Meet the Artist: Juliet Tasker, Director of SHREK THE MUSICAL: Theatre for Young Audiences Version
Juliet Tasker
CMTM is thrilled to bring the swampy, silly world of SHREK THE MUSICAL: Theatre for Young Audiences Version to life onstage this spring, running in CMTM’s Maddy’s Theatre from March 28 - April 26, 2026.
We spoke with Juliet Tasker, director of SHREK THE MUSICAL: Theatre for Young Audiences Version, about her experience working on this production. Read on to learn about her background, her inspiration for this production, and why theatre is a space where everyone belongs.
CMTM: Juliet, could you tell us a little about yourself and how you started making theatre?
Juliet and youth cast members of SHREK THE MUSICAL: Theatre for Young Audiences Version.
Juliet: I was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii, and moved to Maine in 2021 because I fell in love with my summer camp (Camp CenterStage). I’ve been working at CMTM in a variety of roles since then, and love making theatre here. I started making theatre my freshman year of high school. My drama teacher, Mr. Kepler, lived two houses down from me. Everyday leading up to my first day of high school Kep would ask- “I’ll see you in F-103 [the drama room] soon right?” What I didn’t know at the time is how magical and life changing F-103, and our little cafetorium [a combination of cafeteria and auditorium] would be for me. The first play I ever did was called CRY OF THE BANSHEE, based on the film by Gordon Hessler. I played a falsely accused witch in the first scene, full of overdramatic screams and swords. Watching the video back on my dad’s camcorder I can pinpoint the moment I found where I belong- in the theatre.
From then on, Mr. Kepler pushed me to explore as many aspects of theatre as possible, more than just performing. “Theatre is a team effort, the person who sweeps the stage is just as important as the leading actor. And you’d better be willing to do both.” He taught me that being a good artist means being a good person. It’s making mistakes and learning from them. I made it my mission to make as many mistakes as possible, try new things, and be a good person. Once I started doing theatre, I never stopped. I learned how to run spotlights at my local theater, volunteered to teach afterschool classes at the arts academy, and spent every year of high school sewing the costumes I later wore onstage. Instead of the commonly held belief that “all of life is an audition”, I carried the mentality of “everything is a learning opportunity” from my youth into adulthood. Every production I get to work on, every theatre maker I meet, every show I watch is an opportunity to make mistakes and learn. It’s an opportunity to share the goodness in the world.
Mr. Kepler showed me that belonging and learning is what makes theatre, it’s the magic ingredient that makes you want to keep doing it. And making theatre with our community, with our youth actors, is all I want to do.
CMTM: What excited you about the opportunity to direct SHREK THE MUSICAL: Theatre for Young Audiences Version at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine?
Juliet: Intergenerational productions at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine are my favorite way to make theatre. The opportunity to work with so many youth and adult actors is what excited me, and keeps me feeling excited every rehearsal. SHREK also happens to be one of my favorite musicals, so it's really a Whitman’s Sampler of all my interests. The world of SHREK really allows everyone involved in the production to experience joy and play- two values I personally live by. And working at CMTM means I have the best team/organization to support my goal of creating safe spaces for artists to explore and take risks. It becomes more than just my goal, it’s OUR goal.
CMTM: What makes this production of SHREK THE MUSICAL: Theatre for Young Audiences Version different from other SHREK productions or adaptations that audiences might have seen before?
Juliet: Our production is different because we’re showcasing exactly how actors and designers make these familiar characters come to life. You may have seen Shrek before, but have you seen how he turns green? When you watch our production, you’ll get to see actors put on and take off their characters in real time! Every youth actor is playing between four to eight characters- an impressive feat you won’t want to miss. Embracing the playful nature of other productions you may have watched, our show incorporates more puppets- twenty seven to be exact. It’s a non-stop puppet party! This is the most actors we’ve ever put on our stage, and thus one of the biggest sets we’ve built- it’s full of surprises. We’re letting you see the magic (and mistakes) of theatre up close.
Juliet leads the youth actors in a warm-up game.
CMTM: What has working with this intergenerational cast of adult and youth actors been like?
Juliet: It’s like the longest and most exciting game of tag ever! Sometimes the adult actors are “it” and get to lead the scene, then they quickly tag in the youth actors and they’re in charge. In reality, we spend so much time playing games and building each other up, there’s no real “us” or “them” mentality. Every cast member is just part of the “we”. That’s the goal of our intergenerational shows- to give adult and youth actors the opportunity to play alongside each other on equal footing. To learn, grow, and share lots of laughter. It restores my faith in humanity watching how everyone runs to join our end of rehearsal hype circle. It’s a perfect example of what this experience is; one cast, cheering each other on, united by the unbridled joy of play.
CMTM: What have you learned so far during this process? Have there been any surprises?
Juliet: During the process I’ve learned that when you don’t have the answer or an idea, someone else does. And oftentimes, the best suggestions come from ten year olds. On a production like this, the best moments in the show are a collaboration with the entire team. I love watching the actors problem solve with each other onstage, and I’m surprised at how thoughtful everyone is. I’ve spent so much time thinking about Shrek, that sometimes I forget so has everyone else! It’s exciting to see how these actors try new things and challenge my ideas of this play. This process has really taught me that directing is more listening than anything else.
Juliet directs a scene in SHREK THE MUSICAL: Theatre for Young Audience Version.
CMTM: What do you hope audiences take away from seeing this production?
Juliet: Real magic is when you find where you belong. Our production is centered on belonging because ultimately every character is motivated to find where they belong or make a world where they belong. Conflict arises from the different ways these characters are trying to achieve the SAME THING. I hope audiences see that we should be bringing people in, rather than pushing them out.
Belonging is what makes theatre magic. Our cast and crew have spent months working as a team to bring this story to you. Productions with this many people need to build a strong ensemble, and thus a strong sense of belonging to each other/the show. Asking actors to really put themselves out there with silly voices, whacky dances, and bodily humor is vulnerable. They have to enjoy the show as much as the audience does. Furthermore, our production highlights that theatre goes beyond the acting. There are multiple moments where we get to see “behind the scenes” of making theatre. I hope people learn that theatre is a team effort, with many team members.
Everyone belongs in the theatre. Theatre is one of the few spaces where everyone can be truly included. Theatre is no one person or idea, it’s a shared agreement to freely express in whatever way you can. I hope audiences feel that YOU belong HERE.
CMTM: What advice or message would you share with young artists?
Juliet: Fear of making mistakes is what holds you back from making art you really like. Instead of spending time stressing about if you’re going to hit the right notes in an audition- spend time hitting the wrong notes and being okay with it. Making mistakes is just part of learning. Learn from your mistakes because they make you a stronger artist. All the artists you look up to aren’t strong because they’re mistake free- it’s because they’ve had time to practice making mistakes, embracing the wrong, learning from it, trying again, and again, and ultimately being okay with the fact mistakes are going to happen. Keep making mistakes, because that’s you making your art.
SHREK THE MUSICAL: Theatre for Young Audiences Version opens March 28 and runs through April 26, 2026 at the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine.
Get ready for a big, bold, belly-laughing adventure with SHREK THE MUSICAL: Theatre for Young Audiences Version!
You may think you know the story—but you’ve never lived it like this! Join Shrek, Donkey, and a wild cast of fairy tale misfits as they set off on an unforgettable quest packed with laughs, surprises, and lots of heart. When a grumpy ogre’s swamp gets invaded, he teams up with a talkative donkey to rescue Princess Fiona—and discovers that being different is what makes you special.
Filled with toe-tapping songs, outrageous fun, and plenty of chances for the audience to cheer, dance, and play along, SHREK THE MUSICAL: Theatre for Young Audiences Version turns the classic tale into an interactive, laugh-out-loud celebration of self-love and friendship.
So hop in the onion carriage, and join the fun—because every hero deserves their own fairy tale ending!