From the moment the house lights dimmed, the Romano Family Theatre lit up with joy, laughter, and excitement. Nazareth Academy’s production of Shrek the Musical was directed and choreographed by Theatre and Acting teacher and Naz alum Aileen O’Carroll and Ann Bourjaily-Maney as musical director. A talented cast and crew transformed the stage into the familiar Dreamworks movie fairytale, truly touching the audiences’ hearts.
The weekend of performances was totally sold out by two casts — PARFAIT and ONION with two shows apiece. They chronicled the journey of the beloved Shrek- an ogre who becomes an unlikely hero while embarking on a journey of friendship, self-discovery, and love.
One of the most talked-about performances came from Junior Lucas Weber as Donkey, who completely stole scenes with his comedic timing, energy, and connection with the audience. His performance made Donkey feel vibrant, natural, and endlessly entertaining, and he maintained that energy throughout the show.
Another standout in the performance was Junior Patrick O’Reilly as Lord Farquaad, who truly transformed to the character physically and vocally. His ability to tap into Lord Farquaad’s comedic, witty character really caught the eyes of the audience. O’Reilly reflected that one of his favorite parts of the experience was “forming tight bonds throughout the process and seeing how we truly become a family.”
Junior Marin McMahon as Fiona delivered a moving performance, projecting her voice clearly across the entire theatre with strong vocals. Her presence on stage helped reveal several key emotional moments in the story and allow it to play out beautifully.
The title role of Shrek was played by Freshman Gavin Claster (Parfait) and Jack Siffermann (Onion). Both performances were remarkably confident and grounded. They captured Shrek’s guarded exterior while still revealing moments of vulnerability that gave the character emotional depth, truly something so heartwarming to watch.
What really made this production especially memorable was the emotional investment from the entire cast. Whether in featured roles or ensemble numbers, the energy remained consistently high and authentic. O’Carroll described the best part of the whole cast and crew as “true triple threats in singing, dancing and acting.” She observed every student push and support one another in each of these three elements, helping them perform to the best of their abilities.
Junior Mackenzie Grill, who played a Dulocian, described the experience as “overall beautiful to see everyone use their imagination and work together to perform such a challenging show.” That sense of collaboration was visible in every group number, where choreography, vocals, and character work blended seamlessly.
Senior Nick Racki, who performed as the Big Bad Wolf and Thelonius, shared that he joined the production because Shrek was his favorite childhood movie and it was the first Naz drama show he ever watched, “so being in the show with people I love was a full circle moment,” he said. That sentiment reflected the overall atmosphere of the production: nostalgic, joyful, and community-driven.
Behind the scenes, the backstage crew worked to bring the production to life using sets, sound, lights, and props. Big shoutouts to the assistant stage managers, the props and run crew, the sound and lights crew, and the hair, makeup and costumes crew. Each and every member truly contributed to animating the story of Shrek before our very eyes.
The production of Shrek as a whole was truly a core childhood memory that was brought to life. Between the PARFAIT and ONION casts, the backstage crews, and the direction by O’Carroll and Bourjaily-Maney, Shrek was undoubtedly a performance that took you back as a kid, put a smile to your face, and made magic happen all over again in the Romano Family Theatre.
