Everyone Has a Place in the Story: “Shrek The Musical JR.” at The Williams School

The Williams School opened its 2026–27 theater season with the Middle School production of Shrek The Musical JR., bringing a colorful world of fairytale characters, unlikely friendships, and self-acceptance to the Daren Performing Arts Center on October 22 and 23.

 

Based on the DreamWorks Animation film and Broadway musical, Shrek The Musical JR. follows Shrek, an ogre whose quiet life is interrupted when fairytale characters are banished to his swamp. Alongside Donkey and Princess Fiona, Shrek sets out on an adventure that becomes a story about friendship, acceptance, and embracing what makes each person unique. The 60-minute adaptation features music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire.

 

The production marked the Williams directorial debut of theater teacher Valerie Remillard, who joined the School this fall after several years of teaching at The Prout School in Rhode Island. Remillard earned her undergraduate degree in theatre from Wheaton College and has directed summer theater programs for many years.

 

For her first production at Williams, Remillard found a natural connection between the message of Shrek and the School’s theme for the year, authenticity.

 

“I chose Shrek for my first production at Williams because the themes of self-acceptance, community, and loving someone for who they are and NOT what they look like are important concepts for middle schoolers to embody. This also aligns perfectly with this year’s theme of authenticity at Williams,” Remillard said.

 

That message extended beyond the story unfolding on stage. A distinctive part of the Middle School experience at Williams is that every student participates in the annual musical. Some perform on stage, while others contribute through costumes, set design, technical production, front-of-house responsibilities, promotion, and the many other pieces needed to bring a show to an audience.

 

Remillard also reflected on what makes that experience meaningful for students.

 

“I am thrilled to work in a community where every middle schooler is required to participate in their annual musical either onstage, backstage, or front-of-house. One of my favorite things about working in the theater is that it is a collaborative art form. Musicals especially require many people and talents in order to be successful—nothing happens in a silo.”

 

The experience gives students an opportunity to discover where their own interests and talents can contribute, including those who may never have pictured themselves as part of theater.

 

As Remillard shared, “The theater is where we bring everyone’s stories to life and it’s fitting that everyone has a place in the process.”

 

For a musical centered on embracing who you are, Shrek The Musical JR. was a fitting choice. Onstage and behind the scenes, every Middle School student had a place in the process and a hand in bringing the story to life.

 

Cast (listed alphabetically):

 

Ella Aloi ’33 – Pinocchio

Barbara Bates-Ma ’31 – Teen Fiona/Dragon

Luke Callahan ’32 – Peter Pan/Knight 3

Riley Haro ’31 – Pig 1/Storyteller 1

Seth Lamidi ’32 – Captain of the Guards/Woodland Creature/Bishop

David Leeming ’33 – Farquaad

Connor Ma ’31 – Shrek

Mae McClenahan ’33 – Donkey

Madeline Muench ’31 – Pig 3/Storyteller 3

Eva Neal ’31 – Baby Bear/Little Shrek

Emmeline Pedroso ’33 – Pig 2/Storyteller 2

Vera Santos ’31 – Papa Bear/Papa Ogre

Erika Scotney ’30 – Wicked Witch/Knight 2

Em Stamp ’32 – Young Fiona/Dwarf

Hannah Thom ’33 – Mama Bear/Mama Ogre

Amelia Thomas ’32 – Adult Fiona

Alice Webster ’33 – Gingy/Woodland Creature

 

Production Crew:

 

Director: Valerie Remillard

 

Musical Director: Jeff Creguer

 

Stage Manager: Sophia Behm ’27

 

Lighting Design: Emily Smith ’27

 

Sound and Lighting Operators: Thomas Carpenter ’27 and Tyler Lui ’28

 

Production Crew: Sophia Behm ’27, Thomas Carpenter ’27, Tyler Lui ’28, Paul Petersen ’27, Erika Scotney ’30, Emily Smith ’27

 

Set & Props: Lucian Bace ’31, Aoife Harlow Costello ’33, Jayden Day ’32, Felix Knott ’32, Matt Lathrop ’33, Liam Maxwell ’32, Wes Maxwell ’33, Garrett McCrackin ’32, Asher Merriam ’33, Aidan Mukhopadhyay ’32, Aiden Noe ’33, Kevin Qian ’31, Calvin Rossman ’31, Charlie Thomas ’32, Zoe Turcotte ’32

 

Set & Props Teachers: Joseph Cote and Caroline Vasquez

 

Costumes: Emilia Bloxsom ’31, Caroline Corkhill ’31, Lex Gjonaj ’31, Ashley Keenan ’31, Maddie Reid ’31, Cayden Ruiz ’32, Lylah Sawyer ’31, Libby Tomlinson ’32, Lucy Zanchetti ’32

 

Costumes Teacher: Bo Parish

 

PR/Backstage: Hunter Bloxsom ’31, Colby Burke ’31, John Paul Champagne ’31, Ian Chester ’31, Leo Feng ’31, Henry Folstein ’31, Scarlett Kardziyak ’33

 

PR/Backstage Teacher: Liz Ellenwood