If you’re on campus tonight, look up. You’ll see our iconic Inlustrate Orbem building’s tower aglow in green light. Green?! Yes, it’s green—in celebration of Shrek, The Musical, Upper School’s magnificent production of the beloved story of love, regardless of its package. 

For the past several weeks, everyone in Performing Arts has worked tirelessly in preparation for this weekend’s shows. Actors learning lines and stage direction. Lighting and sound techs testing and setting up their boards and controls. Costumers collecting, sewing, and ironing. The scene shop is a whir of activity with sawdust in the air, paint brushes brushing, and props appearing as if produced with the wave of a magic wand. 

You may know the towering, eponymous ogre is a bright shade of green…which got English teacher Richard Harris thinking about the most renowned green light in literature and its symbolism of yearning, attainment, and love (eleventh grade American Literature students are currently studying The Great Gatsby). This then got Mr. Harris thinking about Gatsby, Daisy, Fiona, and Shrek—and the quest for the green light was born. 

From Mr. Harris:

Gatsby and Fiona believe in the green light. As the sun goes down, the sky glows green and magical," and we hear Fiona say, ‘By day one way, by night another. This shall be the norm until you find true love’s first kiss and then take love’s true form.’” 

Have a magical weekend at the musical, everyone!