The Magic Behind the Musicals at Music Theatre Philly

At Music Theatre Philly, we are in one of the busiest, most exciting times of the year. Last weekend, our 1st–12th grade students wrapped up an incredible run of Shrek Jr. and Shrek The Musical. Next weekend, May 29–31, our adult company, MTP Players, will take the stage in Urinetown, and on June 6, our students will close out the semester with our end-of-year class showcases.

This time of year always feels a little magical. The building is buzzing with excitement, costumes are hanging from every available surface, rehearsal music is constantly playing somewhere in the background, and our staff somehow survives almost entirely on coffee and adrenaline. It is exhausting, joyful, chaotic, and honestly one of my favorite parts of working at Music Theatre Philly.

What many people do not always see, though, is everything that happens behind the scenes to bring these productions to life.

Our production week for Shrek and Shrek Jr. began with load-in on Monday. Staff members, designers, and teaching artists spent the day loading sets, props, costumes, and technical equipment into trucks at MTP before transporting everything over to the Independence Seaport Museum. Once we arrived, the real work began. Platforms were assembled, final paint touch-ups were completed, microphones were organized, props were labeled, and over 150 costumes and costume pieces were sorted backstage with military-level precision.

Then came tech week.

Every day, our junior casts rehearsed from 4:00–6:30 p.m., followed by our teen cast from 6:30–9:00 p.m. Students adjusted to performing in a brand-new space while also learning the many moving parts that come with live theatre: microphone cues, backstage etiquette, costume changes, prop tracking, quick entrances and exits, lighting shifts, and what it means to be part of a collaborative production team. Tech week is often where students grow the most. They learn flexibility, patience, problem-solving, and how to support one another under pressure.

And then suddenly, the weekend arrives.

The performances themselves felt like a blur in the best possible way: green face paint everywhere, fairytale creatures running through hallways, tiny tyrants demanding their “perfect kingdom” on stage, and audiences erupting into laughter every single time one of our Gingys shouted, “Not my gumdrop buttons!”

One of my favorite moments from the weekend happened at the end of every show. As the final number, “I’m a Believer,” began, students from all three Shrek Jr. casts and the teen Shrek production would gather together, whether they had just performed or were sitting in the audience supporting friends from another cast. Watching dozens of students dance and celebrate together onstage perfectly captured what makes the MTP community so special. It was not about who had the lead role, who got the biggest laugh, or who had the most stage time. It was about shared joy, teamwork, and genuine pride in one another.

I joked with our Shrek Jr. parents that I was finally rehydrated after crying through the entire weekend. And honestly, I was only half joking. There is something deeply emotional about watching young people work so hard toward something, take creative risks, support each other, and ultimately succeed together.

Last night, during our final in-studio rehearsal for Urinetown with MTP Players, our adult community theatre company, I found myself getting emotional all over again. While the cast may be adults, the magic feels remarkably similar. Theatre creates connection no matter your age. Watching adults carve out time in their busy lives to create art together, challenge themselves, and build community reminds me why programs like this matter so much. (You should also come and see them May 29th-31st. Tickets are still available but selling fast!)

At Music Theatre Philly, performances are never just about the final product on stage. They are about confidence built during rehearsals, friendships formed backstage, moments of courage, creative expression, and the sense of belonging that theatre can create for both children and adults alike.

As we head into another performance weekend and prepare for our student showcases on June 6, I feel overwhelmingly grateful for our students, families, teaching artists, designers, volunteers, and staff who make all of this possible. Putting on a production takes an enormous amount of work, but getting to watch our community come together to create something meaningful makes every late night and every tech week coffee run completely worth it.

If you would like to support our adult company, tickets for Urinetown are available now on our site. We cannot wait to share this hilarious, heartfelt, and wildly talented production with you.