STEP VA Inc. Goes to the Swamp: Announces Shrek The Musical JR as 2026 Spring Musical

FREDERICKSBURG, VA—No one will be waiting inside for anyone to rescue them, but there won't be a dry eye in the house, either. Whether that's from laughter or emotion, the cast of the STEP VA Inc.,  Spring Musical Experience won't disappoint when they bring Shrek The Musical JR. to the stage next spring. The local 501(c)3 non-profit that “empowers people with disabilities, and their families, through creative expression and sensory exploration,” made the announcement yesterday for the 2026 Spring Musical Experience.

  The 2026 show will be the organization's sixth Spring Musical Experience, having started in 2021 with “A Very Special COVID-19,” written and scored by long-time STEP VA participant Noah Finch. STEP VA leadership helped guide Finch through the process and brought it to the stage in April 2021. The experience was so successful, the cast lobbied for it to become an annual event, launching the Spring Musical Experience in 2022 with Disney's, “The Lion King, Kids!”

  That first show in 2021 had 12 cast and four crew members, each of whom had a disability. The 2025 performance of Disney's “Finding Nemo, Jr.” had 48 cast and five dedicated crew members. The “Nemo” cast and crew gathered at Riverside First Church of God on Thursday, October 9 to watch a recording of the show before Shrek The Musical JR. was announced as the 2026 Spring Musical Experience.

“I think it is going to be a really great show!” said previous performer I.H. after hearing the news. Performer Jax Lunsford was also enthusiastic about the announcement, “I’m excited to be a part of this musical! It’s going to be different from other shows we have done and I’m really looking forward to it.”

  Auditions for the main cast will be held on December 4 and 6 at the STEP VA studios and are open to anyone in the greater Fredericksburg area with a disability. STEP VA will bring Shrek The Musical JR. to the Courtland High School stage April 18 and 19, 2026.

  For more information or to donate, visit www.stepva.org.

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STEP VA, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides sensory-based theater and arts programs for individuals with disabilities. Its vision is to transform the world by offering each individual the opportunity to flourish in the community.