West Union High School stages Shrek The Musical with new effects, staging

West Union High School is turning Shrek The Musical into more than a spring performance, with new technological enhancements, creative staging and effects aimed at delivering a show that feels bigger than a typical school musical.

The production features a cast of students who spent countless hours rehearsing, refining and building the show, a level of work that underscores how much the West Union Performing Arts Department has invested in its stage program. The musical is being presented as a community event as much as a school showcase, with the familiar characters and humor of Shrek paired with what the school describes as strong visual impact, heart and standout moments for audiences of all ages.

Performances are scheduled for April 24 and 25 at 7 p.m., April 26 at 3 p.m., May 1 and 2 at 7 p.m., and May 3 at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. They can be purchased or reserved at West Union High School from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and only a limited number will be sold at the door, a sign that demand is expected to be high.

That matters in Adams County, where school theater often doubles as one of the few accessible live arts options close to home. West Union High School, at 97 Dragon Lair Dr. in West Union, has become one of the county’s most visible cultural anchors. In 2024, the West Union Performing Arts Department said School of Rock marked its 40th musical, a milestone that shows how long the program has been building experience with large-scale productions.

The school has also drawn the wider county into its arts work before. On March 19, 2025, West Union High School hosted the All-County Arts & Music Festival, which brought families, educators and supporters from across Adams County and featured students from Manchester, North Adams, Peebles and West Union high schools. That event showed how often the school functions as a regional gathering place, not just a campus for students.

Shrek The Musical continues that pattern by giving West Union students a chance to perform while also putting lighting, sound, set design and costumes in the hands of students behind the scenes. For a rural county where big theatrical productions are usually found outside the area, the show gives residents a chance to see an ambitious musical without leaving Adams County.