He’s mean, he’s green and beginning this weekend, everyone’s favorite fairytale ogre will be making an appearance at the Whidbey Playhouse.

“Shrek the Musical Jr.” opens this Friday at the playhouse, showcasing a talented cast of almost 50 young people. The stage adaptation of the 2001 DreamWorks animated film follows the grumpy yet lovable ogre on his quest to rid his once-solitudinous swamp of a host of fairytale creatures who have been exiled there by the evil Lord Farquaad.

Along the way, Shrek will make friends with a garrulous Donkey and find true love with the stubbornly idealistic Fiona, a princess with an ugly secret.

Director Shelby Montoya said the musical is just like the movie, but with some catchy and moving show tunes thrown in.

“I don’t want to spoil the end, but there is a moment in the show that sends chills through my body,” she said. “I’m not kidding — they make me cry when performing this song every single night.”

Audiences can expect to see Shrek as they have never seen him before. Graham Ray, who plays the title character, said he and the directors decided to buck tired interpretations of the iconic character in favor of a more unique and charming presentation.

“The idea that we aren’t following the masses with my character and that I get to make Shrek who I want him to be — with input from the directors of course — is the best part of playing Shrek,” Ray said.

The cast of “Shrek Jr.” comprises a whopping 48 kids, ranging in age from 6 to 18 years old. Montoya said one of the joys of having such a large cast is watching the kids grow in their love for theater.

For Ethan Johnson, who plays Donkey, the creative process and freedom of expression is part of what makes theater so special. He said his character has an “eccentric energy” that has developed since the cast began rehearsals three months ago.

“Playing such a beloved character is fun because I get to be able to make a new version of the character that is my own,” Johnson said.

Grace Jones, who plays the fire-breathing dragon guarding Princess Fiona’s tower, expressed a similar sentiment.

“The Dragon’s development over the course of rehearsals is definitely apparent,” Jones said. “I originally was very nervous about auditioning, especially for a supporting lead role, but as I’ve become more comfortable on stage she has definitely gotten more sassy and ferocious.”

Eclipse Garrett, who plays the gingerbread man Gingy, said “Shrek Jr.” represents a major comeback for the playhouse’s youth program from the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the kids who participated in youth productions prior to the pandemic have returned in the cast of “Shrek Jr.,” Garrett said.

“This is our first summer show since ‘The Lion King’ in 2019, and I hope the audience can see how much we’ve grown and changed,” Garrett said.

Cast members said audiences are sure to get a good laugh out of the light-hearted comedy. Logan Hendricks, who plays Lord Farquaad, said he enjoyed being the “comical villain,” adding that the character is funny despite being the bad guy.

Dana Rivo, who plays Princess Fiona, said she still can’t help herself from laughing backstage during certain scenes, such as one in which Shrek clumsily attempts to explain to Donkey how ogres are like onions because they both have layers.

“I hope (audiences) get a good stomach laugh out of watching this show,” Rivo said. “Despite continuously hearing multiple scenes over and over again, I still get a good laugh.”

Interwoven with the jokes and laughter is a plain and powerful message about self acceptance and embracing differences. Cillian Burke, who plays Pinocchio, said he hopes audiences will feel uplifted by the show’s message that “everybody is different and weird in their own way.”

“Instead of criticizing others just because they’re different, we should all join each other in accepting our differences and not let anyone tell us who to be,” he said.

Montoya said she holds the same hope for those who come to see the show.

“There is empowerment in self love,” she said of the production’s message. “Choose to live life as your true self and find your own happily ever after.”

“Shrek Jr.” runs July 21-23 and 28-30, with Friday and Saturday evening shows beginning at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees beginning at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available online at whidbeyplayhouse.com or by calling the box office at 360-679-2237.

Photos by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times From left, Addison Horrobin, Chelsie Turner and Andilynn Eller portray the Three Little Pigs, joining a number of other fable characters as they lament the various struggles and prejudices they face as fairytale creatures in the land of Duloc.

From left, Logan Hendricks as Lord Farquaad, Kinley Quayle as the Bishop, Cillian Burke as Pinocchio and Thorin Allen as the Dwarf perform a scene in which the Dwarf reveals a startling secret about Duloc’s wicked ruler.

Graham Ray and Ethan Johnson play Shrek and Donkey in the Whidbey Playhouse’s upcoming production of “Shrek the Musical.”

Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times Graham Ray stars as the titular character in “Shrek the Musical” at the Whidbey Playhouse.

Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times Santiago Ochoa plays the Big Bad Wolf in “Shrek the Musical” at the Whidbey Playhouse.

Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times Princess Fiona, played by Dana Rivo, laments her life spent waiting in a tower for a prince to rescue her.

Dana Rivo, who plays Princess Fiona, greets a number of woodland creatures in the song ‘Morning Person.’

Photo by Karina Andrew/Whidbey News-Times Reconciled as ogres, Shrek, played by Graham Ray, and Princess Fiona, played by Dana Rivo, lead the cast of fairytale creatures and Duloc residents in the finale.