A Cast Announcement, An Impromptu Performance, and a Whole Lot of Joy

This Monday, just a few hours before our weekly Masterclass session, we announced the cast of Shrek the Musical. Several cast members arrived at Shine that evening still buzzing with excitement—fresh scripts in hand and smiles that just wouldn’t quit.

Among them was Campbell, who had just learned she’d been cast as Pinocchio.

The moment she walked through the lobby, the energy shifted. There was squealing, laughter, and even a few happy tears as students celebrated their new roles. When I heard the commotion, I knew we had to do something fun.

So in the middle of Masterclass, I turned to Campbell and asked, “Do you want to set aside your rep book this week… and celebrate?”

She said yes.

We grabbed the score, prepped the accompanist, and watched as she jumped into an unrehearsed, joy-filled performance of “Story of My Life”—the hilarious number sung by the wooden puppet himself in Shrek the Musical.

And yes… we caught it on video.

It was a spontaneous, beautiful moment. A celebration of hard work, heart, and what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

We can’t wait for you to see Campbell bring Pinocchio to life on stage this summer.

🎟️ Shrek the Musical runs July 18–27 at The Courtyard Theater.
🎥 [Watch the moment on Instagram here.]
🎟️ Get your tickets now