Cast of ‘Shrek the Musical’ at Kiski Area High School holds breakfast fundraiser in full costume

Joyce Hanz
Saturday, March 26, 2022 2:01 p.m. | Saturday, March 26, 2022 2:01 p.m.

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Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

Lorenzo Milos, 7, of Penn Hills visits with Bryant Brzozowski as Shrek during the “Shrek The Musical” character breakfast Saturday at Kiski Area High School.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

Kiski Area High School student Garrett Seymour as Lord Farquaad from “Shrek The Musical” at the Saturday Character Breakfast fundraiser for the spring musical.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

From left: Kiski Area High School drama students Bryant Brzozowski as Shrek, Akila Yaw as Donkey and Shannon Brown as Fiona, from “Shrek The Musical.”

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

Kiski Area High School drama student Jackson Newell as Humpty Dumpty signs an autograph for Maelynne Stevenson, 7, of Jefferson Hills at the “Shrek The Musical” character breakfast Saturday. Looking on is Maelynnye’s mom, Regina Slater, with sons Bennet and Brett Slater.

Joyce Hanz | Tribune-Review

Siblings Kaziah, Silas and Kaleb O’Malley of Washington Township pose with Kiski Area High School student Sydney Cerminara as Dragon, during the "Shrek The Musical" character breakfast fundraiser held Saturday in the high school cafeteria. The event served as a fundraiser for the drama high school musical program.

Kiski Area High School drama students rolled out a swampy green welcome mat for a “Character Breakfast” fundraiser Saturday morning at the high school cafeteria.

Guests were able to interact with numerous lead characters — in full costume — from the upcoming spring musical production of “Shrek the Musical.”

More than 100 supporters showed up during two separate breakfast seatings. Musical director Robert Capanna said the event raised about $1,000.

“Fundraising is essential and our program is self-sustaining,” Capanna said.

Capanna said he chose “Shrek the Musical” this season to kick off a return to the stage after a two-year hiatus because of the pandemic.

“After two years of not doing a full musical, we wanted a show with larger-than-life characters and to have fun,” Capanna said.

Capanna said the breakfast served as important practice for the actors. “This is giving our actors a chance to get into character with a live audience. It helps to shake off the nerves and polish off their performance.”

Lorenzo Milos, 7, shared a few moments one-on-one with Shrek, played by Kiski Area student Bryant Brzozowski.

“He’s nice,” Milos said. “He looks like the movie.”

Capanna said that parents “have thanked us for doing this. … Lots of smiles from the kids.”

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Kiski Area senior Shannon Brown, who plays Fiona, said she enjoyed “an interactive morning with the kids,” in particular the girls. “A lot of the little girls played with my jewelry and some of them thought I was real. I did a lot of princess waving.”

Capanna enjoyed the enthusiastic reaction from the youngsters. “The kids really loved Humpty Dumpty. He even sat on the wall outside in the courtyard. And the three little pigs were great with their German accents.”

The production has almost 100 students in the pit orchestra, cast and crew.

Kiski Area School Board member Michelle Schmidt attended the breakfast to lend support to the cast and crew. “I love that Kiski promotes the arts so well and our musical program garners a lot of interest. The shows sell out and the excitement is always there,” Schmidt said.

“Shrek the Musical” will run from April 6 to 9. Tickets are available at KiskiMusical.com.