Shrek the Musical leaves his home in the swamp for a national tour in Chicago. Windy City Times sat down with the lyric writer David Lindsey-Abaire and music composer Jeanine Tesori.
Windy City Times: Welcome to Chicago. Tell me about your various backgrounds.
David Lindsey-Abaire: I am primarily a playwright, so musical stuff is pretty new to me. I went to Sarah Lawrence College where I started playwriting there. I then went to Juilliard for their playwriting program. I wrote a play called Fuddy Meers. While I was at Juilliard, I wrote a bunch of plays including Rabbit Hole. I did one other musical called High Fidelity. This is my first musical where I wrote book and lyrics.
WCT: I wanted to ask you about Rabbit Hole, which is going to be a movie with Nicole Kidman.
David Lindsey-Abaire: It has been made into a movie that is in post-production now. Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Diane Weiss and Sandra Oh are all in it. It has a great cast. It comes out in the fall but there is no release date yet.
WCT: And your background, Jeanine?
Jeanine Tesori: I went to Barnard after high school. I started in pre-med and switched to music. I took music courses at Columbia.
David Lindsey-Abaire: I switched from pre-med as well.
Jeanine Tesori: You did? I started working on the side on Broadway and Off-Broadway. My first job was actually here as assistant conductor for the Big River tour. We played at the Arie Crown. I met a lot of people through that and then went from show to show. I learned about the mechanics. I left Tommy and wrote my first musical from the ground up called Violet.
WCT: You wrote the music for the movie Shrek the Third?
Jeanine Tesori: David and I wrote a couple of the songs. In the music business I have learned to anticipate any kind of crash and to diversify. I have done a lot of record producing in Nashville and New York.
WCT: What brought you to the Shrek project?
Jeanine Tesori: The team, really, I was the last one to be brought on board. I loved the movie and really loved the team that was doing it. I thought it would be an interesting experience and that is what it has been. It has been a lot of fun. The group has a great sense of humor. We had a really good time.
David Lindsey-Abaire: For me, I was the first one on so I can't say it was the team, but it was the story and the big heartedness. It seemed like a great idea for a musical.
WCT: How different is the musical from the movie?
David Lindsey-Abaire: Story wise, it is very similar to the movie. It follows the plot of the first movie but in musical theater we have the luxury of racking things open a little bit and asking questions that are not addressed in the movie such as, How does Shrek end up in that swamp? What is Fiona doing in that tower? How long has she been there and what does she do all day? You will see what Farquaard's deal is with the fairytale creatures. Why is he so short? That is all new plot with the back story that we have added. There were not any songs in the movie. There is a score but we gave musical voice to characters that didn't have it before.
Jeanine Tesori: Strangely in animated stories as well as musicals, the process is almost the same. The movie is very well suited for us to work with. They know what it takes to work on something for four years. It is the same timeline. You have to stay interested and not stop because you are bored with it.
WCT: Lord Farquaad's number "What's Up Duloc?" at the Tonys was a showstopper!
David Lindsey-Abaire: Oh yes!
Jeanine Tesori: Thank you.
WCT: How long does it take Brian D'Arcy James' makeup for the Shrek character?
David Lindsey-Abaire: I think it is down to 90 minutes. It used to be over two hours initially.
Jeanine Tesori: It is a science.
David Lindsey-Abaire: It is probably a half hour to take it off.
Jeanine Tesori: Yeah, they have to be careful.
David Lindsey-Abaire: It will rip off the skin.
WCT: Ouch! Is Shrek the musical for adults or kids?
David Lindsey-Abaire: It appeals to all ages. I wouldn't have done it if it didn't have slightly adult humor that goes over most of the kid's heads. It is a good combo. It is a great feeling to sit in the back of the theater and watch kids laugh at one line and their parents laugh at another.
Jeanine Tesori: It is for ages seven to one hundred and seven. That's what is hard to do.
WCT: People should know that from the movies.
Jeanine Tesori: From having kids we know when they get bored. The romantic story is for the adults and we try to put lemon juice in that so the children stay interested. It is a delicate balance.
WCT: And you have to keep the gays interested as well.
David Lindsey-Abaire: We are a gay-friendly show.
WCT: That's what I want to hear!
Journey to a faraway kingdom at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph, for Shrek the Musical July 13-Sept. 5. For more information visit BroadwayInChicago.com or call 312-977-1717.