arts & entertainment
Singer/Dancer/Actor Andre Jordan on ‘Shrek: The Musical’
Playing ‘Donkey,’ a character based on positivity, has been an important life lesson
tSN: Anything else you’d like to add?
Jordan: I am beyond happy to be doing
this. The cast is a very talented, excited,
exciting group of people, and I think that
anyone that is going to come and see us is
going to really enjoy themselves.
mo
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tSN: What is it about this part that’s so
fun?
Jordan: The role is so – you can’t help
but think of Eddie Murphy. He is the origi-
nal voice of it. That in itself is exciting
because there is so much you can bring of
your own to it. There’s so much room for
creativity and for fun and to challenge your-
self. Because you have to do your own
thing, and I think that’s the part about it is
making it my own, and I work with great
people – Shrek (played by Lukas Poost) is a
wonderful, phenomenal guy, he’s a lot of
er
tSN: Where have you toured with this
show so far?
Jordan: We’ve actually just been rehears-
ing, we’re just finishing up about three
weeks of work. We’re flying to Yakima,
Wash., where we’ll tech the show, get it up
on its feet with the scenery and everything
and the costumes, and we open in Portland
on Sept. 13.
tSN: What is your vision for your career?
What would you like to do?
Jordan: Oh God, lots of stuff! I’ve been
singing my whole life. I love dance, I love
acting, I love doing it all together, so I do
want to continue doing it for awhile. But I
think it is important to do the best that you
can and be a positive role model. I think
that’s one of the most important things, for
kids to have strong role models, and that’s
what I want to do with myself. Take those
necessary steps, do some community out-
reach like youths – I want to get to a place
where I can give back, essentially.
nn
the Skanner News: Tell me about your-
self. What have you done before this role?
andre Jordan: Before this tour I was in
school, I went to the American Musical
I think it is important to do the
best that you can and be a
positive role model. I think that’s
one of the most important
things, for kids to have strong
role models, and that’s what I
want to do with myself.
fun to play with, and work off of.
ka
and what makes this show so much fun.
tSN: What do you think about playing
Donkey?
Jordan: I’m having a lot of fun doing it.
It’s Donkey; everyone loves Donkey — no
exception. Because Donkey is silly and
naïve but he’s funny and charming and
everyone loves him. The
best thing about Donkey is
that he doesn’t judge. I
mean he takes everything
at face value, right there
for what it is. He doesn’t
come with any precon-
ceived notions, he’s not
jaded, he’s not bitter. And
to be able to play that pos-
itivity throughout the
show is a lot of fun, and I
think that is what I would
want people to take away
from it. Don’t be so seri-
ous all the time.
es
C
ontinuing its string of family-friend-
ly musical productions, Fred Meyer
Best of Broadway brings “Shrek:
The Musical” to the Keller Auditorium in
downtown Portland starting Sept. 13. Built
around a tight cast of ogres, royals, story-
book figures – and one hilarious donkey –
the show wowed New York audiences with
its elaborate sets and costumes, its music
and its engaging characters. We spoke with
the multi-talented Andre Jordan, newly cast
as Donkey, about his career, his life goals,
Dramatic Academy and lived here in the
city. Just last year I was in the national tour
of “Legally Blonde,” I played Carlos, the
pool boy’s boyfriend. I had a great time. I
was in the original cast of “Toy Story: The
Musical.” “Rent,” “Aida.” I’ve been pretty
busy for the past five years, since I started
working.
th
lisa loving
of The Skanner News
September 14, 2011 The Portland and Seattle Skanner page 7