Suessical: CHHS drama students prep production of new musical
Published 3:00 am Saturday, February 27, 2016
The Charles Henderson High School Theater Department will present its spring play, “Seussical the Musical!’ at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the CHHS Cafetorium. Tickets are $10 and are on sale at the school, through Judith Park, drama teacher, or any cast member. Tickets will also be available at the door if the performance is not sold out.
Park said “Seussical The Musical!” is a fun and energetic show and a joy for all ages.
“It’s a play that consists of a compilation of Dr. Seuss characters and stories,” Park said. “The main storyline is of Horton the Elephant saving the small planet of Who, which is dangerously floating around on a dust speck. The play encourages people of all ages to embrace their imagination or as Jojo calls it, ‘big thinks!’”
Park said she chose “Seussical” for a few different reasons.
“For one, it’s very different than anything I’ve directed here at CHHS,” she said.
“It’s over-the-top and eccentric. The costumes and sets are brightly colored and the characters are completely make believe. I thought my students needed a break from realism for a while and an opportunity to explore the silly style of children’s musical theatre.”
Park was familiar with the play because she played a Bird Girl in her hometown’s community theatre production of “Seussical” in 2004.
“The catchy music has stuck with me over the years, and I was confident that this generation of kids would fall in love with it the same way I did,” she said.
Park said another reason for choosing “Seussical’ was that it aligned perfectly with Read Across America week which is celebrated the first week in March every year.
“Read Across America is an educational initiative that encourages children to read more,” Park said. “Students in elementary schools all across the nation will dress up as Dr. Seuss characters on March 2, which is Dr. Seuss’ birthday This year, we will be taking ‘Seussical the Musical’ to Troy Elementary School on Dr. Seuss Day to perform for the children, who will be dressed up like the characters in the play.
Cast and crew from Charles Henderson High School are: Ingrid Lieb, Nelsey Leverette Dalton Gross, Reagan Gross, Amelia Steele, Meredith Gramley, Seth Manning, Nicklaus Chrysson, Cait Ryan, Hannah Jordan, Kacie Gibbons, Abigail Salmon, Tiffany Peppers
Tionna Douglas, Anthony Tolbert, Audrey Law, Malory McGrath, Veronica Cooper, Raegan Johnson, Camille Cameron, Lindsay Lee, Zack Scott, Will Worthington, Latajah Wilcoxin and Megan Romero.
From Charles Henderson Middle School, cast members are: Paige Crawley, Lora Leigh Dansby, Jamarius Collins, Latrasha Burney and Hana Asselstine. Troy Elementary School student Sadie Leverette also joins the cast.
“We all invite everyone to come out to see ‘Seussical” and support the Troy City School’s performing arts,” Park said.