Both the film and the stage musicals follow Shrek on his journey alongside his newfound companion, Donkey, to rescue Princess Fiona from a dragon-guarded tower. Like Shrek, Fiona was sent away by her parents at age seven, condemned to a lonely tower to await rescue. Instead of replicating the movie, the Broadway and Fridley Theater Company productions focus on what they could improve on with a theatrical version. Ultimately, “Shrek: The Musical” does more than recreate a beloved film, it enriches it, using musical exposition and deeper character backstories to underscore the story’s core themes of self-acceptance and empathy. Catch the last couple of “Sherk: The Musical” shows in Fridley, Minnesota, July 30 and 31 at 7 p.m., or Aug. 1 at 2 p.m.