CCS high school to perform Shrek musical in October

David Rushing, the new vocal music instructor for grades 6-12, is in the process of putting together the musical performance of Shrek for the community.
“The musical will have two and maybe three performances on Oct. 23 and 24,” Rushing said.
 “It was a bit stressful at first deciding on what musical to do. I didn’t want to do something that had been done before,” he said.
“While researching musicals, a student suggested Shrek. I know the show and the musical well, so I decided to go with it,” he added.
When he announced to the students the name of the musical, he said their eyes lit up.
As far as past experience, he said he was in a musical in grade school where he had one line, he laughed.
While student teaching, he helped with the production of a high school musical, he said.
“This is my first musical to direct, but I am excited to do it,”  Rushing said.
His assistant directors are CCS teachers Jodie Liess and Jill Bauerle.
There are 25 to 35 characters to be assigned, but many are very small parts and some students may perform more than one character, he said.
“The four main characters, Shrek, Donkey, Farquaad and Fiona, have been chosen. But I am planning on opening up the parts to middle school students to play smaller parts and to fill in,” Rushing said.
Preparation for the students in the musical will require a lot of practice on their own at first since time is short, he said.
Rushing said he is very excited about the musical and looking forward to it.