John Tartaglia is set to lead the cast of The New Fangled Variety Show for two performances in New York, show representatives said. The event will be taped before a live audience Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at Comix in New York.

Actor John Tartaglia says Broadway's Shrek the Musical, like the animated movies that inspired it, offers something for audience members of all ages. Tartaglia told UPI in a recent phone interview he thinks one of the reasons the films are so appealing is that they work on many different levels. The show kind of takes that even further, Tartaglia said.

NEW YORK, Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- SHREK THE MUSICAL was recently declared a "big fat hit" by USA Today, and "true happiness" by The New York Times. The DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. hit show opened at the Broadway Theatre in New York City on December 14th, 2008.

Shrek The Musical, starring Brian d'Arcy James as the titular ogre and Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona, opened on Broadway Sunday night. Previews of the show began at The Broadway Theatre Nov. 8, following a pre-Broadway engagement at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre Aug. 14-Sept.

Broadway veteran Brian d'Arcy James has been cast in the title role of the upcoming New York stage production of Shrek the Musical. James has previously starred in the Broadway productions of The Apple Tree, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Sweet Smell of Success and Titanic.