On September 21st, 2022, Jacket Journal was allowed behind the scenes of Shrek Jr. There are many things that happen that pull the play together, such as costuming, wigs, makeup, and mic checking. A lot more effort goes into the play than what is shown on stage.
Mount Vernon High School Sophomore Tessa Carrigan, who is the prop manager explains all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes, “There are people who do lights and sound, and on the stage we use spike tape on the floor to show us where the set pieces go. We work a lot of hours and I take a lot of difficult classes so it can be difficult.” Stage crew especially has put in a lot of work and dedication to make the show happen. Among the chaos, there are also people who work with getting wigs on, Mount Vernon Senior Emily Hammond is one of those who helps. Emily says “ The hard thing is, there are seventy children in the show, and they all wear wigs.” Emily also said to anyone who wants to work backstage, “ Go and talk to the people in the field you want to be in, and ask for any open positions in current or upcoming productions.” A lot of effort and people are involved backstage and dedicate a lot of effort to the show. Being behind the scene with the stage crew, it really showed all the dedication and hard work involved. However, let’s not forget about the cast members who perform in the production.
Mount Vernon Senior Jackson Barret who plays the lead role, Shrek, Talked about all the dedication he put into the show. Jackson Said. “ I have to learn more lines, learn more choreography, and be able to sing just as well as any other person in the show. The makeup is a long process, but I think the effort is well worth it.” Watching Jackson on stage, it was clear that his hard work had paid off. Jackson also stated why he loves theater so much, “You get to meet a lot of amazing, talented, and funny great people through theater.  A lot of my co-cast members are great people, and I love working with them.” All of the cast members in MTVARTs Shrek have put in a great deal of time and effort, which was made clear when watching them on stage performing.
Effort from the stage crew, and cast members has made this show truly remarkable. It’s witty, funny, and exciting to watch. Performances for the show are on Friday September 23rd at 7:30 P.M., Saturday September 24th at 2:00 P.M. and 7:30 P.M., as well as Sunday September 25th at 2:00 P.M. Get your tickets soon as it is a great show with an amazing cast!