Brian d'Arcy James Will Play Title Role in Shrek; Gregory and Tartaglia Join Cast

Brian d'Arcy James will play the title role in the upcoming Broadway production of Shrek the Musical, along with Chester Gregory II as Donkey and John Tartaglia as Pinocchio. They join previously announced cast members Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona, Christopher Sieber as Lord Farquaad and Kecia Lewis-Evans as The Dragon. Shrek will begin previews at the Broadway Theatre on November 8 and open on December 14, directed by Jason Moore.

Shrek, which features a book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire Rabbit Hole and music by Jeanine Tesori Caroline, or Change, is an entirely new musical based on the story and characters from William Steig's book Shrek!, as well the first of the popular DreamWorks animated films. It follows the adventures of Shrek, a lovable swamp-dwelling ogre; his wisecracking sidekick, Donkey; the lovely Princess Fiona; Lord Farquaad and a chorus of everybody's favorite fractured fairytale creatures.

D'Arcy James recently ended his run in the new musical Next to Normal at Second Stage. He received a Tony nomination for Sweet Smell of Success and starred on Broadway in The Apple Tree, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Titanic, Carousel and Blood Brothers and in the national tour of Les Miserables. Off-Broadway credits include The Pavilion, Flight, The Good Thief, The Wild Party, Ancestral Voices, Public Enemy and Floyd Collins.

Gregory is currently playing Dupree in Broadway's Cry-Baby and appeared on Broadway as Terk in Disney's Tarzan and as Seaweed in Hairspray. He also appeared in the movie version of Hairspray.

Tartaglia received a Tony nomination for Avenue Q and appeared on Broadway in Beauty and the Beast. He is the executive producer and star of Johnny and the Sprites on PBS. A 10-year veteran of Sesame Street, Tartaglia is one of the youngest puppeteers ever to perform on the show.

The creative team for Shrek includes set and costume designer Tim Hatley, lighting designer, Hugh Vanstone and sound designer Peter Hylenski. The choreography is by newcomer Josh Prince, and Tim Weil Rent is serving as music director.

Shrek will play a pre-Broadway run at Seattle's The 5th Avenue Theatre, August 14 to September 21.