For Everyone Who's Ever Felt Like a Misfit

Everyone loves a good fairy tale, but the story of Shrek is a fairy-tale extraordinaire, in my humble opinion. (What woman can’t empathize with a princess whose beauty disappears with the sun? After all, I hardly recognize the woman in the mirror if I have to rise in the middle of the night to comfort a sick child or escort a toddler to the potty). 

Luckily for us, the delightful magic of this tale has been turned into Shrek the Musical, which is playing at the Fabulous Fox Theatre through Sept. 26. Shrek the Musical is based on the Oscar-winning Dreamworks film that included an Ogre, sent to rescue a princess with a significant secret, a smarty-pants donkey and more than dozen other fairy-tale misfits.
 
In fact, Lisa Ho plays two of those misfits in the show - Baby Bear and Blind Mouse. Lisa is a member of the Broadway cast of Shrek the Musical, and her other credits include A Chorus Line (Broadway) and Mama Mia! (Toronto). She was kind enough to participate in a short interview about the show for SmartParenting readers:
 
Q. What lessons do you think young girls should take from the production, Shrek?
      
A.  “Beautiful ain't always pretty" is one of my favorite quotes from the show. Accept yourself for who you are. Embrace your imperfections. It's harder for females to come to terms with this, but you shouldn't feel pressured to be like everyone else or look like everyone else. Our differences are what make us all so unique and special.
 
Q. Why do you think Shrek appeals to the whole family?
     
A. There's something for everyone in Shrek. There are jokes that the kids love and there are jokes that the adults respond to, as well. Beyond being a great family show, the characters have depth and the story has heart. The music goes through so many styles from classical, to pop, to R&B, to folk. Kids, teens, and adults will enjoy it.  
 
Q.  Do you have any life experiences that helped you understand this character, and if so, can you share them?
 
A. Unlike Shrek, I had very nurturing and loving parents, but I think most people at some point in their lives feel like an outcast of some kind. I was always the shortest and one of the few visible minorities at times. At different points growing up, I certainly felt that people were talking about me behind my back or bullying me. You learn to rise above it, and you grow strength from it. In Shrek's case, he put up strong boundaries to protect himself from everyone, and is even harsh to people that mean no harm to him. Throughout his journey, you eventually see that he does have a kind heart and even he can open himself up to new people and experiences.

Q. What is your favorite thing about traveling with this production?   
 
A. I did Shrek on Broadway for a year, so it's nice to bring Shrek to a new city every few weeks and watch how different cities respond to the show. I haven't seen much of the U.S. other than L.A. and New York so I'm really looking forward to visiting the cities in the Midwest and in the South. On a personal note, I love food, so I love exploring all the different cuisines across the country with my cast mates. I love barbecue and I hear St.Louis has a lot to offer! I'm certain the Shrek cast will be doing a barbecue tour of the city.

Tickets to Shrek the Musical are on sale now at the Fox box office, through Metrotix and Metrotix outlets and by calling 314-534-1111. Tickets for the show, which runs 2 1/2 hours, cost $26 to $68, and discounts are available for Girl Scout groups of 10 or more. For special pricing on a family four-pack of tickets, click here

By Michelle Cox, special to Smartparenting