Shrek lands in São Paulo with a 9-meter dragon

Starring Tiago Abravanel and Evelyn Castro, Shrek The Musical opens April 15 at Teatro Renault with 30 actors, 25 songs and a major production.

DreamWorks’ beloved ogre arrives in São Paulo in a large-scale Brazilian staging produced by Instituto Artium in co-production with Atelier de Cultura, the team behind Wicked in Brazil. The run continues through June 7 at Teatro Renault, with tickets already on sale through Tickets For Fun and the venue box office.

The cast features Tiago Abravanel as Shrek, Evelyn Castro as Donkey, and Myra Ruiz and Fabi Bang alternating as Fiona. The production also includes Baccic, Fabrizio Gorziza, Amanda Vicente and Mateus Ribeiro, alongside an ensemble of performers well known to Brazilian musical theater audiences.

Shrek The Musical goes big on stage

The new staging stands out for its scale. It brings 30 actors to the stage, more than 940 costume pieces, 145 full looks, 57 hats, 280 pairs of shoes, 150 wigs, 15 set changes and 25 musical numbers. On top of that, the show features a dragon measuring around 9 meters.

One of the most talked-about details is Tiago Abravanel’s transformation. The actor will use 200 prosthetics made in London, one for each performance. His full characterization takes about three hours and includes makeup, prosthetics and costume.

Fiona’s shift from human to ogre is also designed as one of the fastest and most complex changes in the show. “Working on Fiona’s costume is an exercise in duality. We need to combine the princess’s delicacy with the ogre’s strength while preserving the agility required for the scenes. Drawing from Tim Hatley’s designs was essential to ensure Brazilian audiences get the same striking visual experience as Broadway, but with the touch and excellence of our local production,” costume designer Ligia Rocha said.

A cast built for musical theater fans

The story follows Shrek and his inseparable Donkey on a journey filled with music, laughs and adventure. As the plot unfolds, the characters challenge stereotypes and show that everyone deserves a happy ending, even outside traditional fairy-tale standards.

“It’s a character loved by so many generations, full of humor, courage and heart. I hope to bring energy, emotion and a lot of fun to the audience,” Tiago Abravanel said. Evelyn Castro also pointed to the demands of playing Donkey: “It’s a role that requires rhythm, listening and total commitment. Donkey is the beating heart of the story, the one who provokes, questions and drives the narrative. Taking on this role is a challenge that excites me as an actress.”

Myra Ruiz spoke about stepping into Fiona’s world. “It’s very special to dive into a character who is so fun, full of nuance and humanity. I’m excited to reconnect with the audience in a show that balances humor, emotion and a very beautiful message.” Fabi Bang added: “She breaks away from standards and embraces who she really is. Audiences can expect a production made with a lot of love and dedication.”

Director Gustavo Barchilon sees the Brazilian version as more than a replica. “Shrek is a story about breaking molds, and having Fabi and Myra alternate as Fiona embodies that limitless talent. The Teatro Renault production is not just a reproduction, it is a celebration of the technical greatness Brazilian musical theater has achieved. We are bringing together the story’s sharp humor and huge heart to create a show that speaks to every generation.”

A global hit arrives at Teatro Renault

The musical originally opened on Broadway in 2008 at the Broadway Theatre and has since traveled to countries including Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Mexico, Argentina, Israel and Australia. Based on the DreamWorks animated film and William Steig’s book, it features book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire and music by Jeanine Tesori.

In the Brazilian production, “I’m Beliver” will be performed in English, keeping the direct link to the original film, which marks its 25th anniversary in 2026. The staging also includes visual and scenic references to titles such as “Mary Poppins,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “The Lion King,” “Gypsy,” “A Chorus Line,” “Chicago,” “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” and “Dreamgirls.”

Carlos Cavalcanti, president of Instituto Artium, summed up the ambition behind the production: “Every new production is a chance to raise the technical and artistic standards of Brazilian musical theater. In Shrek – The Musical, we invested in creative set solutions, impactful special effects and a new structure to tell this story in a grand and moving way. Audiences can expect an innovative and surprising show.”

Presented by Brazil’s Ministry of Culture and Brasilprev, with Comgás as master sponsor, the production also has Sem Parar as gold sponsor, sponsorship from EMS and Alelo, and support from Livelo, Unisys, Atlas Schindler, CNA, SegurPro and NR.

Event Info

• Show: Shrek, The Musical
• Opening night: April 15, Wednesday, at 8 p.m.
• Run: through June 7
• Venue: Teatro Renault | Av. Brigadeiro Luis Antonio, 411 – Bela Vista
• Performances: Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
• Tickets: from R$50 to R$450
• Online sales: www.ticketforfun.com.br
• Box office: Teatro Renault | Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 8 p.m., except holidays
• Age rating: all ages. Children under 12 must be accompanied by legal guardians
• Running time: 165 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission
• Ogro Pass: limited to 50 tickets per performance in selected VIP sections, available only during the first 48 hours after new dates open, including a backstage tour 1 hour before the show
• Brasilprev discount: 30% off, not cumulative with other discounts, limited to 4 tickets per taxpayer ID; valid for all sections except Balcão Economy Torre
• Official website: https://www.shrekomusicalbrasil.com/
• Instagram: @shrekomusicalbrasil
• TikTok: @shrekomusicalbrasil