<p> "Shrek The Musical" opens Friday at the Elgin Opera House. Shows continue weekends throughout the month of September.</p>

The story of everyones favorite ogre dazzles with new life as Shrek: The Musical takes the stage at the Elgin Opera House.

Based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film, a faraway kingdom is turned upside down and things get ugly when an unseemly ogre shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who wont shut up, a bad guy with a short temper, a cookie with an attitude and more than a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and theres the kind of mess that calls for a real hero.

Full of new songs, dancing and scenery, the musical opens Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Elgin Opera House, 104 N. Eighth Ave., Elgin. Tickets are $15 for orchestra level and lower balcony, $6 for upper balcony and group rates of $10 each for 10 or more premium seats.

Additional evening shows are Sept. 13-14, Sept. 20-21 and Sept. 27-28. In addition, matinee shows are each Saturday in September at 2:30 p.m.

Elgin is located about 65 miles from Pendleton. Travelers can get there by driving via highways 11 and 204 or by traveling on Interstate 84, exiting at La Grande and continuing north on Highway 82 for 18 miles.

The Elgin Opera House is a two-story Colonial-style brick building with a stone foundation. Completed in 1912, it was designed to serve the dual functions of housing city government offices and a theater. The structure is on the National Record of Historic Places.

For tickets, contact 541-663-6324 or tickets@elginoperahouse.com. For more information, go to http://elginoperahouse.com or search Facebook for Elgin Opera House.