Directed by Ms. Turner and Mr. Joseph as the music director, with the help of Ms. Velton, they were able to transform an idea into an entire production filled with music, laughter, and amazing actors. The Shrek musical production was intended to mirror the 2001 Shrek movie, and all the cast members did an exceptional job at bringing the beloved fictional characters to life. The play tells the story of Shrek, a grumpy but kindhearted ogre, who embarks on a journey to rescue Princess Fiona with the help of his witty companion Donkey. Despite the challenges that he experiences along the way, he learns the true meaning of love, friendship, and accepting who you are.
The production was a true community event, drawing attendees from all corners of the Garden Grove area and across different generations. The audience was a lively mix of proud family members, supportive Pacifica staff, fellow high school students, and even the youngest members of the district. Elementary school students across the Garden Grove Unified School District attended a special performance on Tuesday, September 30, filling the Pacifica auditorium with laughter and excitement. Many students even shared Shrek-themed artwork inspired by the show, demonstrating their enthusiastic support. The presence of so many different groups affirmed that the magic of Shrek the Musical transcended age, bringing the entire community together for a truly memorable performance.
The talented cast from the Musical Theatre League and Musical Theatre Club truly brought these roles to life in ways that could make the audience laugh, but also touched the audiences emotionally. Seniors River Anawati and Zach Meadnis shared the role of Shrek, each capturing his gruff exterior while also bringing out his hidden emotional softness. Meanwhile, seniors Christiana Fahmy and Melody Davis also shared the role of Princess Fiona, each showcasing their beautiful vocals while bringing humor and a little bit of rowdiness to the character. Without forgetting the iconic Donkey, he was comedically brought to life by Trinity Jaramillo and Caleb Knowles, who undoubtedly played a key role in ensuring the audience was laughing from start to finish. Beyond the leads, the production would not have been complete without the several other talented cast members who filled the stage with energy and fairytale magic, from the Gingerbread Man’s sass to Load Farquaad’s towering presence. In addition, the Pacifica Dance Team and Encore Team brought energy and humor to the ensemble, performing as the Duloc Dolls in Lord Farquad’s number, “Welcome to Duloc.” Overall, each cast member deserves to be recognized for all the long practices and hard work that they had put into the production, with each act resonating deeply within the local Garden Grove community.
While the on-stage performances dazzled the audience, much of the magic happened behind the scenes, where countless hours of preparation and collaboration went into making the production run smoothly. Trinity Jaramillo, who played Donkey, reflected on the show: “Everyone worked so hard rehearsing choreography, perfecting scenes, and adjusting placements. It was chaotic and messy at times, but finally getting to perform in front of a live audience made it all so rewarding.” The entire cast was truly dedicated to the musical, spending hours after school from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm, just perfecting their show. All this hard work did not go to waste at all, as the audience saw the brilliant production put together by pure teamwork and perseverance behind the curtains.
Even beyond the production, many of the cast members reported that they had grown not just as performers, but as people overall through this musical. Melody Davis, who played Princess Fiona, shared, “I think that my acting skills definitely grew by playing that role. I’m usually very introverted, but when I’m on stage and when I’m with my people, I’m the most extroverted person ever.” Her words and feelings were common among the cast, who found that Shrek the Musical pushed them out of their comfort zones and helped them discover new strengths. River Anawati, who played the role of Shrek, shared this sentiment when he explained, “I started out in crew, making costumes and working behind the scenes. Then I became a villain, later a depressed eight-year-old in Charlie Brown, and now I’m a guy who just yells at everybody. I’ve had a lot of diversity in my roles, and it’s been so fun to have all of those different experiences.”
Ultimately, everyone who contributed to Shrek the Musical deserves recognition for their creativity and effort. From the passionate student actors to the hardworking backstage crew and the supportive faculty, the final result was a stunning success. Pacifica’s production of Shrek the Musical wasn’t just a performance, but it was a celebration of teamwork, imagination, and the power of storytelling to bring people together for a truly “happily ever after.”
