Wireless Mics and Projection for Shrek The Musical JR.
Show guide · JR. · 35 roles plus a flexible ensemble · Reviewed by Stage Gear staff, October 2026
Short answer: plan on 14 channels. 12 body mics for the Storytellers, the leads and the three Fionas, plus 2 spares. Cover the fairytale creatures with 3–4 area mics at the stage edge.
Stage Gear supplies wireless mics, rentals and projection to school and community theatres across the U.S. Our staff work in theatre; this guide is how we'd mic Shrek The Musical JR.
Who gets a mic
We counted the roles that sing solos or carry dialogue over music: the three Storytellers, Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Lord Farquaad, the Dragon, Young Fiona, Teen Fiona, Pinocchio and Gingy. That is 12 body mics plus 2 spares, for 14 channels.
Borderline: Mama Ogre, Papa Ogre and Little Ogre carry the opening number, then leave. If those actors do not appear again until the finale, their packs can move to roles that enter later, such as the Dragon or the Captain of the Guard; only do this if your blocking shows they never overlap. If your Storytellers stay downstage, handhelds on stands can replace three packs. Gingy is a puppet role, so mic the actor voicing it.
Bigger budget: give packs to the ogre family, the Big Bad Wolf, a lead Pig and the Captain of the Guard for about 20 channels. Coordinate frequencies with us before you go past 16.
Mic plot
| Ch | Role | Mic | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel 1 | Storyteller 1 | Hairline (3 mm), brown | Carries narration throughout; small mic for a young performer. |
| Channel 2 | Storyteller 2 | Hairline (3 mm), brown | Narration between scenes; must be clear over underscoring. |
| Channel 3 | Storyteller 3 | Hairline (3 mm), brown | Narration between scenes; must be clear over underscoring. |
| Channel 4 | Shrek | Earset, beige | Ogre head and ears cover the hairline; boom along cheek. |
| Channel 5 | Fiona | Hairline, brown | Wig hides it and survives her ogre transformation. |
| Channel 6 | Donkey | Headset, black | Constant movement; headset stays put under the ear hood. |
| Channel 7 | Lord Farquaad | Hairline, black | Pageboy wig hides it; kneeling costume needs a high pack. |
| Channel 8 | Dragon | Hairline, beige | Big solo; if sung from the wings, use a wired mic. |
| Channel 9 | Young Fiona | Hairline (3 mm), brown | Youngest lead; small mic under the wig. |
| Channel 10 | Teen Fiona | Hairline (3 mm), brown | Sings the trio with Fiona; under the wig line. |
| Channel 11 | Pinocchio | Hairline (3 mm), brown | Under the cap, clear of the growing-nose piece. |
| Channel 12 | Gingy | Hairline (3 mm), beige | Puppet role; mic the actor voicing Gingy. |
| Channel 13 | Spare | Hairline (3 mm), beige | Covers featured creature lines in Story of My Life. |
| Channel 14 | Spare | Earset, beige | Backup for Shrek or any failed pack. |
Every Bodymic is wired for one transmitter family: Shure, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, AKG, MiPro or Creative Audio. Build your Bodymics to match the packs you own. Cast Pack: every 4 Bodymics of the same style and capsule size earn a 5th free. This plot is a starting point; change any row to suit your cast.
The ensemble
The fairytale creatures, Duloc performers, guards, knights and woodland ensemble mostly sing as groups. Cover them with 3–4 area or choir mics at the stage edge and stage big verses of "Story of My Life", "What's Up, Duloc?" and "Freak Flag" downstage. When a creature has a featured line, hand that actor a spare body mic for the scene instead of adding a channel.
Show notes from our team
- Three Storytellers. The Storytellers talk between and over scenes. Keep their channels open at a safe level during narration and pull them down when they step back, so their mics do not pick up nearby singers.
- Ogre makeup. Fit Shrek's earset before the head and ears go on and route the cable inside the costume. Check it again after full makeup at dress rehearsal; sweat and makeup loosen tape.
- Farquaad on his knees. Farquaad is usually played kneeling in a costume with false legs. Clip the pack high on the back, not at the waist, so shuffling on the knees cannot knock the connector loose.
- The burp and fart duet. "I Think I Got You Beat" leans on comic sound effects. Decide early whether the actors make them live or the crew fires them from playback, and rehearse the timing.
Projection
The swamp, Duloc, the dragon's castle and the wedding all suit projected scenery, and projection helps a JR. cast move quickly through the journey scenes. Most school auditoriums need 7,000–10,000 lumens with the right lens; smaller black boxes need less.
Our sister company Broadway Media makes Scenic Projections for Shrek The Musical JR. Not sure which projector? Read Stage Projectors for Digital Scenery.
Rent it for the run, or own it
| What you get | Next step | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent for the show | A 14-channel wireless rental, Monday to Monday around tech week. Tested before it ships, return labels in every case. | See rental systems |
| Own it | Creative Audio Show-Ready, 16 channels: receivers, bodypacks and antennas racked, programmed and tested. $ 11,190.38. | See the system |
| Mics for the packs you have | Bodymics for the whole cast: hairline from $79, earsets and headsets from $99. | Build your Bodymics |
Buying for a school? U.S. public schools can pay by purchase order. How school ordering works.
Common questions
- How many wireless mics does Shrek JR. need?
- Plan on 14 channels: 12 body mics for the three Storytellers, Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, Farquaad, the Dragon, Young and Teen Fiona, Pinocchio and Gingy, plus 2 spares. Cover the fairytale creatures with area mics at the stage edge.
- Do the fairytale creatures in Shrek JR. need their own mics?
- Usually not. Three or four area mics at the stage edge cover the group numbers. If a creature has a featured line, hand that actor a spare body mic for the scene rather than adding a channel.
- Do the Storytellers in Shrek JR. need body mics?
- They carry much of the narration, so they need to be heard clearly. Body mics are simplest. If your Storytellers stay downstage in one spot, handhelds on stands work and free up three packs.
- Can we rent mics just for our show week?
- Yes. Stage Gear rentals run Monday to Monday around tech week, so you have mics for rehearsals and every performance. Systems arrive tested with return labels, and school purchase orders are welcome.
Doing Shrek The Musical JR. this year?
Get mic tips for your show and a reminder before rental season books up.
Stage Gear is not a show licensor. Shrek The Musical JR. is licensed through Music Theatre International (MTI); production rights come from them. Stage Gear sells and rents the equipment. See you on stage!
