If, even after a stroke, you'd still be able to sing the entire score of Assassins, or if you think God looks something like Elaine Stritch, Shrek the Musical (through September 21 at the 5th Avenue Theatre, tickets $28-$90) is probably not your cup of tea. We expected to be solidly in that camp at the opening night world premiere of the DreamWorks-based musical. Imagine our surprise when we loved it--and loved the bad guy......

Shrek: For your information, there's a lot more to musicals than people think. Donkey: Example? Shrek: Example? Okay, er... musicals... are... like onions. Donkey: [sniffs onion] They stink? Shrek: Yes...NO! Donkey: Or they make you cry. Shrek: No! Well, sometimes. Donkey: Oh, you leave them out in the sun and they turn brown and start sproutin' little white hairs. Shrek: NO! LAYERS! Onions have layers. Musicals have layers. Onions have layers... you get it.......

Once upon a time in a land not so far, far away, our head exploded. DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. have announced that Shrek the Musical will play an exclusive world premiere engagement at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, August 14–September 21, prior to opening on Broadway in the fall of 2008. Preview performances will begin in early November at a theater to be announced. Shrek the Musical is an entirely......