Shrek - The Musical

CRITIC’S PICK: A bunch of misfits led by an ugly green one are coming to the Fox as part of a national tour. The musical version of Shrek has gotten a revamp from its creators, Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire, with all-new direction and choreography “to deliver a more intimate and engaging experience,” they assert. What that actually means remains to be seen, but suffice to say the story has been massively successful since its origins as a Dreamworks animated movie in 2001. Voiced by the likes of Eddie Murphy, Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, and John Lithgow, the flick raked in close to $500 million worldwide and set up the film company as a worthy competitor to Pixar. The title character was initially recorded by Chris Farley, but he died before finishing his role, with Myers replacing him. “We wanted to make a show that families could come to — to laugh and be moved,” Tesori says. “Something that would create a memory, because everybody has felt like an ogre now and then.” — Kevin C. Madigan