Shrek The Musical Jr. Creative

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Director (Artistic Director UTC)
Jessica Froehlich
Jessica Froehlich holds a BFA in Theatre from Marymount Manhattan College as well as a Master’s degree in Education from St. Thomas University. She received dance training from an early age, working with Italian ballet masters as well as Broadway veterans. Jess taught theatre, dance and English at Edina High School for nearly 25 years. During that tenure, some of the favorite shows she directed and choreographed include CHICAGO, A CHORUS LINE, and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. She is the co-founder of ‘Theatre For All,’ the groundbreaking inclusive theatre program at Edina High School, which has become a model for inclusive high school theatre. She retired from EHS in June 2023, and joined Unlabeled Theatre Company as Artistic Director. A lifelong music lover, she is a master tour guide and tour guide trainer at Paisley Park, where she also serves as a Master of Ceremonies for world-class musical events.
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Director (Director of Programming & Innovation UTC)
Lisa Hanson
Lisa taught special education at Edina High School for 20 years, working with students of all needs levels – from those with multiple/complex disabilities to neurotypical students. She is the other co-founder of ‘Theatre For All.’ Lisa created ArtWork Studios & ArtWork Kitchen, a vocational training program for students with disabilities. She was the founder and club advisor for Hornet Connections (later renamed Edina Unified,) the first program for students with and without disabilities at Edina High School. Lisa has been involved with Special Olympics Minnesota for 30 years – including as a coach, unified schools coordinator, team manager, and unified sports/youth leadership partner. She was head coach of the Edina Hornets, the first team with assisted athletes in Special Olympics MN. She established Hornet Connections / Edina Unified, which was one of the original four champion schools in Minnesota. Lisa was honored to be named Special Olympics MN Coach of the Year in 2002. She was also selected to coach the first MN United Unified Soccer team, in partnership with MN United FC. She also coached Team Minnesota, the basketball team for the first Special Olympics National Games.
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Vocal Director
Suzanne Reyburn
Suzanne Reyburn is so happy to be collaborating with Unlabeled Theatre Company on this production. She has worked as a music director, accompanist, stage performer, and arts educator for over 30 years. Some favorite professional music directing credits include The Full Monty (Paramount Theatre in St. Cloud, MN and Paul Bunyan Playhouse in Bemidji, MN), Putnam County’s 25th Annual Spelling Bee (Paul Bunyan Playhouse), The Who’s Tommy (Minneapolis Musical Theatre), Jerry Springer-the Opera (Minneapolis Musical Theatre), Oliver (Bluff City Theater in Hannibal, MO) and Alice in Wonderland (Bluff City Theater). Some favorite performance roles include Claire (bare), Lily (The Secret Garden), Cinderella (Into the Woods), and The Narrator (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). Suzanne is in her 26th year in the vocal music and theater departments at Totino-Grace High School working as a vocal instructor, choral conductor, collaborative pianist, music theater director, and teaching acting classes. Additionally she co-teaches two musical theater classes at Moore than Dance performing arts studio in Fridley. She has found such joy working with the UTC artists and shadow partners and is so excited to put these artists front and center to celebrate their artistic talents and passions.
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Producer (Founder & Executive Director UTC)
Chris Moquist
Chris spent 15 years in corporate communications, crisis management and public relations for successful companies like Target Corporation, Honeywell International, Padilla, and CaringBridge. He then left the corporate world to create YoYo Donuts, an independent, award-winning donut shop. He ran and grew the business, winning virtually every local and regional award and honor – including an episode of Food Network’s cooking competition show ‘Donut Showdown.’ He’s proud of starting the ‘donut renaissance’ in the Twin Cities (according to James Beard Award-winning food journalist Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl.) He successfully ran YoYo Donuts for nearly 15 years, before selling the business in early 2023. His personal interest in disability began two decades ago, when his twin daughters were unexpectedly born as micro-preemies. As a lifelong theatre fan, he was thrilled when they were able to experience inclusive theatre as part of Edina High School’s ‘Theatre For All’ program. Realizing that the majority of those inclusive opportunities ended after high school, he founded Unlabeled Theatre Company in early 2023, where he serves as its Executive Director.
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Prop, Set, Costume Design & Creation
Members of the UTC Technical Theatre Arts Class
All of the costume, prop, and set pieces you see were designed and created by the UTC "Technical Theatre Arts" class lead by teachers Lisa Hanson & Jessica Froehlich.
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Sound Design
Richard Graham
Richard Graham (he/him) is a freelance sound designer and engineer based in Minneapolis. Recent projects as sound designer include: Fox & Beggar: Vanaheimr; Guthrie: Importance of Being Earnest (asst. designer); Walking Shadow: Feast; Ethnic Dance Theatre: Reflections on the Danube; Black Lives Black Words: The Emancipation of Yankee Oluwale. As sound mixer/engineer: Artistry: Crazy For You, Some Enchanted Evening, Shrek; Theater Mu: Again, Man of God, Peerless, Hot Asian Doctor Husband; Great Northern/MNOpera: Cold Air Rises. As sound supervisor: Theater Mu: Hells Canyon; Offleash Area: Mulier Dierum; Park Square: The Revolutionists, Snowy Day, The Humans. Richard is a member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers association. More at richardgraham.net.
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Lighting Design
Shannon Elliot
Shannon Elliott works as an adjunct professor at Minneapolis College, board op and lighting programmer at Jungle Theater, and a freelance lighting designer in the Twin Cities. Her experience also includes sound production, projection design, and installation art. Previous companies include Lyric Arts, Candid Theatre, Minneapolis College, Theatre Unbound, Lakeshore Players, Shadow Horse, Haunted Basement, Metro State University, Open Window, and Dangerous Productions.

Corporate Sponsors, Supporters & Volunteers

Josh Barnd & Riverbottom Productions

 

 

 

 

Jordan Buckellew & Joy By Jo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beverly Claflin

Hellmuth & Johnson PLLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MNprov

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ann Morrison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northwestern College Theatre Department

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Northwestern College NEXT Program

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

James Rocco

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rubin Cordaro Design

 

Lindsey Smith

 

St. Peter's Church Edina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

True North Equity Partners

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A special thank you to our board members: Daron Dolynchuk, Peter Espinosa, Michele Landis, & Eric Molho!