'Seussical, The Musical' Leaps Onto The WCHS PAC Stage
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David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
If you don't have a ticket, you may want to kick it - down to Warsaw High School, that is.
The kids at the school who think theater's cool, are planning a show and they want you to go.
It's "Seussical, the Musical" Friday, Saturday and Sunday - so don't delay - get your ticket right away!
Much better rhyme schemes will be found in Warsaw Community High School Drama Department's presentation of "Seussical, The Musical" this weekend at the Performing Arts Center.
Show times for the Dr. Seuss-inspired musical are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $8 for adults, and $5 for students. Pre-sale tickets are available for reserved seating. For tickets, call the WCHS Performing Arts Center box office at 574-371-5040.
"It's definitely a family show," said director Dana McAfee. "Tickets are selling fast!"
Including pit and stage crews and actors, she said about 75 students are involved in the production. "It's a big, big show," McAfee said.
Music for the show was written by Stephen Flaherty, with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. The original show was conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Eric Idle
"Seussical" is based on the works of children's author Theodore Geisel, known to the world as Dr. Seuss.
The major characters and stories of Seuss are condensed, but Ahrens and Flaherty have managed to incorporate bits and pieces of at least 14 Seuss classics, including "Horton Hears a Who," "Horton Hatches the Egg," "Gertrude McFuzz," "The Butter Battle Book," "If I Ran the Circus," "McElligott's Pool," "I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew" and "The Cat in the Hat."
The main story involves Horton the Elephant's efforts to save his friend Jojo and the other inhabitants on Who, even though everyone else in the Jungle of Nool thinks Horton is a fool for believing in people who live on a small speck of dust. But Horton is a determined, loyal and faithful friend who fights for what he knows to be true.
McAfee said, "It's a great show. I think everyone's going to love it. I'm excited."Cast members, in order of appearance, are: Cameron Carter as Boy/JoJo; Erin Mills, Cat in the Hat; Ethan Bartman, Horton; Ian Justiniano, Mr. Mayor; Bebhinn Priest, Mrs. Mayor; Ariel Howard, Gertrude McFuzz; Ashley Skaggs, Mayzie; Ally Ferber, Sour Kangaroo; Nick West, General Ghengis Khan Schmidtz; Corey Boschet, Vlad Vladikoff/Circus/Cadet; Max Heckert, Grinch/Wickersham Brother; Zach Tucker, Yertle the Turtle.
Shay Dixon, Frankie Hall, Andrew Morris and Jamison Westerbeck portray the Wickersham Brothers. The bird girls are Tara Akers, Shanda Fredericks, Jessica Lemler, Cecilia Southworth, Alyssa Taylor and Melody Vida. Jungle citizens are Kristin Allen, Nichole Herendeen, Haley Owen, Nicholle Potter and Liz Watson.
Making up the Who Family No. 1 are Trey Kempton, Laura Eberhardt, Christiana Wilson. No. 2 Who Family are Tim Savage and Josh Savage, with Cindy Lou portrayed by Abby Schwendeman. Who Family No. 3 are Shawn Bianchini, Kayla Smith, Tara Petitt, Matt Grothouse, with Who Family No. 4 being Malachi Vanier, Susan Grothouse, Emily Readle and Brett Fancil. No. 5 Who Family are Brian Shively, Amy Green, Kristen Schwenger and Alli Tucker.
As Circus Acts and Cadets are Courtney Coffman, Shellie Harrell, Joel Helms, Brianne Johnson, Molly Lewis and Chris Priest.
Stage Crew/Fish/Hunches are Heather Anderson, Travis Goodman, Ryan Herman, Montana Plummer, Lauren Prater, Morgan Stuart, Bethany Watson and Matt Wolf.
