SHREK

Once upon a time, a much younger Gerrit (with hair) graduated the Dutch Academy of Performing Arts as a Vocal Artist, after which he worked as a backing vocalist and a vocal coach for a few years.

Finding the uncertainties that profession brings somewhat challenging, he turned to corporate life and he currently works as a Team Lead with the government.

Not having sung for almost 8 years, in 2022 he remembered singing brings him joy and he returned to musical theatre, playing Will in “Big Fish”. After moving back to Amsterdam, he also joined the Amsterdam Gay Men’s Chorus which brings him so much joy.

The years following he got to play Fester in Cauldron’s “Addams Family” and Seymour in “Little Shop of Horrors”. He feels very honored to get to play Shrek with HEA, it being one of his dream roles.

SHREK

Casey is an American actor living in Amsterdam. He had the pleasure of performing in multiple productions here with Orange Theater Company, Happily Ever After Productions, Cauldron and Reckless Shakespeare. You may have seen him last in Heathers: The Musical as Big Bud Dean/Kurts Dad/Principal Gowan. He understudied Shrek many moons ago with Pacific Conservatory Theater and was lucky to play as one of the Three Pigs/Papa Shrek/Soldier. He can’t wait to share his Shrek with you all and thank you for supporting live theater.

DONKEY

Rodney is a performer of Surinamese origin. He attended the Theater School Rotterdam and moved on to DOX in Utrecht for 2 years of training in movement, dance and martial arts. After a quite long hiatus he is immensely happy to have found his way back to being on stage again since 2022 and joining the other members of the House of Zuzu.

Having worked in both theatre and film, a few of his recent theatre credits include playing in QETC’s ‘Smiley’, ‘La Cage Aux Folles’ & ‘Cabaret’, HEA’s ‘Heathers,’ ‘Chicago’ & ‘West Side Story’, StrikeMePink’s ‘My Nights With Noah’ and The Cauldron’s ‘Next Thing You Know’.

DONKEY

Originally from the Philippines and now based in Amsterdam, Ross moved to the Netherlands in 2023, where he works as a software engineer by day. Since then, he has joined two productions with HEA - Heathers: The September Revival and Avenue Q. Alongside these, he has taken vocal lessons at Roel Bakkum Vocal Studios and participated in two HEA bootcamps (Chicago and Wicked), where he rediscovered his passion for performing.

Ross is thrilled to be part of Shrek the Musical, taking on a persona very different from his own.

PRINCESS FIONA

Originally from New Zealand, Brigid has performed in several musicals in Wellington (Rent, Legally Blonde, Ordinary Days) and has been thoroughly enjoying her return to the world of musical theatre in Amsterdam with Chicago (HEA), The Addams Family (Cauldron Performing Arts), A Chorus Line (HEA), and most recently HEA's sold-out run of Heathers. Brigid has a background singing with classical choirs and in classical guitar, and is thrilled to be joining the swamp family in Shrek.

PRINCESS FIONA / CO- DIRECTOR / PRODUCER

Camille, originally from the US, works in tech as a UX consultant by day. She spends all her hours outside of work dedicated to the Amsterdam theatre community, whether that be producing, directing, handling marketing and PR, helping run theatre companies, promoting local shows on her radio show Onstage Amsterdam (BRAM RADIO), or her favorite thing of all, performing. In the past few years, Camille has been seen as Heather Chandler in Heathers (HEA), Kristine in A Chorus Line (HEA), Roxie Hart in Chicago (HEA), Lisa in Next Thing You Know (Cauldron), Schwartzy in Spelling Bee (Cauldron), Emcee in Cabaret (QETC), Kate Monster in Avenue Q (HEA), The Little Mermaid in Disenchanted! (Cauldron), Deb in Ordinary Days (HEA), and Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (HEA).

She’s very excited to continue bringing everyone along in her insanity of producing, directing, and performing in her dream shows, this time with Shrek the Musical. It is Camille's dream to be a local celebrity, so if you recognize her out and about, please feel free to say hi to help feed her delusions of grandeur.

LORD FARQUAAD

Yorgos is a Leo, so please excuse the self indulgence that’s about to follow. He studied Architecture but quickly realized he's not quite technical enough to wear the "Architect" title with a straight face. Around the same time, he also completed his classical singing studies, only to discover that he's way too chill to handle the serious world of Opera.

Originally from Greece, Yorgos packed up and moved to the Netherlands after an early mid-life crisis to bring some sass and drama to Amsterdam(a). When he's not on stage, he works as a Creative Content Designer for a perfume company. So, even if he's sweating through rehearsals, he will most likely smell fabulous.

Shrek the Musical is Yorgos’ third adventure with HEA, after strutting as Al -the overqualified dancer with the lovable belly- in A Chorus Line, and stirring up trouble as Kurt Kelly -your mom's favourite jock- in Heathers.

FYI, he really doesn’t need to hear another joke about getting on his knees, please and thank you.

LORD FARQUAAD

Dano makes his musical theatre debut as Lord Farquaad, combining several years of ballroom dancing and a fondness for singing. Expect lots of attitude packed into very little altitude. Hailing from England, his last performance was a Strictly Come Dancing competition in 2020 before you know what. It has taken a while, but he is excited to be back on stage. Away from Duloc he helps design the European energy grid as part of a PhD, where the power struggles are more literal.

PINNOCHIO

After nurturing a passion for performance and storytelling since childhood and relating to Pinocchio's journey of self-discovery, Franck is thrilled to wear the strings of the whimsical puppet.

He appeared in La Cage aux Folles in 2024 and performs in drag as Jenda Benda, blending androgyny and exciting fashion.

Whether in high heels or wooden shoes, Franck loves bringing energy, heart, and a sparkle to every performance.

PINNOCHIO

Pauline, originally from Florida with Dutch roots, works full-time at Nike in Merchandising, combining her love for sport and creativity. She grew up loving musicals and attended a School of the Arts for both middle and high school for Theater. She first joined HEA through their Musical Theater Bootcamp for Waitress and has since performed as Veronica’s Mom/Ensemble in Heathers the Musical. She is ecstatic to be playing Pinocchio in Shrek the Musical and can’t wait to share her love of performance with the audience.

GINGY / SUGAR PLUM FAIRY

Rhijja Jansen works as a freelance journalist and writer. She followed musical lessons at MusicAllFactory and performed in several music productions of LIZ Utrechts Ensemble voor Muziektheater, including Cabaret (Sally Bowles), Rent (Maureen), Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), The Wild Party (Queenie) and Spamalot (Lady of the Lake). For HEA she had the honour to perform in Chicago (Velma Kelly), A Chorus Line (Judy) and Once Upon a Mattress (Winnifred).

GINGY / SUGAR PLUM FAIRY

Originally from the UK, Gina is a meteorologist in Utrecht, but with a life-long love for musical theatre. While new to musical theatre performing, she has performed in choirs, a university musical showcase, and has helped backstage at past university and school productions. Present day, Gina enjoys singing, playing guitar, and watching musicals, and so is excited to make it on to the stage in one.

DRAGON / UGLY DUCKLING / BLIND MOUSE / DULOC DANCER

Carolina is a Portuguese Biomedical Engineer with a vibrant artistic vein. Since she was a little girl, nothing could stop her from slipping into costumes and bringing new characters to life. While pursuing a PhD in Medical AI, she finds her true self on stage, passionately dancing through the lines of a script. In Portugal, she completed a Musical Theater Course, certified by Rock School London Awards and played in Portuguese adaptations, including "Sister Act" (as Ensemble), "Spring Awakening" (as a female version of Ernst Robel), "Chicago" (as Velma Kelly) and "Matilda" (as Miss Honey). Carolina made her international debut in Amsterdam, performing in HEA’s production of “Heathers” as New Wave Party Girl. Refusing any post-Heathers withdrawal, she is thrilled to dive straight into her next international musical adventure!

DRAGON / UGLY DUCKLING / BLIND MOUSE / DULOC DANCER

Neja is a soon-to-be neuroscientist with interests all over the place. She has only recently become immersed in the world of musical theatre, although has always enjoyed performing and had followed singing lessons in Slovenia for a few years before relocating to The Netherlands four years ago. She starred in HEA’s recent production of Heathers, and she’s thrilled to be making her return to the stage in the upcoming production of Shrek the Musical.

TEEN FIONA / SHOE MAKER’S ELF / BLIND MOUSE / DULOC DANCER

Laura Maurer-Stroh has previously been very active in the Singaporean theatre industry, such as in Pangdemonium’s “Dear Evan Hansen” and Wild Rice’s “Peter Pan in Serangoon Gardens”. Her recent shows include performing with HEA in Heathers as the Young Republicanette. Now she continues to grow her singing TikTok platform (@lauramaurermusic) in her free time! She currently studies at the University of Amsterdam doing a bachelor in Media and Culture.

TEEN FIONA / SHOE MAKER’S ELF / BLIND MOUSE / DULOC DANCER

Anna is a veterinary student who lives, sleeps and breathes musical theatre. After 9 years of doing theatre on the side she took a gap year to fully focus on a musical theatre preporatory program and volunteering at a local cat shelter, serenading the cats with the 1000+ showtunes in her playlist while cleaning their enclosures. After portraying a silent but surprisingly strong knight in Once Upon a Mattress (HEAP) last year, Anna is very excited to return to the stage!

YOUNG FIONA / BABY BEAR / YOUNG SHREK

Sutton (age 9) first discovered her love of theatre at just 3 years old and has been chasing the spotlight ever since! She made her stage debut at age 6 and last season hopped onto the HEA stage as the Frog in Once Upon a Mattress. Offstage, Sutton has also done voice acting and appeared on Yoga Mee Met Roos for NPO Zapp. When she’s not performing, she can usually be found kicking a football, tumbling in gymnastics, playing piano, singing Taylor Swift at the top of her lungs, or dreaming up new shows with her friends. Sutton is thrilled to be back with HEA for Shrek the Musical and can’t wait to share the magic with you!

YOUNG FIONA / BABY BEAR / YOUNG SHREK

Ten-year-old Sonia fondly remembers the shows her parents took her to in Paris, where she discovered her passion for theater. She plays the harp and loves to dance and sing. Moreover, she and her brothers often joke around with Shrek, bringing acting and fun into their home.
Now, she is thrilled to embody Young Fiona, Baby Bear and Young Shrek on stage.

YOUNG FIONA / BABY BEAR / YOUNG SHREK / LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD

Mila Besselaar (born January 29, 2013, in Amsterdam) is a passionate young performer from the Netherlands. Born and raised in a (musical) theatre family, she is the youngest and fifth generation to set foot on stage. From an early age, she has immersed herself in the world of musical theatre, combining her talents in singing, dancing, and acting with boundless enthusiasm and dedication.

Mila began her training at the Jeugdtheaterschool in Uithoorn (2016–2018), and continued to develop her skills at the Kristal Theater in Hilversum, Amsterdam Musical, Marjoleins Dance Studio, and Musical 2.0.

She has already gained impressive stage and screen experience. On stage, Mila has performed in productions such as Peter Pan (Kristal Theater), Een Dag in Het Bos (Jeugdtheaterschool Uithoorn), and most recently, she starred as Winnie in Mees Kees op Kamp – De Musical (Stent Producties, 2023–2024), directed by Martin Michel. She has also appeared on national television, performing in the All You Need Is Love Mother’s Day special (Endemol, 2021).

In addition to performing, Mila loves writing stories, reading, and practicing kickboxing. She is a creative spirit with strong discipline, a love for the stage, and a bright future in the performing arts.

FAIRY GODMOTHER / BLIND MOUSE / DULOC DANCER

On stage since the age of 9, Elyan has performed in productions ranging from Othello to The Devil and Miss Prym. After returning to musicals with HEA's Once Upon a Mattress, she is delighted to join this production of Shrek. Off stage, Elyan is pursuing a PhD in forensic psychology.

FAIRY GODMOTHER / BLIND MOUSE / DULOC DANCER

Sophie de Bruijn is an English actress who has been involved in theatre from a young age, developing a passion for performing through training in singing, dancing, and acting. They are currently furthering their professional training at Degas International Dance Academy in Delft.
Before this, Sophie studied for two years at the Scottish Institute on the BA Musical Theatre course prior to its closure. During their time there, they performed as Fastrada in the second-year production of Pippin, a role that allowed them to grow both as a performer and as an ensemble member.
At 18, Sophie took on the iconic role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret (QETC), an experience that deepened their love of musical theatre and inspired them to pursue further training. In their youth theatre years, they also played Ronette in Little Shop of Horrors and Killer Queen in We Will Rock You, both of which showcased their versatility and stage presence.

After taking part in HEA’s musical theatre workshops, Sophie is now excited to make their debut in one of HEA’s full-scale musicals. Returning home for the year, they are eager to share their passion for performing with local audiences and to continue growing as a versatile and dedicated performer.

BIG BAD WOLF / KING HAROLD / DULOC DANCER / KNIGHT / DANCING RAT

Starting in high school Mateo took part in every music or theater project they could take their hands on. During university they decided to switch seats and partake in the directing side, where they successfully co-directed Mamma Mia the Musical and Legally Blonde the Musical.

Mateo only recently returned onto the stage in HEAs production of A Chorus Line were he played Paul, one of their dream roles. Now also having been part of the sold out run of Heathers, Mateo is excited to dive into the fantastical world of Shrek the Musical!

BIG BAD WOLF / KING HAROLD / DULOC DANCER / KNIGHT / DANCING RAT

Casper is a Dutch singer and actor who works as a neurology nurse in a medical rehabilitation center by day, but loves to spend his free time performing and going to see shows/concerts. He currently lives in Alkmaar and loves to travel the world.

He performed in multiple community theater productions in the Netherlands from the age of 14 and was trained in singing and acting from the age of 12. Past credits are Rent in Footloose, Rick in Pay It Forward, Lord Farquaad in Shrek, Chad in August Rush and various lead roles in originally written shows. He is so excited and honored to make his Amsterdam theatre debut here at HEA productions.

WHITE RABBIT / GUARD / DULOC DANCER / DANCING RAT

Garry is a cloud engineer by day and software engineer by night, with musical theatre as his full-time passion. After relocating from South Africa to the Netherlands in 2022, he has embraced the chance to explore his creative side. A lifelong Shrek enthusiast, Garry is thrilled to be part of this production.

WHITE RABBIT / GUARD / DULOC DANCER / DANCING RAT

Nick is a dancer from Portland, Oregon, USA. He trained at the University of Oregon and worked professionally in London, UK for 3 years. After a 7 year break from performing Nick was recently Mr. Tinsworthy in The Confidential Musical Theater Project (The Cauldron), King Sextimus in Once Upon a Mattress (Happily Ever After), Carrot in Guards! Guards! (English Theater Utrecht), and Bad Idea Bear in Avenue Q (Happily Ever After). He loves improvisation, singing, and the Meisner acting technique and is currently training in all three in Amsterdam.

WICKED WITCH / QUEEN LILLIAN

Léa is a musical theater and musical improv enthusiast that loves bursting into a song at the most inappropriate moments. In a past life, she professionally trained as a classical singer in Switzerland. She had big dreams of singing Mozart in Paris, and almost got there, since she sung a dwarf in an operatic version of Snow White in Fribourg. In another life, she threw herself into jazz and tried to learn how to scat, which went well, if we consider that one glorious time in the shower. In yet another life she created and performed a musical for children with her best friend with nothing but voice and a looper. In parallel of those lives, she is a software engineer (who isn't nowadays?) who is passionate about solving little logical puzzles as nerdily as possible, but can't fix your computer.

WICKED WITCH

Leire is a Spanish-Dutch performer hailing from Barcelona, now based in Amsterdam, where she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Music Studies. With a lifelong passion for the performing arts, Leire has enjoyed every second she's gotten to be on stage in productions including Heathers: The Musical, Spring Awakening, Carrie, Mean Girls: The Musical, We Are the Tigers and as a member of the Cor de Noies de l'Orfeó Català.

MAMA BEAR / MAMA OGRE / DULOC DANCER

Cinzia is a full time student and a fuller time musical theatre fan. She was previously seen as Princess no. 12 in Once Upon a Mattress, ensemble in Spamalot and Cinderella, Ancestor in the Addams Family, Teen Zombie in Monstersongs, and Bad Idea Bear #1 in Avenue Q. She is very excited to be a part a part of Shrek the Musical.

MAMA BEAR / MAMA OGRE / DULOC DANCER

Amy, 20, is thrilled to be making her musical theatre debut with Shrek the Musical. She is excited to begin her journey on stage as part of the ensemble.

PAPA BEAR / PAPA OGRE / KNIGHT

Originally from Curaçao, Ivo moved to the Netherlands at 19 to study and pursue his passion for the arts. Entirely self-taught, he co-founded The Choir Curaçao, a teen and young adult ensemble that produced original jukebox musicals under the motto: “If you are willing to learn, we can teach you.” As one of its creative directors, he helped guide the group for two years before passing the torch when he moved abroad.

On stage, Ivo has performed as the Big Bad Wolf (Into the Woods), Roger (Grease), Fyedka (Fiddler on the Roof), and most recently Gomez in The Addams Family Musical, a role he is especially proud of. He also served as lead set designer for Into the Woods, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Addams Family Musical, and contributed musically as a cellist in Les Misérables.

In addition to theatre, he has appeared in commercials for the reopening of the MFA Safari swimming pool in Maarssen under SRO, the Red Cross’ donation initiatives in Curaçao, and Canvas Student Housing in Utrecht. Now based in Utrecht, where he studies Linguistics, Ivo continues to explore ways of combining academic insight with his passion for musical theatre.

PAPA BEAR / PAPA OGRE / KNIGHT

Job is a musical theatre enthusiast, originally from Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. In high school, he decided to join the school play—not because of theatre at first, but because he had a crush on a girl a few grades above him. The spark, however, didn’t ignite with the girl, but with the theatre itself. Ever since, the stage has had a special place in his heart. It’s no coincidence that Job now also works in a theatre in Amsterdam, where he is a Financial Controller in daily life.

So far, Job has performed in two productions: Lang & Gelukkig (which loosely translates to Happily Ever After) and Hamlet, the family play. This marks his debut with HEA, and he is truly excited to bring this story to life together with the amazing cast.

MAD HATTER / GUARD / DULOC DANCER / DANCING RAT

Ygor is originally from Brazil and has been living in Amsterdam for the past three years. A lifelong music lover, he once fronted a band and is now discovering the exciting world of musical theatre. Singing has always been his greatest passion, and he embraces this new chapter as a way to explore his voice and artistic expression even further.

MAD HATTER / GUARD / DULOC DANCER / DANCING RAT

Originally from Brazil, Mauricio moved to the Netherlands in 2022 to advance his career in the tech industry. In his free time, he decided to finally explore something that has been tempting him since he was a child: acting. He quickly fell in love with it, and what began as a hobby soon became a passion. He went through acting and improv training at Mulholland Academy, Meisner Studio, Boom Chicago, and Act Attack, where he performed "Check, Please!" and the role of Laurie in "Little Women". He has also participated in two Happily Ever After musical theater bootcamps, portraying The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in "Wicked" and Ram Sweeney in "Heathers". He is very excited to share the stage (or better yet, the swamp) with some peculiar magical creatures and welcome you to Duloc.

PIG 1 / DULOC DANCER / DANCING RAT

Sebastian is an actor with a passion for musical theatre. He began performing in high school before taking a break to focus on architecture, and now he is thrilled to be back on stage. He has pursued singing and acting lessons and participated in several musical bootcamps. Sebastian loves discovering the little quirks that bring a character to life.

PIG 2

Tim Warmelink, 26, lives and works in Utrecht as a veterinarian specializing in horses. By day he cares for animals, and by night he transforms into a musical star. In his free time, Tim enjoys drawing, painting, horse riding, and—of course—going to musicals.

PIG 3

Mike has been hooked on musicals for the past three years, having been on stage in Footloose and SpongeBob The Musical. Now, he’s stepping into the spotlight for his Dutch debut in Shrek! 🎭 He’s passionate about singing, dancing, and acting, and is always sharpening his skills through new courses. On top of that, Mike is an improv enthusiast, so if anything unexpected happens on stage, you can bet he’ll roll with it!

PETER PAN / DULOC DANCER / KNIGHT / DANCING RAT

Manuel is a singer, improviser and composer-in-the-making from Spain. During the day, he works in Tech building consumer products, his other passion.

Although he has been spotted occasionally performing at Boom Chicago, Shrek: The Musical will be his first ever production. He also plays a bunch of instruments, the obscurest of all being the Asturian bagpipes, which lets him proudly represent his ancestors in Asturian-themed weddings.

TINKERBELL / DULOC DANCER

Juami works as a scientist and fitness instructor, and spends most of her free time dancing, acting and singing. She loves summer and will try to catch every ray of sunshine this country gets. After joining several HEAP bootcamps, she made her debut in Once Upon a Mattress last year as Lady Merrill. Juami has since choreographed HEAP’s Wicked bootcamp and Avenue Q. She is very excited to be back on stage for Shrek, this time not only as part of the cast, but also as assistant choreographer.

TINKERBELL / DULOC DANCER

Originally from Spain, Virginia is a scientist by day and a performer by night—basically a real-life Hannah Montana. Her stage debut was as a cheerleader in her high school’s production of High School Musical. In true method-acting fashion, she took “break a leg” a little too literally and fell while roller skating the day before opening night, resulting in a memorable performance featuring knee pads and a lot of determination.

But bumps and bruises aside, she instantly knew: the stage was her happy place. Since then, Virginia has spent ten years performing in various theatre and ballet shows, embracing every chance to be in the spotlight. Still, the dream of doing musical theatre lingered—until she discovered the HEA bootcamps. Surrounded by a supportive group of fellow musical theatre lovers, her confidence grew, and she finally took the leap and auditioned for a full production.

Shrek is Virginia’s first full musical theatre production in Amsterdam, and she couldn’t be more excited to play Tinkerbell—a character she’s adored since childhood. Glitter, wings, and sass? Say no more.

HUMPTY DUMPTY / GUARD / DANCING RAT

Abbey Bercasio is thrilled to be returning to the stage after her musical theatre debut in Heathers the Musical. Though new to the stage, Abbey brings a lifelong love of music and singing, having spent years performing in her church choir throughout her teens and mid-20s. Her enthusiasm for musical theater has taken her to various HEA musical theater bootcamps, and she even auditioned for the Miss Saigon revival a decade ago—a dream she’s carried with her since. Abbey is excited to bring her passion for this art form to the stage, embracing the joy that musical theater brings her.

HUMPTY DUMPTY / GUARD / DANCING RAT

Zofia is originally from Poland and has moved to the Netherlands 3 years ago. Pursuing the Arts was a big part of making her feel more at home in a new country. She has been passionate about theatre since the age of five. Over the years, she has loved exploring a wide range of roles and productions, most recently with Happily Ever After Productions. Currently she is studying at University in Utrecht, and day by day loves to cook, sing, and watch Bridget Jones! She is excited to be part of her first big production and grateful for the opportunity!

CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD / KNIGHT / BISHOP

Michael returns to the happily ever stage after having played in A Chorus Line (Zach), Spamalot (Knight of Ni, Father), Cinderella (Sebastian), Be More Chill (Mr Heere), and Chicago (Judge/Doctor). Before that he played a variety of roles in his native Canada including roles in Mamma Mia (Bill), Urinetown (Robbie), Beauty & The Beast (Gaston), The Full Monty (understudy for Horse), Jesus Christ Superstar (Matthew), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Asher) and many others. Michael immigrated to the Netherlands in 2022, the country where his parents grew up.

CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD / KNIGHT / BISHOP

Robin Straaijer is a Dutch improviser, actor, director and photographer from Amsterdam. He started out in scripted theatre at university, performing Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde, and caught the improv bug at Boom Chicago in the early aughts. Since then, he has performed all types of improv in several groups and duos, as well as the in the main stage cast of IMPRO Amsterdam, and currently performs around Europe with Cliffs of Dover. Robin loves musical improv, and performing improvised musicals led him to his first foray into scripted musical theatre in Happily Ever After’s "Into the Woods" in 2020. Robin has also written and directed original plays, and is well-known as a photographer in the Amsterdam theatre scene.