text: (January 6th, 2016, UAE) —DreamWorks Theatricals, Broadway Entertainment Group and NETworks Presentations, in association with Alchemy Project Event Management Agency, are pleased to announce that the English language production of SHREK THE MUSICAL with book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori, is coming to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for the very first time as part of its first ever international tour. Described by USA Today, this “BIG FAT HIT!” will be playing on Yas Island for 6 performances from March 24th and 9 performances at the Dubai World Trade Centre as of March 30th. Tickets go on sale by January 22nd and will be available exclusively at http://www.TixBox.com.
  SHREK THE MUSICALis based on the Oscar®-winning DreamWorks Animation film. This live adaptation brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to the stage. In a far away kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an ogre – not a handsome prince – shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey that does not keep quiet, a villain with a short temper, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand and his name is Shrek.
  “We are thrilled to be touring SHREK THE MUSICAL worldwide and bringing the show to the UAE.” said Liz Koop’s, CEO, Broadway Entertainment Group. She added, “audiences have really embraced the musical genre in this region and we feel it’s not only been a great accomplishment for us as an organization but also to the globalization of the art of musical theatre.”
  SHREK THE MUSICALfeatures a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize® winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole, Good People), music by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Caroline, or Change). SHREK THE MUSICAL is choreographed by Chris Bailey and directed by Stephen Sposito who served as Associate Director of the Broadway revival How To Succeed In Business starring Daniel Radcliff. Costumes are the Tony Award® winner designs by Tim Hatley(Private Lives, Spamalot).
  “We are very excited to be bringing SHREK THE MUSICAL to the UAE for the very first time and look forward to seeing the excitement, wonderment, and magic in the eyes of our audience members. Inspired by the Oscar®-winning Hollywood Animation film, this show offers 5 star Broadway quality musical performances for all members of the family. It’s guaranteed to excite the kids with its colorful characters, but it also takes the adults on a journey of humor, laughter, romance, and adventure. This elaborate production with over 55 cast, will elevate the expectations and experience of UAE audience to a new caliber of quality performances.” said Mac S. Far, the CEO of Alchemy Project Event Management Agency
  This production of SHREK THE MUSICAL is produced by Broadway Entertainment Group and NETworks Presentations and promoted Alchemy Project Event Management Agency.
  SHREK THE MUSICAL will be playing on Yas Island for 6 performances only from March 24, 2016, and just 9 performances at the Dubai World Trade Centre as of March 30 2016.
  The story retains the shape of the beloved 1990 blockbuster upon which the musical’s based – the film’s screenwriter, J.F. Lawton, and director, the late Garry Marshall, co-wrote the book. It’s the tale of a sex worker, Vivian (Samantha Barks), who’s taken up by a corporate raider, Edward (Andy Karl), who shows her the high life and successfully facilitates her evolution as a human being.
  Yes, the story feels dated – even the T-shirts for sale read, somewhat desperately, “Bold/Fierce/Funny/Strong/Pretty Woman.” But oddly, other than some cosmetic adjustments, the plot is the same – rich boy meets poor girl, saves her, then she “saves him right back” (oh, please). There’s nothing inherently wrong with an all-male (and over-50) creative team writing a show called Pretty Woman, but it’s not hard to connect the dots on how this same old story stayed so same old.
  The songs, by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, are ‘80s pastiche that function as dramatic afterthoughts. After a scene in which Vivian gives Edward directions, and he becomes confused, he is given a solo ballad (the first of oh-so-many) in which he helpfully sings, “I asked her for directions / And now I feel confused.” The songs are flat and unvaried, and some are just plain dumb. A hail-Mary attempt at granting Vivian agency results in the hair-raising lyric “It’s true, I sold my body / But I never sold my soul.”
  The most obvious problem is that Barks isn’t given the space to sink her teeth into the iconic Julia Roberts role that audiences so loved. But the slapdash structure is also at fault. Not one section of the film has been translated to song in any kind of meaningful way. Instead, the numbers are effectively commentary on the scenes that precede them. It isn’t like watching Pretty Woman so much as watching other people watch Pretty Woman.
  Karl, memorably of Groundhog Day, and Barks, so lovely in the Les Miserables movie, are wasted here – though they both sing beautifully. Karl puts most of his energy into becoming as boring as Richard Gere’s character in the film, and largely succeeds. Barks, given the unenviable task of satisfying Julia Roberts nostalgia, winds up a blank whose most interesting character development is her many changes of costume (designed by Gregg Barnes, though also little changed from the movie).
  Eric Anderson shows up, playing both Héctor Elizondo and Abdul Salaam El Razzac’s guardian-angel roles from the movie, in the only nod to the fairy-tale aspects of the story. Still, even he feels earthbound. The whole cast seems united in their joyless manufactured enthusiasm. Maybe Vivian never sold her soul, but there’s something so soulless about Pretty Woman itself that it comes to feel less celebratory than stultifying.