials, Danny Fain, Braelon Gardner, Danny Gardner, Nykera Gardner, Linnea Gerlach, Samantha Haines, Areanna Hood, Brenden Hughes, Kristin Kaufman, Kylie Keinath, Cassandra Kurek, Sadie Kurtzman, Nevaeh Kruse, Seth Jerabek, Kartrea Johnson, Makayla Lawrence, Chase Logue, Caleb Mack, Gracie Masi, Jessica Miller, Lucy Myers, Anna Perkins, Alexa Rakosky, Martin Rawls, Jenna Reitler, Mya Salas, Ella Schag, Naomi Schag, Mia Sgambellone, Christian Shepherd, Natalie Smith, Asher Stefaniuk, Caroline Stefaniuk, Katherine Stefaniuk, Claire Stewart, McKenna Stoffer, Alexandria Switaj, Justin Switaj, Alex Tate, Destiny Whitmer, Bailey Young, and Brooke Young.
Tickets to the March 31 to April 2 performances of Shrek the Musical are $15 and on sale now at the Renaissance Box Office, via phone at 419-522-2726 and at MansfieldTickets.com; tickets for the sensory-friendly performance on March 30 at 7 p.m. are free for individuals with special needs and their families and must be reserved in advance by calling 419-522-2726.
Shrek the Musical is presented as a part of the Mechanics Bank Education Series, sponsored by Bill & Dotti Jilek and Warren Rupp, with additional support from the Ohio Arts Council and the Sterkel Fund.
