THE SUMMER OF SEUSSICAL IS ALMOST HERE!!!

Now one of the most performed shows in America, Seussical is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Tony winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Once on This Island, Ragtime), have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie and a little boy with a big imagination – Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.

The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks." Horton faces a double challenge: not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant. Seussical is fun for the whole family!

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *    

DIRECTOR'S VISION STATEMENT:

I am so excited to have the opportunity to direct Seussical the Musical. Seussical is a wonderful show with layers of fun, whimsy, and deep messaging. There are SO MANY roles in this show for adults, young adults, teens, tweens and children. This is a multigenerational show offering opportunities for people of all ages. With this being a CCT show, I love the opportunity to cast adults in the adult roles; which really adds an interesting dynamic to the production.

Seussical the Musical is a mash up of several Dr. Seuss stories. The show primarily follows the story of Horton Hears a Who. Our beloved Horton character is someone who goes above and beyond, taking on responsibility even when it’s not required of him. Horton feels lonely and misunderstood in his community even though he’s doing the right thing; he is a good steward and has a servant's heart. JoJo is another beloved character, very similar to Horton but lives on the speck of dust. JoJo also feels like he is a loner in his world and doesn’t feel seen or heard. The parallel between Horton and JoJo is so rich. Both characters feel misunderstood and lonely, yet they demonstrate great heart and commitment to the greater good. Horton’s sense of responsibility and selflessness, even when it’s not required, speaks to a deeper value of community and caring for others, which is a perfect message for audiences of all ages.

As these two characters are juxtaposed against one another, the Cat in the Hat serves as the bridge bringing JoJo into Seuss world. Cat acts as a tether between JoJo‘s real world and the Seuss world. You are going to see elements of the real world coming into the Seuss world as a reminder that JoJo is really not part of the Seuss story. It is all by the design of Cat and THING 1 & THING 2 that push JoJo into the story. The Seuss world comes alive when the audience is introduced to all the colorful characters in the Jungle of Nool: Sour Kangaroo, Mayzie LaBird, Gertrude McFuzz, Bird Girls, Wickersham Brothers and the Jungle Creatures. And of course our beloved characters of Whoville: Mr. & Mrs. Mayor, The Whos, General Gengus Khan Schmitz, Cadets, Cindy Lou Who and the Grinch. We will be seeking skilled dancers to make the full vision of the show come to life.

Another over-arching theme in the show is the importance of holding on to one’s imagination and creativity. The Cat serves as a reminder to JoJo to not lose these qualities. Through the Cat’s playful and imaginative behavior, he reinforces the importance of curiosity, creativity, and staying true to yourself despite the pressures of the “real world.”

I hope to see you at auditions as I am confident we will create something very special with this production.

Shari Wojta