- July 15, 2025
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Shrek the Musical Jr. was put together from beginning to end in a span of two weeks as a summer stock camp led by Michelle McCord, the director and owner of Ovation School of Musical Theatre.
Photo by Madison BierlAmelia Shamieva, Mia Schneider and Gabriella Giobergia play the rats in the song "Morning Person."
Photo by Madison BierlRusty Frantz and Noah Gross play the well known and loved characters of Shrek and Donkey.
Photo by Madison BierlEllenton resident Rusty Frantz, 14, and Lakewood Ranch resident Delaney Wilson, 12, play the lead roles of Shrek and Fiona.
Photo by Madison BierlLakewood Ranch resident Delaney Wilson, 12, stars as Fiona in Shrek the Musical Jr.
Photo by Madison BierlLakewood Ranch resident Noah Gross, 14, plays Donkey who provides comedic relief to the audience.
Photo by Madison BierlBradenton's Scarlett Radtke plays Pinocchio, who is annoyed the other characters don't recognize him as a "real boy."
Photo by Madison BierlCollin Borg, Scarlett Radtke, Amelia Shamieva and Rebecca Buehler are part of the cast between the ages of 11-18 in Shrek the Musical Jr.
Photo by Madison BierlParrish resident Rebecca Buehler plays Snow White and Bradenton resident Gabriella Giobergia plays Peter Pan.
Photo by Madison BierlAmelia Shamieva plays Mama Bear, Riley Makeever plays Wicked Witch and Mia Schneider plays Ugly Duckling in Shrek the Musical Jr.
Photo by Madison BierlParrish resident Avery Mankowski plays Gingy (the gingerbread man) and Parrish resident Collin Borg plays Big Bad Wolf.
Photo by Madison BierlScarlett Radtke plays Pinocchio and Amelia Shamieva plays Mama Bear.
Photo by Madison BierlParrish resident Noelle Androsyan plays Lord Farquaad, the comically short ruler of Duloc who wants to marry Princess Fiona to become king.
Photo by Madison BierlBradenton resident Aurelia Yepez, 11, plays Dragon alongside Lakewood Ranch resident Noah Gross, 14, who plays Donkey.
Photo by Madison BierlAmelia Shamieva plays teen Fiona during the song "I Know It's Today" where the passing of time is portrayed by three different actresses who play Fiona.
Photo by Madison BierlBradenton resident Aurelia Yepez, 11, plays three characters in Shrek the Musical Jr. Dragon is the most prominent character and she also plays a peasant and a guard.
Photo by Madison BierlLakewood Ranch resident Noah Gross, 14, plays Donkey who is surrounded by prisoners in the song "Story of My Life."
Photo by Madison BierlSadie Freeland, Aurelia Yepez, Gabriella Giobergia and Mia Schneider await their performance of Shrek the Musical Jr.
Photo by Madison BierlNoah Gross, Collin Borg, Ethan Davidson, Aeric Frantz and Rusty Frantz are dressed in costume before their performance of Shrek the Musical Jr. on June 13.
Photo by Madison BierlIn Shrek the Musical Jr. Shrek saves Princess Fiona from a tower and Fiona is ready to officially meet her rescuer without the helmet, unaware Shrek is an ogre.
Photo by Madison BierlWhile most people are familiar with "Shrek," young actors from the Ovation School of Musical Theatre loved putting their own stamp on the characters in a revised performance of the popular comedy.
Bradenton resident Aurelia Yepez, 11, played a guard, peasant and a dragon in "Shrek the Musical Jr." She has been an Ovation student for a year and has participated in “The Greatest Showman,” “Moana” and “Hamilton.”
Now it was time to make her mark in "Shrek the Musical Jr."
“What I love about performing is you’re able to have your own free zone,” Yepez said. “There’s no limits to what you can and can’t do.”
Ovation held a summer camp June 2-13 at its East County school to prepare the students to present "Shrek the Musical Jr." The performances were presented to the public June 13-14.
"Shrek the Musical Jr." tells the story of title character Shrek, an ogre desperate to regain his swamp. Along the way, he embarks on a quest to save Princess Fiona with the help of his sidekick Donkey.
The young actors were between the ages of 11-18. The show was choreographed by Emma Mandzik and directed by Michelle McCord, the Ovation School of Musical Theatre owner.
“They learned it in five days, then we cleaned it up, costumes this and that,” McCord said. “What these kids have done is beyond miraculous.”
Lakewood Ranch resident Delaney Wilson, 12, has been a student for three years and she played Princess Fiona.
“I liked playing a crucial part and being a funny character, but also having a backstory,” Wilson said.
Lakewood Ranch resident Noah Gross, 14, has been an Ovation student for four years and he portrayed the character of Donkey.
“My role is so fun," Gross said. "He’s got a lot of songs and lines and he’s funny,” Gross said. “I love to sing and act and show off my talent.”
Ellenton resident Rusty Frantz, 14, portrayed the title character Shrek. It was his first show at Ovation, but he was previously in a different production of Shrek the Musical Jr., in which he played Lord Farquaad.
“Shrek is funny and I get to make people laugh,” Frantz said.
Parrish resident Collin Borg, 12, played the Big Bad Wolf. He wishes to be in more productions in the future.
“I bring craziness — my own unique twist,” Borg said.
