Arts & Entertainment
Grover Cleveland Middle School Presents Shrek The Musical Jr.
Performance will take place at James Caldwell High School's Center for the Performing Arts
Grover Cleveland Middle School is excited to announce its spring production, Shrek the Musical Jr, which will include a cameo appearance by a well-known figure in the Caldwell-West Caldwell school system.
The musical about the lovable green ogre from the land Duloc will feature performances by 40 GCMS students, including Jackson Provan as Shrek, Mary Grace Cosgrove as Princess Fiona, Sienna Wilson as “Transformation” Fiona, Hannah Swift as Donkey, Ryan Anderson as Lord Farquaad, and Anna Hurley as Pinocchio. In addition, 10 to 15 GCMS students will serve as stage crew members.
“An audience favorite will be the character Donkey because Donkey is always fun to watch and is very funny! Another special highlight is that we will have some talented tap dancers tap dancing on the stage, plus a high-energy, full-cast dance number to ‘I’m A Believer’ by Smash Mouth to end the show. The students playing the Fairy Tale Creatures will also be a standout in the show,” said Jaime Maraviglia, the director of the production.
Shrek the Musical Jr will mark not only Maraviglia’s first production for the district, but also her coming full circle as a Caldwell-West Caldwell alum returning as a long-term substitute teacher and director.
“I participated in the middle school/high school theatrical productions when I was a student here, and I am happy to be giving back to the community that I grew up in,” Maraviglia said.
Maraviglia’s background includes experience with choreographing and directing youth productions in various programs, including the youth choir program at The First Presbyterian Church in Caldwell, children’s theater at a few regional theater companies in New Jersey, an after-school drama program, and youth summer camps.
Showtimes for Shrek the Musical Jr are Friday, June 3, at 6 pm; Saturday, June 5, at 1 and 6 pm; and Sunday, June 5, at 1 pm. The 1 pm performances on both Saturday and Sunday will be followed by a special Meet and Greet with the cast. Tickets are $5 each and are on sale here: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/64622.
