Shrek the Musical comes to the Colonial Theatre

LACONIA — Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, the resident theater company of the Colonial Theatre in Laconia, continues its 2026 season sponsored by Lavalley Middleton Building Supply, MVSB, and Grappone Automotive Group with the hit musical comedy, "Shrek the Musical." Based on the popular Dreamworks animated movie, the production brings Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Lord Farquuad and all the fairy tale characters to the swamp on the Colonial stage, Aug. 7-9.

"Shrek" is the third production in Powerhouse’s 2026 Colonial Series sponsored by BNH and the Platinum Group and has performances Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Colonial Theatre box office or from Coloniallaconia.com or powerhousenh.org. Avoid third party sites which inflate the prices — the top ticket price before online fees is only $24.

"Shrek the Musical" is fun for all ages and after its original run on Broadway has become a staple of youth and community theater companies around the world. Filled with silly comedy, catchy songs, and dynamic dancing, Shrek is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

As usual, Powerhouse boasts a talented cast of over 60 kids and adults working hard all summer to bring the show to life. Familiar faces on the Colonial stage include Kyle Sidders as Shrek (Quasimodo in last season’s "Hunchback") and Emilee Thompson as Princess Fiona (narrator in "The Magician’s Elephant") and many others. There are also 12 newcomers making their Powerhouse Theatre debuts.

"Shrek" will be directed by Bryan Halperin and Courtney Palmer, music is directed by Alex Hunton, and choreographed by Meg King. Emma Molloy is the stage manager, and the design team includes Samantha Tutasi (scenic), Heather Vitale and Christopher Graham (costumes and makeup), BJ Eckardt (props) and Tyler Soucy (lights and sound).

The production is sponsored by The Friendly Toast and Lakes FM 101.5.

"2026 is our season of fun and what show is more fun than Shrek? Filled with slapstick, silly puns, and gassy ogres, you’ll be sure to have a good time while also enjoying the heartwarming message of kindness, friendship, and being your true self," said Palmer. 

Like it did last year for its summer production of "Elf the Musical," Powerhouse will be collecting donations to support the Lakes Region Children’s Fund after each performance. The Fund supports Powerhouse with a grant to provide free tickets to underserved kids and their families and this way Powerhouse can contribute back to the fund.

For all the details on Powerhouse Theatre Collaborative, auditions, and other events in the 2026 season, visit powerhousenh.org or email info@powerhousenh.org.