How NWSS's 'Shrek: The Musical' champions people to be themselves

A lot of work has gone into one local fairy tale production—and that has students at New Westminster Secondary School [NWSS] hoping you’ll take some time to enjoy the work they’ve put into their latest play: Shrek: The Musical. 

New West Anchor had the opportunity to speak with two stars from the show: Sophie Campbell—who is in Grade 11 and plays Pinocchio—while Rebecca Vander Zalm, who is in Grade 10, is taking on the title role of Shrek.

“The overarching theme in Shrek: The Musical is just how to be yourself, and how to let your own unique quality shine without having to fit one specific kind of box because you can be different. What makes you different makes you special,” Vander Zalm tells New West Anchor.

“A lot of the dialogue that’s in this script does come from the movie, so if you do know the plot of the movie, it is very funny to hear the similar phrases … [from the] characters that show up,” she adds.

Along with Shrek and Donkey you’ll get to see some other familiar characters from the film (Puss in Boots, anyone?) with the entire production put together by a hardworking, talented, and very committed backstage crew.

“It takes a lot of time [to make this happen]—we rehearse multiple times a week, but even then, not everything clicks immediately, and it can take a long time to perfect harmonies, stuff like that,” explains Campbell.

“When you’re watching everything on stage, you’re just seeing the big picture, but you’re [also] learning the dance, the vocals, line delivery, making sure you’re in time with the band and having that separate rehearsal, knowing where the props are going … blocking … there’s so many elements than you think. You think you’re just looking at [the actors, assuming] ‘oh they just have to know their words, their lines,’” adds Vander Zalm, who underscores the fact it really does take a massive crew to put together the production.

Both especially underscore their love for the live band and the special effects team, who will be working with prosthetics this time around.

“What makes the program so special in my life is, I’ve grown up with it. I would go and see all of the productions before I went to [NWSS]. I had a sister who was in Beauty and the Beast, which is the one they did before … but before that, I remember seeing Legally Blonde and Crazy for You. It was exciting seeing the people on stage—they were celebrities,” says Vander Zalm. “It’s just an amazing community of people where you realize, ‘That could be me, and I could be part of that,’ and it’s not so far out of your reach.”

Like Vander Zalm, Campbell watched many of the NWSS plays, and being part of a production has allowed to grow not only as a performer—but as a human being.

“I appreciate all the connections we get to have with the cast and the other people who are a part of this production, and the teachers, too. The teachers are wonderful, they know what they are doing, and it’s honestly amazing getting to learn from them and look up to them,” says Campbell.

The team has made it pretty easy to get tickets: if you happen to see a Shrek: The Musical poster around town, be sure to scan the QR code at the bottom of the poster. You can also visit Massey Theatre’s website, or ticketsnw.ca.

Shrek: The Musical is on from March 1 to 4.