Tickets on sale for Shrek at NPAC

Today, Wednesday, September 19, launches single ticket release for one of the Niswonger Performing Art Center’s biggest family shows of the year. Shrek — The Musical will be coming to Van Wert on Saturday, December 22, for two big shows: 2 and 7 p.m. Of course, just about anyone who watches movies has seen Shrek, starring Mike Myers as Shrek, Cameron Diaz as Princess Fiona and Eddie Murphy as Donkey. The movie, put out by DreamWorks, became a huge success and since there have been three sequels.

It’s a magical story of an ogre, a princess and a talking donkey filled with lots of laughs, fun and of course, a fairytale ending- perfect for the whole family!  The stage production is quite a feat to capture all the costuming, staging, scenery and live music.  But, NETworks has done a marvelous job of recreating the endearing and animated movie on stage.

Reading through the materials we have been sent, it is a huge task just getting the actor in the ogre outfit and make-up.  We need to have a certain room temperature in the dressing room, before, during and after the show.  With us doing two shows, the actor actually has to stay in the ogre costume all day long (I hope he is compensated well!)

Kids will absolutely love this show and as with most DreamWorks productions, adults get the humor even more than the children oftentimes.  The Broadway tour of this comes with a large pit orchestra which creates some of the best, lively music you will ever hear.  Lovely ballads and some real rockin’ tunes will have the NPAC jumpin’.  If you log onto shrek.com and click on Live on Stage, you can hear and see a video clip of our show coming in December.  Based on the video and first hand reports from those who saw it on Broadway, this will be an early Christmas treat for everyone!

Reserve the Saturday before Christmas for Shrek — The Musical for the whole family.  There will be an afternoon matinee and an evening performance, so select whichever time best fits your schedule.  If the family is coming home for Christmas, bring them out to the NPAC and show them that there’s more than corn in Van Wert.  It will be the one Christmas gift to give that everyone will enjoy and remember for a long time.  We are creating family memories at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center!

Tickets go on sale today, Wednesday at noon.  You can get them at the box office in person, call (419.238.NPAC 6722) or purchase online at www.npacvw.org.

Earlier in the year, on November 3, another terrific kid’s show is coming to the NPAC.  ImaginOcean is a one-of-a-kind black light puppet show undersea adventure.  The characters remind me of another very popular movie of recent time, Finding Nemo. Tank, Bubbles, and Dorsel are best friends who just happen to be fish, and they discover the greatest treasure of all: friendship.  The music is all original, ranging from R&B to Big Band, and it’s all created by veteran Broadway producer John Tartaglia.  Tickets are on sale now and begin at just $12.  The kids will absolutely love this glow-in-the-dark family musical!

Long gone are the days you have to travel long distances to take your kids to live stage productions.  We at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center are all about creating lifetime memories for your family to enjoy, right here in Van Wert.  Let the others do the traveling.

I have to finish with a big thank you to all who attended our gala weekend.  I have heard people who have been to nearly all our productions say this was one of the top five of all time!  Even if you hadn’t heard of Ronan Tynan, you became more inspired, educated and certainly entertained by attending his lecture and the Saturday evening concert.  What an absolute thrill!  Thank you.

FINÉ.