HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Heirlooms Fine & Performing Arts staged “Shrek the Musical Kids” June 26-27 at Wallace State Community College’s Burrow Center. Founder Paige Clabo said her students decided the musical was the perfect choice for them, and the audience couldn’t have agreed more as they roared with laughter.
Dexter White (Shrek) and Jaxon Dupre (Donkey) brought joy and excitement to the stage with their hysterical emotion, while Veronica (Ve) Harding (Princess Fiona) had the dramatic flair that all true princesses need. And one cannot forget the calm yet eccentric Abe Warren (Pinocchio).
Clabo said she hoped that by choosing this musical her students would learn a valuable lesson about kindness, unity and acceptance, saying, “Kind is the most important thing that you can be in the world.”
Clabo stated that allowing the students to choose the musical was important to her. “I love giving them choices because I feel like as a young actor I never felt like I had a choice. So, I want to give them a different opportunity than I had.” She said she wants to create a safe place for kids who do theater, and welcomes all ages to join in on the creative experience.
The students let their talent shine as it only took them nine days to learn and perfect this musical. Older students acted as mentors and examples for younger actors. Said Clabo, “Luckily, theater is such a collaborative effort that my older students have been such a great example to my younger students, and really strive to be like them. Many of the children that you saw tonight, this is their first show ever. So, the fact that they did that in nine days is crazy.”
It took two hours for the students to prepare for the show on Friday night. White’s makeup and prosthetics alone took an hour and a half to complete. Clabo said she likes to make each actor feel special and the attention to detail is even more important because the young actors deserve to feel as if this show is their big moment.
At the end of the show we were able to talk with a few members of the cast to ask some entertaining questions. We spoke with Dexter White, Jaxon Dupre, Abe Warren and Veronica (Ve) Harding.
We first asked White, “If you could transform into any fairytale creature from Duloc in real life, who would it be and why?” “The Big Bad Wolf,” stated White. “He’s the funniest in the movie.”
Dupre seemed to be happy being exactly who he was “Donkey is funny, hilarious even, and just has a fun time.”
Warren, interestingly enough, agreed that the role he had in the play is the role he’d take in real life. “There’s something about having a nose that grows that really pulls me in.”
Hearding stated, “I’d probably be the Wicked Witch.” Suspiciously enough she didn’t elaborate on that. Though the three boys seemed to side eye her with caution.
We then moved on to the next question, “What is you absolute favorite song you sing or dance to in the show?” Harding said she really liked “I’m a Believer” and that the dance was a lot of fun for her. For Warren it was “Make a Move” because they “finally got Paige to do the stanky leg.” Jackson and White both agreed that they, too, enjoyed “Make a Move” for the same reasons.
The final question was, “If you lived in Shrek’s swamp, what rules would you have in place?” Jackson excitedly exclaimed, “Non-stop eating waffles,” a fitting response from the waffle-eating Donkey. Warren and White collectively agreed that they would ask politely that you did not wear shoes in their humble abode, while Harding warned us to kindly not use the restrooms.
The show seemed to be a great success, it was sold out and nearly standing room only. You can catch the students in their next show, “Frozen,” Nov. 13-14. Auditions will be held Aug. 28, at St. John’s Church from 5-8 p.m.
Heirlooms Fine & Performing Arts will host Once Upon a Crown Princess Camp July 21-24, from 9 a.m.-noon at Heirlooms Studio. Heirlooms Studio is located at 1219 Second Ave. NW in Cullman. The cost is $179 per camper. For more information, visit www.heirloomsfineandperformingarts.com.
Veronica Harding (Emily McMunn/The Cullman Tribune)
