Shrek‘s Eric Petersen Welcomes Baby Girl Into Family

Eric Petersen — who plays the title role in the national tour of Shrek the Musical, currently at the Cadillac Palace Theatre — and his wife Lisa Morabito Petersen welcomed a new addition to their family on Thursday, July 15. Sophia Marie Petersen, weighing 8 lbs, 7 ounces and 20.5 inches long, was born at 5:12pm, at Chicago’s Northwestern Memorial’s Prentice Women’s Hospital.

Shrek began previews on July 13, and will play Chicago through September 5. The show, which is based on the story and characters from William Steig’s book Shrek! as well as the DreamWorks Animation film Shrek, features book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize-winner David Lindsay-Abaire, and music by Jeanine Tesori. Jason Moore directs, with choreography by Josh Prince.

The cast also features Haven Burton as Princess Fiona and Alan Mingo, Jr. as Donkey, with Joe Abraham, Holly Ann Butler, Carrie Compere, Emily Cramer, Tyrone Davis, Jr., Sandra DeNise, Aymee Garcia, Brian Gonzales, Justin Greer, Lisa Ho, Benjamin Howes, Mara Newbery, Denny Paschall, Sarah Peak, Morgan Rose, Blakely Slaybaugh, and David F.M. Vaughn.

Petersen understudied the role of Shrek in the Broadway production of the musical and played the roles of Papa Ogre and Straw. Recent credits also include the role of Barfee in the national tour of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

For further information, visit www.shrekthemusical.com.