by Dave DeMars
news@thenewsleaders.com
Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat, the Whos of Whoville, the Grinch . . . All names that are familiar to millions of children and grownups around the world. All of them and more are part of the world of Theodor Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss.
And now the characters of Dr. Seuss are appearing on stage at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School thanks to the efforts of the drama department and the cast of Seussical the Musical. Opening night is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11.
Seussical the Musical is not just a show for children but is entertaining for all ages from children to grandparents and for all who have read the Dr. Seuss stories throughout their lifetime, said the play’s director, Julie Christenson.
The plot
The musical features a variety of musical styles and types, including Latin, pop, swing, gospel, R&B and funk as the Cat in the Hat narrates this fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza based on the works of Dr. Seuss.
The Cat in the Hat serves as narrator and guide and takes viewers to the mysterious jungle of Nool. There the audience will meet Horton the elephant, who is bathing when he hears sounds coming from a speck of dust. To his surprise, he discovers a boy named JoJo and the other Whos in the city of Whoville, living in danger of being blown away. JoJo is a Who child sent to military school for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton decides he must protect the speck of dust on a nearby clover, while at the same time protecting an abandoned egg left to his care by the lazy Mayzie la Bird.
To make matters worse, the Sour Kangaroo and the monkeys known as the Wickersham Brothers steal the dust speck and lose it in a field of clover. With the help of his friends, Gertrude McFuzz and Mayzie LaBird, Horton embarks on a quest to find the clover and save Whoville.
“I’ll find it!” Horton criers. “I’ll find it or bust! I SHALL find my friends on my small speck of dust!”
Having vowed to protect them, Horton finds the task harder than expected since no one can hear the Whos except him, and so everyone in the jungle thinks Horton has gone crazy. He endures many hardships along the way, including a stint in the circus and being put on trial for insanity before Judge Yertle the Turtle. Through his adventures, Horton also learns about the importance of tolerance, friendship and loyalty, not to mention the power of being unique and fighting for one’s beliefs.
“A person’s a person, no matter how small,” Horton says.
A taste of rehearsal
Practices are intensifying as the performance date draws near. Cast and crew have been at work on the play since the first week in September with a company that numbers 97 participants, said technical director Jim Christenson.
“Things can look a little bit chaotic at times,” he said.
At the center of the flurry of activity on stage is director Julie Christenson. She holds the vision of how the show should be presented to the audience. She translates the vision using the cast, the crew, the music, the lights and the words of Seuss. Magically, the story is told – but it takes a whole lot of work by everyone.
Performance dates after the rehearsal include 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11 and 12, and Nov. 18 and 19, and matinees at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13 and 20.
“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”
Senior Colton Schultz, who performs the role of Cat in the Hat, was able to steal a few minutes to talk with the Newsleader. It’s a major role for Schultz and one that challenges him despite having played Oz in The Wizard of Oz last year.
“It’s my first singing lead,” Schultz said. “The rhythms present the most challenge, but it has gone pretty well and I’ve definitely come a long way.”
While this is probably the most difficult role Schultz has done to date, he said it’s also the easiest because of the rhyme.
“It’s all rhythm and rhyme, and it’s easier to remember things, and it’s not just pages of monologue like The Wizard of Oz was,” Schultz said. “It’s definitely my favorite role so far.”
As Dr. Seuss might say if he had thought to:
“Lines will be polished.
The rough blocking’s done.
Costumes are worn by everyone.
The music’s rehearsed.
And the lighting is set.
They’ll be ready on Friday,
On that you can bet.”
Cindy Lou Who in “Seussical the Musical,” played by Chantelle Dickerson, looks into the huge red sack of the Grinch played by Justin Glen. “Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store.”
The Mayor of Whoville, played by Cullen Donahue and Mrs. Mayor, played by Anna Zeleny raise their glasses in a toast in “Seussical the Musical.”
Colton Schultz practices one of the many songs he performs in “Seussical the Musical” prior to taking the stage.
Jojo, played by Bryce Paulson, receives a talking to from General Genghis Khan Schmitz played by Justin Glen prior to the Battle of the Butter Balls. Glen also performs as the Grinch and Yertle the Turtle in the play “Seussical the Musical.”
Bird Girls, Wickersham Monkeys, Fish Dancers and Hunches, Chorus of Whos, Chorus of Jungle Creatures and Cadets are all part of the onstage company of “Seussical the Musical.” A pit orchestra, back stage scene and lighting techs complete the company of 97 people. The major players in the play are (from left to right) Jennifer Nguyen, Bailey Bauer, Alyssa Brennhofer, Aneleise Martinson, Stephanie Wright, Maria Frerich, Hannah Weber, Justin Glen, Bryce Paulson, Matt Murphy, Colton Schultz, Cullen Donahue, Anna Zeleny, Carter Hammerel, Hillarie Markfort, Natalie Westergren, Luke Vannurden and Dominic Kapinos. Not pictured: Sydney Hennes who plays Gertrude McFuzz.
