A happily-ever-after press conference for ‘Shrek The Musical’

A happily-ever-after press conference for ‘Shrek The Musical’

SINEGANG.ph published this press release as sponsored by Newport World Resorts Public Relations Office. No staff writer participated in writing this article.

Once upon a time, the world’s favorite ogre and his crew of fairytale creatures gathered at Newport World Resorts for the press conference of Shrek The Musical. Special guests, trusted partners, and friends from the media were invited on Wednesday, August 13, for a magical afternoon in the swamp. There, the cast and creative team of Shrek The Musical offered an exclusive sneak peek into the Broadway favorite that will storm the Newport Performing Arts Theater starting October 31.

Newport World Resorts’ Chief Hospitality Officer John Lucas welcomed guests to a special preview of the highly anticipated musical. “Bringing the Broadway production to life by an all-Filipino cast and creative team, it is a world-class spectacle with a distinctly Filipino heart,” he shared. As attendees were then transported into Shrek’s world with high-energy performances of fan favorites including “Who I’d Be,” “Don’t Let Me Go,” “The Ballad of Farquaad,” “I Know It’s Today,” and the feel-good finale “I’m A Believer.”

The swamp takes center stage in the newest offering from Newport World Resorts’ Full House Theater Company (FHTC), Shrek The Musical. Leading this big, green adventure is an all-star creative team headed by Director Dexter M. Santos, Associate Director Michael Stuart Williams, Artistic Director Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Assistant Director Cara Barredo, and Music Director Ejay Yatco.

The Cast and Creative Team of Shrek The Musical 2025 share a shrek-tacular preview of the highly-anticipated production.

“Like Shrek says, ogres have layers and so does this show,” said Williams. “Underneath the fun and the outrageous moments, there’s a story about friendship, courage, and embracing who you are. It’s wildly funny, heartwarming, and visually spectacular, but what makes it truly special is how the performances, music, and design all peel back to reveal something real and relatable. Lauchengco-Yulo added, “It’s the same Broadway magic audiences know and love, while infusing it with the artistry and spirit of Filipino performers and creatives.”

Leading the cast are Jamie Wilson as Shrek, Krystal Kane as Fiona, Topper Fabregas as Donkey, Alfredo Reyes as Lord Farquaad, and Julia Serad as Dragon. Joining them is a vibrant ensemble of fairytale creatures from Gingy to Pinocchio to the Big Bad Wolf, each ready to bring a little mischief and a lot of magic to the stage.

Shrek The Musical is based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William Steig. It features book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori. The hit musical was originally produced on Broadway by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions. Shrek The Musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), New York, NY, USA. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

Catch Shrek The Musical starting October 31, 2025, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are available at Ticketworld, Newport World Resorts Box Office, and Helixpay: PHP 4,500 (SVIP), PHP 4,000 (VIP), PHP 3,000 (GOLD), PHP 2,000 (SILVER), and PHP 1,500 (BRONZE). For inquiries, contact Customer Care at 7908-8888 or info@fhtcentertainment.com

For more information on Shrek The Musical, visit www.newportworldresorts.com/shrekthemusicalph  and follow @newportworldresorts and @nwr.musicals on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Join Newport World Resorts Viber Community at https://newportwr.com/nwrvibercommunity for exclusive updates. Every visit is made more rewarding with an Epic Rewards membership, download the Epic Rewards Mobile App for free at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

Jamie Wilson stars as Shrek, the gruff but soft-hearted ogre determined to protect his swamp. The veteran actor, who is celebrating 45 years on stage, brings a wealth of experience to the role. His career includes a Broadway World Asia Award-winning turn in Matilda The Musical, as well as an Aliw Award for Best Actor in Run For Your Wife. He portrayed Arturo Banlaoi in all three sold-out runs of Ang Huling El Bimbo and will appear in the upcoming Philippine staging of Into the Woods as Cinderella’s distant father and the anxious royal steward. Offstage, Wilson has directed major concerts like Ely Buendia: A Night at the Theater, demonstrating a career as layered as Shrek and onions.

Krystal Kane embraces her next transformation as the feisty, quick-witted Princess Fiona. She has started young onstage, beginning her career at just nine years old in Aspects of Love and The Sound of Music. Her love for performing led her to study musical theater in New York before returning to Manila, where she played Wendla in Spring Awakening and Jerry in Tabing Ilog: The Musical. After a four-year break to explore photography and styling, Kane came back strong in I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and is set to star in Side Show.

Topper Fabregas steps into Donkey’s hooves with all the humor and loyalty audiences expect from Shrek’s sidekick. As a founding member of Red Turnip Theater, Fabregas has balanced directing and acting in acclaimed works such as Tribes, Rabbit Hole, and The Last Five Years. He has also delivered standout performances in Come From Away, Angels in America, and Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical. His film work in Sila-Sila earned him Best Supporting Actor at the Cinema One Originals Awards, underscoring a career defined by versatility and standout performances.

Alfredo Reyes, known to many as Bibo, takes on the role of Lord Farquaad, the ambitious ruler of Duloc. He spent many years working full-time as an actor, playing key roles in the premiere international musicals including In the Heights, The Bridges of Madison County, Waitress, and The Band’s Visit, all staged by Atlantis Theatrical. His work also took him across Asia in the touring productions of Saturday Night Fever and Avenue Q. He later starred as Young Hector in the 2018 run of Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical. Reyes is a graduate of the Atlantic Acting School in New York City, where he earned the Practical Aesthetics Full Scholarship Award.

Shrek The Musical is based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William Steig. It features book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori. The hit musical was originally produced on Broadway by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions. Shrek The Musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI), New York, NY, USA. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com.

Catch Shrek The Musical starting October 31, 2025 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are available at Ticketworld, Newport World Resorts Box Office, and Helixpay: PHP 4,500 (SVIP), PHP 4,000 (VIP), PHP 3,000 (GOLD), PHP 2,000 (SILVER), and PHP 1,500 (BRONZE). For inquiries, contact Customer Care at 7908-8888 or info@fhtcentertainment.com.

For more information on Shrek The Musical, visit www.newportworldresorts.com/shrekthemusicalph and follow @newportworldresorts and @nwr.musicals on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Join Newport World Resorts Viber Community at https://newportwr.com/nwrvibercommunity for exclusive updates. Every visit is made more rewarding with an Epic Rewards membership, download the Epic Rewards Mobile App for free at the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

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