Shrek the Musical onstage in Niceville

Shrek the Musical, based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film that started it all, brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on stage at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 at Mattie Kelly Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville.

Hilariously funny and renowned for its unconventional quirkiness, this entirely new musical opened on Broadway December 2009. Noted by critics as “good-hearted and warped just enough,” this delightful comedy tells the tale of Shrek, a swamp-dwelling ogre, who goes on a life changing adventure to reclaim the deed to his swamp. Along the way, the unlikely hero is joined by a wise-cracking donkey who soon becomes his best friend. He also fights a fearsome dragon, rescues the feisty princess Fiona and learns that real friendship and true love aren't only found in fairy tales.

Throw in a donkey who won’t shut up, a villain with a short temper, a cookie with an attitude and more than a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero.

In the touring production, the role of everyone’s favorite swamp-dwelling ogre, Shrek will be played by Perry Sook. Whitney Winfield will play the feisty Princess Fiona. Jeremy Gaston is Shrek’s lovably annoying best friend Donkey and Christian Marriner plays the vertically challenged villain Lord Farquaad.

“We are thrilled to send Shrek The Musical to theatres across the country,” said Bill Damaschke, president of DreamWorks Theatricals, “and for American families to experience their favorite ogre and fairy tale creatures live on stage.”

Shrek the Musical is part romance, part twisted fairy tale and all irreverent fun for everyone. Tickets are $45 each. There is a group discount of $5 off per ticket for groups of 10 or more tickets purchased together. Tickets are available from the Box Office by phone, online or in-person. Call 850-729-6000 or visit www.mattiekellyartscenter.org. The Box Office is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 6-7:30 p.m. the night of the show.