Jonathan Singleton
Musicians are in sync with the cast for Friday's opening of "Shrek The Musical".
“Shrek The Musical” opens Friday and all the pieces of the play performed by the Greer Children’s Theatre are falling into place.
The orchestra is no exception. Musicians have been listening to rehearsal CDs and learning their parts for the past two months. They have been rehearsing for almost two weeks, said Alexandra Eshenbaugh, music director.
Wesley Austin, percussionist, is enjoying trying something new. “I did Tarzan in March of this year, and that was my first musical I’ve ever played percussion on.”
Matthew Windon brings experience to his role as drummer. “As far as my past performances go, I’ve done it all. Musical theatre is my favorite. It’s the only place I can play jazz, rock, classical — every style of music behind the drum kit in one gig.”
Austin’s biggest challenge was “getting used to how choreographed and how planned (the musical) has to be and how everybody has gotten to be on the same page, figuratively or literally.”
Ashley Holcomb agreed, comparing her musical theatre experience to her time in concert band at North Greenville University. “(In concert band) there’s other people on your part, so if you don’t come in at the right time, it’s OK. But here . . . you’re the only one who has your part, so you have to bring it out.”
As a result, it can take a while for the music to sound right. Holcomb said, “The first couple of rehearsals are always a train wreck. None of us really know how it fits together, even after listening to the music . But then, once you get to the finished product, it’s like, ‘This is so good. How did it go from this to this in such a short time?’”
Eshenbaugh said, “For me, it’s incredibly satisfying to be able to see the whole process from beginning to end, to see how the cast has grown musically, and even in these few rehearsals that we have had with the orchestra, how much we’ve improved musically. It’s so neat to see everybody become their own and investigate their own artistic expressions.”
“Shrek The Musical” will be performed at the J. Harley Bonds Center Oct.17-19 and 24-26. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinees are 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $7 for children under 5.