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‘Seussical the Musical’ Touts the Value of Community and Imagination
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Thursday, September 20, 2018
 

STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

JoJo’s just a little boy who has an imagination as big as the world itself.

“Oh the Thinks You Can Think!” he sings.

But when he’s chided for his imagination, the Cat in the Hat is brought to life by his “thinks.” And the Cat and the Hat introduces the little boy to someone who has an even bigger imagination—an elephant from the Jungle of Nool.

The result is “Seussical the Musical,” an imaginative production that weaves together 18 different stories of Dr. Seuss, including “Horton Hears a Who!” and “Horton Hatches an Egg.”

St. Thomas Playhouse will present the musical tonight through Sunday, Sept. 23, at Sun Valley Community School Theatre. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with 2 pm. matinees Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s a play that encourages us to use our imagination. Imagination doesn’t go away when you get older. That’s when you need to use your imagination for the good of the world,” said Ava Knowles, who performs a circus performer and a fish dancer.

“It’s a fun musical with upbeat songs and energetic dancing,” said Priya Merchant, who plays a Bird Girl and Jungle Citizen.

St. Thomas Playhouse’s Company B presented the junior version of “Seussical” in 2011 and Director Sara Bradshaw Gorby has wanted to stage the full version, created by Tony Award winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty ever since.

“Its overarching message is about community and taking care of one another, about coming together and making one another stronger and not just thinking about yourself,” she said. “It’s also about having compassion. As Horton says, ‘A person is a person no matter how small.’”

“It’s about accepting someone who’s different,” said Ashley Norton, who plays a fish dancer and circus performer.  “And a lot of it has spiritual connotations, as well. We, for instance, sing about a place where life is good, which you could construe as heaven.”

The two-hour version, which debuted on Broadway in 2000, includes some adult themes, such as the relationship between parents and their children.

When JoJo gets into trouble, for instance, the answer for his parents is to send him to military school with the musical exploring the consequences of that action.

In another instance, Gertrude McFuzz takes drastic measures—namely, a tail enlargement—to get Horton to notice her, even though it grounds her from flying. Eventually, she learns she doesn’t have to change herself to get others to like her.

In still another case, Mayzie LaBird, flies off with another bird only to end up with an egg that she doesn’t want to take care of so she pushes the egg off on Horton to take care of.

“It has important lessons about adulthood,” said Brett Moellenberg, who portrays Horton.

This is the first time in several years that Moellenberg has performed on such a large stage, rather than small intimate venues where he’s three feet in front of his audience.

“It’s fun to work with others who I think don’t know my first name—they all call me Horton,” he said. “Horton can become whiny and desperate so it’s my goal to stay as positive as possible in the face of adversity.”

The two-hour musical features 55 adults and children.

Brett Moellenberg stars as Horton the Elephant and Megan Mahoney as the Cat in the Hat.

Quinton Norton and Asher Knowles are double cast as JoJo. Hannah Loeb plays Mayzie LaBird; Aly Wepplo, Gertrude McFuzz, and Rachel Aanestad, the Sour Kangaroo.

Set designer Jamey Reynolds has created Whoville in oranges and yellows and the Nool Jungle in hot colors. Alison Higdon has created a colorful—and featherful—collection of costumes, without getting literal so the audience can see the human behind the costumes.

Jay Cutler created the lighting. And drummer Michael Kelly is having a blast picking Seussical sounds out of an electric drum containing 650 sounds, while Band Director John Mauldin plays a purple trombone, in addition to directing fellow band members Michael Kelley, Joel Bejot, Alyssa Claffey, R.L. Rowsey and Ellen Sanders.

And David Fox of Silver Fox Catering has enjoyed re-reading Dr. Seuss tales for inspiration in concocting Seuss-inspired nibbles that will be served up at a special event for patrons.

Green eggs and ham was a given, but he’s also created a long list of other sweets and savories, including Cat in the Hat Canapes, Horton the Elephant chicken satay with peanuts and The Grinch meatballs, which like the sleigh, feature stuffing poking out all over.

Tickets are $15 and $25, available at www.stthomasplayhouse.org or by calling 208-726-5349, extension 15.

YOU’LL NEVER BELIEVE WHO ELSE IS IN THE CAST

This year’s cast includes several adults who have not appeared before in community theater, as well as some new faces.

In addition to those already acknowledged, others are:

Grace Bloedorn, Fiona Neville, Luke Mauldin, Qwydion Schiers, Rylee Brown, Isaac Brannon, Alaylia Norton, Heather Black, Kristal Schiers, Priya Merchant, Ella Boice, Andrew Schiers, Amanda Wilson, Jima Rice, Charlie Coulter,

Also, Harrison Black, Santiago Rico, McKenzie Giles, Keane Phillips, Will Lamoureux, Langley Bier, Ida Belle Gorby, Clara Gvozdas, Sarah Feltman, Charlotte Davis-Jeffers, L.C. Dahl, Emma Desserault, Molly! Goodyear, Claire Watson, Pat Jorgensen, Lucy Lamoureux, Marina Monschke, Rya Nichols, Alexandra Thomson, Norah Davis-Jeffers, Rosie Sheerin, Etienne Blumberg, Kwejaryne Shiers, Fynley Norton.

And, finally, Priscilla Sheerin, Minnie Webster, Lucy Carter, Margaret Rose Bailey, Frances Goodyear, Blakeslee Davis-Jeffers, Amber Piirainen, Asia Angel, Coco Vorm, Langley Bier, Mattigan Monschke, Lucy Carter, Kai Young and Georgia Gegan.

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