On Nov. 10 Crawford will succeed Brian d'Arcy James, who created the titular green ogre to Tony-nominated effect. As previously reported, James departs Nov. 8 to star in Manhattan Theatre Club's production of Time Stands Still.
DreamWorks Theatricals & Neal Street Productions also announced Aug. 14 that a new block of tickets are now available for Shrek: Tickets are now on sale through May 30, 2010.
Shrek also stars Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona, Tony Award nominee Christopher Sieber as Lord Farquaad, Tony Award nominee Daniel Breaker as Donkey and Tony Award nominee John Tartaglia as Pinocchio.
The ensemble comprises Cameron Adams, Tessa Albertson, Rōzi Baker, Haven Burton, Bobby Daye, Ryan Duncan, Sarah Jane Everman, Aymee Garcia, Maya Goldman, Justin Greer, Colleen Hawks, Lisa Ho, Chris Hoch, Marty Lawson, Carolyn Ockert-Haythe, Frankie Paparone, Denny Paschall, Eric Petersen, Keven Quillon, Heather Jane Rolff, Jennifer Simard, Rachel Stern, Dennis Stowe, David F.M. Vaughn, Ryan Worsing and Kirsten Wyatt.
Ben Crawford made his Broadway debut in the revival of Les Misérables, where he understudied the roles of both Javert and Jean Valjean. Other past credits include Oliver! at the MUNY (Bill Sykes) and Oklahoma! at TOTS (Jud Fry) as well as productions of Carousel (Billy Bigelow), White Christmas (Bob Wallace), Guys and Dolls (Sky Masterson) and Assassins (John Wilkes-Booth). Shrek features a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire, music by Olivier Award winner Jeanine Tesori and direction by Tony Award nominee Jason Moore.
Shrek, according to a press statement, "is an entirely new musical based on the story and characters from William Steig's book 'Shrek!,' as well as the DreamWorks Animation film."
For more information visit www.shrekthemusical.com.
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In September Shrek will offer a special "SHREKtember" savings on tickets. Valid for evening performances Sept. 1-Oct. 4, anyone can buy one full-price ticket and get a second ticket for free. For more information visit www.SHREKtember.com.
