Wright State University alum Jeremy Gaston is well aware that his portrayal of the wisecracking Donkey in the national tour of the 2009 Tony Award-nominated “Shrek The Musical” will live in the shadow of Eddie Murphy’s iconic voiceover in the various film versions. Even so, he embraces the challenge of finding new ways to approach a very familiar role while acknowledging the traits that made the character shine on screen.

“Everyone associates Donkey with Eddie Murphy, but as actors, we learn to borrow things from other performers to better our performances,” said Gaston, speaking by phone during a stop in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. “I don’t want to completely erase what Eddie did in that role, because he was great, but at the same time, I’ve been blessed to play this role, and I want to make sure I’m grounded in it and putting forth my best. I may take some of the isms Eddie did, but I’m going to make sure the audience knows Jeremy Gaston played the role.”

It’s easy to label Donkey as a one-dimensional comedic sidekick who only wants to have fun, but Gaston, who wears four ice packs inside his nearly 15-pound leather costume, continues to find depth within the character. After all, Donkey is a catalyst for change in the heart and mind of the character of Shrek, who discovers a renewed sense of self thanks to his trusty companion.

“Donkey is the one who makes Shrek see that he is more than just an ogre or a scary monster,” he said. “Donkey continues to push Shrek forward. He’s a great sidekick who shows Shrek different realms he might not have ever explored before. If Shrek didn’t have Donkey in his life, he might not have ever had the courage to go forth with pursuing Princess Fiona, his true love.”

Gaston, a Springfield native, has fond memories of his time at WSU, where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater in 2009. Among his credits were “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” “Titanic” and the regional collegiate premiere of “Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida.” He values the lessons learned and the rigors of the program that fueled his growth as an actor.

“Wright State was just a great fit for me,” he said. “Throughout the four years, it was such a wonderful experience. I learned so much and wouldn’t trade the experience for anything in the world. There are definitely ups and downs in any college career, but the faculty helped mold us into performers who would continue to grow after graduation. One thing I remember them saying about the program is that you come into it as a complete puzzle thrown against the wall that’s broken into little pieces and put back together again as something special.”

Gaston, who previously appeared in the national tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” toured Asia last year with “Shrek,” particularly China and Malaysia, and has been enjoying his association with the current tour, which launched this past fall. He feels strongly about the show’s multigenerational appeal and its delightful score by composer Jeanine Tesori (“Caroline, or Change,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie”) and lyricist/Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (“Rabbit Hole”), particularly the uplifting message radiating within “Freak Flag.”

“I adore this music,” said Gaston. “There’s a little bit of hip-hop or rap and also some really good ballads. I feel like ‘Shrek’ is a show for everyone. In particular, in ‘Freak Flag,’ the subject of the song is to let your freak flag wave, to let who you are shine no matter what anyone has to say about it. At the end of the day you want to be proud of yourself no matter what. ‘Shrek’ is just a great, entertaining show for children and adults.”