August 17, 2025 | 12:00am
Ipinasilip ng mga bibida sa Shrek The Musical ang ilang eksena na mapapanood sa Newport Performing Arts Theater simula sa Oktubre 31, sa isang media conference / sneak peek.
Kasabay nito welcome address ng Newport World Resorts’ Chief Hospitality Officer John Lucas sa mga guest sa isang special preview ng inaabangang musical play. “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,” umpisa niya.
Habang ang mga dumalo ay dinala sa mundo ni Shrek with high energy ng mga paborito nating Who I’d Be, Don’t Let Me Go, The Ballad of Farquaad, I Know It’s Today, at ang feel-good finale na I’m A Believer.
Ito ang pinakabagong handog mula sa Newport World Resorts’ Full House Theater Company (FHTC).
Nasa likod nito ang isang all-star creative team na pinamumunuan nina Direktor Dexter M. Santos, Associate Director Michael Stuart Williams, Artistic Director Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, Assistant Director Cara Barredo at Music Director Ejay Yatco.
Pero gaano ba kalaki ang cast, at ilan sila?
“47… The challenge kasi of this is that it’s huge. That has always been our challenge because we have such a huge theater. That we really cannot go below 30 people. So anything below 30 looks so empty. It’s very empty, so we always have to, that’s one of the reasons we choose musicals to stage.
“We need really major production numbers and shows that are more spectacle. That’s why now we’re really toying around with the theme park because the Broadway production was quite simple in terms of how it was staged,” paliwanag ni Ms. Menchu kung gaano kalaki ang kanilang production upang mag-enjoy ang mga manonood.
Dagdag pa niya: “So we’re trying to go further because of our stage. It’s just so massive. So we really need to make it also very visually stimulating for the children. Because the material is a little bit adult. So it just might go over their heads, and maybe they may not even be familiar with the cartoon anymore because it’s been a while.”
“Yeah, it’s been 24 years. They are a completely new generation of kids, so we really want to keep them visually stimulated. And so we are trying to make Dexter’s dream and vision come true. Wish us luck. We are going to do our best to make our director’s vision come true,” sabi pa ni Ms. Menchu.
Booming ang theater scene sa kasalukuyan.
As in lahat yata ng mga play sa kasalukuyan, sold-out na parang ito na rin ang status symbol sa high society.
Mas booming pa siya sa pelikula sabi nga ng ibang entertainment observers. “As everybody knows, theater in the Philippines is really booming with all the productions that are happening one by one. One show closes, another show opens; sometimes they run simultaneously. But as far as Full House Theater Inc. goes, I think what has been a great advantage to us is the variety of shows that we’ve managed to stage, particularly the jukebox musicals, because that brought in an entirely different audience.”
Nagsimula aniya ‘yun sa Ang Huling El Bimbo na ang mga dumagsa ay ang fans ng nasabing iconic band. “And so when they went in there, I remember hearing comments like, ‘Ano ba ito?’ Is this a concert? And they realized that it was a musical using the songs of Eraserheads.
“So we created a whole new different market. And then that was followed by Buruguduy. And again it was again the fans of Parokya ni Edgar (ang nanood).
“So with the variety that we are so lucky to have had from the Broadway musical—from Annie and Cinderella onwards to the Filipino originals. Our particular market has grown so much in terms of the variety of people, and we can really tell from the audiences that we see. And we also have to remember that this was really the vision of Doctor Tan to champion the Filipino talent. So I, along with Michael and our wonderful artistic team, always make sure that we put the best people and the best production that we possibly can for every show that we take on. By choosing the best suitable cast and the best suitable creatives that will really champion the Filipino talent, it’s always called Filipino. So we’re very proud of that,” mahaba pang paliwanag ni Ms. Menchu sa market ng stage play sa kasalukuyan.
Sinabi naman ng kanilang Associate Director Michael Stuart Williams, “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.”
All Filipino ang cast nito na kinabibilangan ni 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.
Catch Shrek The Musical starting Oct. 31, 2025, at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are available at Ticketworld, Newport World Resorts Box Office, and Helixpay: P4,500 (SVIP), P4,000 (VIP), P3,000 (GOLD), P 2,000 (SILVER), and P1,500 (BRONZE).