Jordan-Matthews Theater Travels to the Swamp with ‘Shrek The Musical’ on March 30 through April 2

SILER CITY, N.C. — Everyone’s favorite ogre will take theater audiences on a fairytale journey into the swamp and beyond this month when Jordan-Matthews High School presents “Shrek The Musical.”

Performances of the Broadway musical are Thursday, March 30, at 7 p.m.; Friday, March 31, at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 2, at 3 p.m. There is no Saturday performance. General admission tickets are $8 each and now available online at JMArtsTickets.com. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door before each performance. No passes — including Chatham County Schools and senior citizens’ passes — can be accepted. Everyone entering the theater, regardless of age, must have a ticket. 

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, “Shrek The Musical” is a Tony Award-winning fairytale adventure, featuring all new songs from Jeanine Tesori — composer for “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “Caroline, or Change” — and a sidesplitting book by David Lindsay-Abaire. “Shrek” brings all the beloved characters you know from the film to life on stage and proves there's more to the story than meets the ears.

“Shrek The Musical” opened on Broadway in 2008, receiving nominations for 12 Drama Desk Awards and eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. Its success launched a North America tour in 2010 and, since then, the musical has entertained audiences on London’s West End and all around the world.

Jordan-Matthews brings a huge production to the stage, featuring a 39-member cast and 15-member stage crew with students in art and carpentry classes building and painting scenery.

“This show is a huge growth for the musical theater program this year,” said theater teacher Sawyer Shafer, who directs the musical. “Not only do we have about twice as many kids involved as last year during ‘Oklahoma!,’ but we have really been able to see these kids shine in a whole new light thanks to the contributions of choreographer and dance teacher Tara Rooks. A lot of these students are now getting the full ‘spectacle musical’ experience for the first time, and I’m excited for audiences to come experience this show.

“It’s on track to be the best show of my short tenure as director here.”

Producer Rose Pate agrees, pointing out the huge number of costumes and even bigger dance numbers. Some students could be intimidated by such a leap in complexity, but Pate said everyone in this production rose to the challenge.

“I’ve seen a lot of student leadership throughout the entire preparation process,” she said. “I couldn’t be prouder of how our kids have stepped up to make this great show work. And our adult leaders are a real dream team as well.”

More than 200 individuals and groups work together each year to bring the musical to life. Adults on this year’s ‘dream team’ include Elliott Peterson as assistant director and musical director, Cynthia Bredenberg as wardrobe supervisor and Heath Smith as hair and makeup supervisor. Several students also were part of the creative team, including Dylan Mendoza Huezos on set construction and Victoria Barlow on set design.

More information about “Shrek The Musical” and other arts events scheduled for this season is available online at jmarts.org/events.

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The Captain of the Guard (Louis Graham) sends frightening chills through Humpty Dumpty (Emmanuel Hernandez) and Sugar Plum Fairy (Mylie Cardman) in “Shrek The Musical,” running March 30 through April 2 at Jordan-Matthews High School. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Pied Piper (Sarah Dekaney) enchants some of the dancing rats (Andrey Ureña-Seceña, left, and Cheyenne Benton). About 40 student actors will be on stage at Jordan-Matthews from March 30 through April 2 with three performances of “Shrek The Musical.” (Photo by Chip Pate)

The Three Blind Mice from the famous nursery rhyme and song — played, from left, by Shara Tolentino Perez, Sarai Ibarra Rivera and Aridai Carrillo Ibarra — make an appearance during the ogre’s fanciful journey in “Shrek The Musical.” Public performances at Jordan-Matthews High School are March 30, March 31 and April 2. (Photo by Chip Pate)

Sanaiya Cheek, left, and Mitchell Rist are two of the dancers Shrek encounters in the kingdom of Duloc, one of the stops along his hilarious, fairytale journey. “Shrek The Musical” has three performances at Jordan-Matthews High School from Thursday, March 30, through Sunday, April 2. (Photos by Chip Pate)

JMArts Songwriting Workshop Offered With Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund

SILER CITY, N.C. — “Sharing Our Musical Voices,” a songwriting workshop for about 20 Jordan-Matthews High School students — culminating in a free public concert — will be offered this spring thanks to a grant by the Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund.

Two hands-on sessions led by musician-songwriter Mark Dillon will be held after school on April 5 and 26. They will introduce songwriting basics and techniques — including production methods and how to copyright original work — and help students begin composing original songs.

The workshop then concludes with a free, public, coffeehouse concert on May 10, where students will present their original work and a guest artist will perform. The concert will be held at 6 p.m. outdoors on the Rotary Stage in downtown Siler City, adjacent to The Chatham Rabbit and NC Arts Incubator.

“The purpose of the songwriting workshop is to write one good song,” says Dillon. “As minor an accomplishment as that sounds, writing one good song leads to the ability to write more good songs (and maybe a few bad ones as well).”

A former Jordan-Matthews music teacher, Dillon was born into a musical family. His first memories are of sitting on Dolly Parton’s lap while watching his great-uncle Lloyd’s country radio show. After finishing a degree in music theory and then a master’s degree in guitar building, he started a business repairing guitars while playing music most nights in the Chicago area. Later, he became a high school music teacher and specialized in teaching popular music and recording.

Dillon went on to earn a master’s degree and Ph.D. in music education. He currently performs regularly, including with The Zinc Kings folk and string band, and teaches commercial music at Guilford Technical Community College and songwriting at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He maintains a website at markdillonmusic.com.

The Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund, which provided funding for “Sharing Our Musical Voices,” awards community grants to Chatham County not-for-profits, public schools and county government agencies to support food, shelter, education and community services projects.

More information about JMArts, including a schedule of all upcoming arts events and information on membership, is available at JMArts.org.

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Singer-songwriter Mark Dillon will lead “Sharing Our Musical Voices,” a free student songwriting workshop and public concert this spring at Jordan-Matthews High School funded by the Galloway Ridge Chatham County Charitable Fund.

Fearrington Village Singers Donation Creates 2023 JMArts Scholarships in Music

SILER CITY, N.C. — More musicians at Jordan-Matthews High School will have an opportunity to study music and experience life on a college campus this summer thanks to a contribution to JMArts by the Fearrington Village Singers.

Musicians, donors and patrons of the choral group based in Fearrington Village made a one-time, $4,000 gift to establish 2023 JMArts-Fearrington Village Singers scholarships as part of JMArts Scholars. The flagship project of JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation, allows JM actors, dancers, musicians and visual artists to pursue intensive fine arts study over the summer, usually at weeklong residential programs based on college campuses.

Scholarships funded by the Fearrington Village Singers will focus on students studying vocal and instrumental music.

Since being launched in 2012, JMArts has presented 80 scholarships to 56 students, with some receiving awards to study for more than one summer. The initiative was designed to help young artists develop their talent, explore artistic options before making their college decisions, experience life on campus and bring what they learn back to share with other JM students.

Seven students were named JMArts Scholars last year. Victoria Barlow and Clara Rojas attended the UNCG Summer Art and Design Intensive in Greensboro. David Ta'Bon and Karsyn Vann attended the UNCG Summer Music Camp in Senior High Band in Greensboro. Buck Thornton attended the Summer Youth Conservatory Theatre Intensive at PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill. Andrey Ureña-Seceña attended the Temple Theatre Musical Theatre Conservatory in Sanford. And Traycee Wall attended the UNCG Summer Music Camp in Senior Mixed Chorus in Greensboro.

The number of scholarships offered each summer depends on contributions received throughout the year. Scholarships are funded by primarily by individual and organizational contributions to the foundation, but also by community fundraisers and ticket sales for the annual musical and major concerts during the academic year. This year’s annual musical, “Shrek The Musical,” opens later this month with performances on March 30, March 31 and April 2.

Organizations and individuals interested in contributing to JMArts Scholars may contact JMArts President Rose Pate at info@jmarts.org. Contributions are accepted online at JMArts.org or can be mailed to JMArts, PO Box 395, Siler City, NC, 27344.

More information about JMArts, including a schedule of all upcoming arts events and information on membership, is available online at JMArts.org.

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2022 JMArts Scholars studying last summer were, from left, Clara Rojas, Karsyn Vann, David Ta’Bon, Traycee Wall, Andrey Ureña-Seceña, Victoria Barlow and, in front, Buck Thornton. (Photo by Chip Pate)