July 15, 2025
By Toby Scofield

A beloved story from a land far, far away is taking center stage right here in Pickerington. Directed by Chris Gallaugher, Shrek the Musical is being brought to life by Pickerington Community Theatre for one final weekend—so don’t miss your chance to see it!

Based on the 2001 DreamWorks film of the same name, Shrek the Musical is a family-friendly adventure filled with magical characters—from dragons to living puppets.

The story follows the titular ogre, Shrek (Chris Johnson), whose solitary life is disrupted when Lord Farquaad (Dan Hildebrand) banishes all fairy tale creatures to Shrek’s swamp. To reclaim his land, Shrek sets off on a quest to rescue Princess Fiona (Taylor Oberschlake), accompanied by a talkative and lovable donkey (Malik Stallings).

“It’s an amazing cast,” said Johnson. “Every single person has a character that they bring out on stage—from the fairy tale creatures all the way down to the villains, the donkey, Shrek, all of us. You’re not going to see a normal person on stage—and that’s the best part.”

The production will be accompanied by a live pit orchestra featuring talented local musicians, adding even more magic to the performance.

Shows will be held Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19, at 8:00 p.m., with matinees at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 19 and 20. All performances take place in the newly renovated theater at the Violet Township Wigwam. Tickets are $21 and can be purchased through PCT’s website.

Hurry, as seating is limited and some performances are nearing capacity.

Pickerington Community Theatre’s next production, Clue, opens October 10.

Photos by Toby Scofield