“Shrek The Musical” is senior James Morgan’s second Homecoming musical to be a part of since freshman year. It’s also his second Homecoming musical to hold a lead role.
Morgan, who plays Shrek in the performance, said the show has a number of highlights that stand out to him, including one of the reasons he tried out for the musical originally.
“I love Shrek’s song ‘Who I’d Be,'” Morgan said. “It’s vocally challenging and it really hits home. This show is also about how, as complicated as life can be, it’s fun and beautiful and funny.”
Morgan has been involved in theater since he was 12, and as a child he always enjoyed playing different characters.
“I loved playing imaginary games as a kid,” Morgan said. “My dad would have treasure hunts for me and my sister and we would have to fight bad guys, and at the end we’d get a bag of coins.”
“Shrek The Musical” is one of Morgan’s favorite shows he’s ever been a part of. He said he loves how dynamic the stories and characters are, and that outweighs the stress and hard work of the show. He found out he had gotten the role while in a tornado shelter during last spring’s tornado warnings.
Although some people may think that “Shrek” is more of a children’s show, Morgan said this is exactly why they should come watch it.
“It’s not like you’re going to go see The Wiggles, it’s not a stupid kid’s show,” Morgan said. “It’s a real story that targets specific things that you need to hear. It’s like the good kids’ shows of our childhood.”
Throughout his theater career, Morgan said that there are many lessons he has learned, but one stuck out specifically.
“There’s a time and a place to worry and a time and place to have fun,” Morgan said. “At rehearsal you can’t take outside worry with you, and I think that’s an important lesson just for life in general.”
