Sturgis Civic Players to bring the swamp to life with Shrek the Musical

This November, the Sturgis Civic Players present Shrek the Musical, and it’s being marked as a milestone for the community. With a cast of 65 — the largest in the group’s history — the production is a celebration of local talent, collaboration, and art.

“We have four directors, Amanda Rose and Michelle Klar. Loren Corbin is the music director. And Elizabeth Smith is the choreographer,” says Colin Eastman, president of the Sturgis Civic Players and one of the performers (who also plays the Big Bad Wolf and appears as a dancer). 

“Our team puts all of our knowledge, talents, experience and skills – from fundraising, directing, set building and performing. We foster diversity and a safe place to learn and have fun. In all my life, the theatre is the only place I have encountered where folks from all walks of life, political, and religious backgrounds and the like, they put it all aside to work together for a common goal. To put on a great show.”

Michelle Klar, one of the four directors, outlined the pathway to production to Watershed Voice. The locally-based troupe, which began in the 1970s as a theatre group welcoming participants county-wide, uses its volunteers and membership to decide programming, raise funds, and complete productions.

Once the decision to stage Shrek was made, Klar explains, the process moved into motion. It begins with applying for rights, which sometimes can take up to a year. Next is scheduling auditions which has grown more difficult as more and more people come to audition each year — a great problem to have, Klar noted. 

“The past couple of years, we’ve had approximately 100 people [audition] each time,” Klar said.

Then, once the cast is set, they enter a 10-week rehearsal schedule four nights a week for the musical run.

“We have 65 people in the cast, so, once we cast the show, then we start rehearsals,” Klar says, noting how long it takes for a production to come to fruition.

For lead actor Ella Bright, playing Princess Fiona has been a dream come true:

“Fiona has been a dream role of mine for a real long time, so I’ve had a great time from the very beginning. This musical is so silly but I think it honestly does build on the movie’s theme of self-acceptance in a really beautiful way, and adds in some really gorgeous songs along with the silly. I’ve learned to tap dance for this show which is something I’ve always wanted to do. Getting painted green in 90 seconds wasn’t necessarily on my theatre bucket list but it’s all part of the show. Especially now that we’re getting closer to the shows, I’ve been having so much fun every night. It really helps that I’m sharing the stage with some super amazing castmates. I’ll always remember the first time I sang ‘Who I’d Be,’ the Act One closing song, with Sami (Donkey) and Zak (Shrek). It was so special. I feel that same magic every night we sing it together.”

For Sami Lesniak, who plays Donkey, the experience has been equally special:

“I’ve been in love with this show for over a decade and it’s an absolute pleasure to be able to be part of it. I remember listening to the soundtrack in college being in total awe at how gorgeous the music was for being such an unconventional sounding show. And now, all these years later, being able to bring such a beloved character like Donkey to life on stage is a dream that I would’ve never imagined coming true,” Lesniak said. “We’ve got folks in the cast coming from all over, from Kalamazoo and as far as Fort Wayne, all coming together with the sole focus of crafting a great show. It’s been so rewarding to come to rehearsal every day, to be surrounded by all of these other creative people, and just create something together.”

“This is my third show with the Civic Players,” Lesniak added. “Overall, there is so much talent put on display in this show, from every single person making up our incredible company, to our powerhouse of a Fiona, our incredible Shrek, a hilarious Lord Farquaad, and insanely talented Dragon. I’m constantly blown away that I get to share the stage with a company so full of skill, talent, and heart.”

For Zachary Becze, who plays Shrek, the production has been both exhausting and fulfilling:

“This has been an incredible and tiring journey for me,” Becze said. “I fell in love with the show so many years ago and it feels so surreal singing these songs I thought I’d never get to sing. I have loved really digging into the character of Shrek. He is, like the line says, an onion, he’s got layers. It has been incredible working with such talented people and I’m looking forward to being a part of future Sturgis Civic productions.”

Behind the scenes, Klar says the biggest challenge is commitment.

“The biggest challenge is finding people who are committed to the process, because it really does take a lot of people. We ask someone if they can do lights, and we find out after we’ve started rehearsals that they’re not doing it.”

Klar emphasized why the hardships make the process all the more worth it.

“It’s wonderful that we have a wide range of experience — all different ages and stuff. We always try to make everyone feel like they’re important, no matter how small their part is.”

This Shrek production is broken down roughly into 20 kids, 20 teens, and 20 adults, a mix that has presented fresh challenges to Klar. The productions are also entirely volunteer based, a testament to the volunteers’ commitment and love for theatre. 

Part of what makes theatre a unique experience — quite literally — is every time it’s performed the actors on stage are right in front of you creating new art, Klar explained, in a direct way unlike going to a sporting event or seeing a movie.

“I love it so much because I grew up doing theater. I started doing theater in high school, and then I also did it in college and in the communities that I’ve lived in,” Klar said. “So I’ve done theater pretty much all my life, ever since I was a teenager, and my kids grew up doing theater, and that’s where they’re, you know, lifelong best friends came from,” Klar said. “It’s kind of like playing a sport where you have to become a team to be successful. So I like to give people that opportunity to have that experience.”

As for audiences unfamiliar with theatre or debating going to see Shrek, Klar offers this encouragement.

“Our audience sees all the hard work and all the talent that our community has,” she said. “I think people should really try to at least experience that once in their life — live theatre is an experience like no other.”

Shrek the Musical runs from November 14-16 at the Sturges-Young Center for the Arts in Sturgis. Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, November 14 and 15 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, November 16 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for both children and adults (children two and under are free if seated with an adult) and can be purchased online here.

The production is presented by the Sturgis Civic Players, co-directed by Michelle Klar, Amanda Rose, Loren Corbin, with Elizabeth Smith serving as choreographer. Early arrival is recommended to enjoy the full community-theatre atmosphere and the energy of the record-sized cast.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.