(MIDDLETOWN, NJ) -- The Middletown Arts Center will present SHREK The Musical, produced by The MAC Players, the organization's new adult community theater company. The group kicks off its first season in 2022 with a show full of pop-culture references and humor that will appeal to kids and adults alike. Performances will take place on March 4, 5, 6 and 12 in the MAC theater. The show is directed by Kathy Connolly with Musical Director Nicholas Jupinka and Choreographer Shannon Garahan.

Set in a mythical “once upon a time” sort of land, SHREK the Musical is the story of a hulking green ogre who, after being mocked and feared his entire life by anything that crosses his path, retreats to an ugly green swamp to exist in happy isolation. Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, SHREK is a Tony Award-winning fairy tale adventure, featuring all-new songs from Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie; Caroline, or Change) and a side-splitting book by David Lindsay-Abaire. Shrek brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there’s more to the story than meets the ears. Starring Patrick Comey (Matawan, NJ) as Shrek, Rachel Sievers (Middletown, NJ) as Fiona, Kyle Blocker (Highland Park, NJ) as Donkey and Frankie Mendoza (Atlantic Highlands, NJ) as Lord Farquaad.

Performances will take place on Friday, March 4 at 7:00pm; Saturday, March 5 at 7:00pm; Sunday, March 6 at 2:00pm; and Saturday, March 12 at 2:00pm & 7:00pm. Tickets prices are $25 for adults and $17.50 for students/seniors and are general admission. Purchase tickets online at middletownarts.org or call the MAC Box Office at 732.706.4100. 

The Middletown Arts Center is located at 36 Church Street in Middletown, NJ (next to the Middletown train station). Free parking is available onsite with additional free parking available in station metered lot weekday evenings after 6:00pm and weekends.

The Middletown Arts Center is very excited to produce musicals and plays for the community through The MAC Players. The group plans to schedule a three-show season each year starting with 2022.

Director Kathy Connolly is an award-winning actor, director, choreographer and teaching artist. She has performed extensively in productions on and off-Broadway and in regional and national tours. Most recently, Kathy became the Theater Education Director at the Middletown Arts Center in 2020 and continues to provide musical theater programming year round at the MAC for children of all ages.

The Middletown Arts Center (MAC) is an award-winning, state-of-the-art facility in Middletown, New Jersey that offers performances, exhibits, classes, demonstrations and camps centering on the arts. Its convenient location across from the Middletown train station on Church Street enables easy access and its expanded MAC Annex is minutes away at the Middletown Reformed Church’s Education Building. The MAC is operated by a non-profit 501c3, the Middletown Township Cultural and Arts Council which is dedicated to bringing quality arts programming and events to Middletown and surrounding communities.