Bethesda High School Theater Guild Performs 'Shrek'

Taking the popular animated film to the stage, students from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School will perform Broadway’s hit, “Shrek The Musical,” with a little help from an original Broadway cast member, Haven Burton.

Burton, who played the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy and Gingy in the original Broadway performance, met with students of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Theatre Guild in a special master class earlier this month.

The actor provided students with individual feedback on their performances, explaining how improvisation can help an actor develop a character. She also shared how the actors shaped the original musical for its debut on Broadway.

Using Broadway talent as just one of her teaching tools, the guild’s artistic director Leayne Dempsey aims to teach students to examine theater with a critical eye, revealing the layers of stagecraft much like the layers of an onion… or even an ogre.

“ ‘Shrek’ is a show that encourages everyone to see the world beyond the surface,” Dempsey told Patch. “[It shows that] if we take the time to listen, to ask questions, or to come and see for [ourselves] what the theater program does, then we’d realize that there’s more than what meets the eye.”

Performing in the musical’s lead roles are 12th-grade students Rees Powell and Amanda Silverstein as Shrek and Princess Fiona, and ninth-grader Vikram Akwei as Donkey. The musical’s youngest performer is Ella Coulson from Lakelands Park Middle School, who plays the younger version of Fiona.

The Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Theatre Guild will perform four showings of the musical at the school auditorium, 4301 East-West Highway. Showtimes are Nov. 20 at 7 p.m., Nov. 21 at 7 p.m., and Nov. 22 at 2 p.m. and again at 7 p.m.

Tickets for each performance are sold at the door for $10 for the general public and $8 for students and senior citizens. All Montgomery County Public School employees will receive free entry with a valid school ID.

Photo courtesy of The Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School Theatre Guild

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