Sutton returns to play Fiona in "Shrek"

After cavorting with a famous movie monster in Seattle, Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster will return to sing and dance with a more benign ogre in "Shrek the Musical."

Foster is departing the cast of Broadway's "Young Frankenstein" (which premiered at the Paramount Theatre last summer) to portray Princess Fiona in the new show from Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire, based on the blockbuster movie "Shrek." The musical debuts at the 5th Avenue Theatre in a pre-Broadway run Aug. 14-Sept. 21. (Details: 206-625-1900 or www.5thavenue.org.)

Foster's co-stars will include Christopher Sieber (a Tony nominee for "Spamalot") as Lord Farquaad, and Kecia Lewis-Evans as The Dragon.

After its Seattle run, "Shrek the Musical" will move to Broadway, starting previews on Nov. 8 and opening Dec. 14 at the Broadway Theatre.

Misha Berson, Seattle Times theater critic