Seussical!

Published 12:52 am Thursday, October 30, 2008

VALDOSTA — Audiences can hear a Who this weekend as Lowndes High School Off-Broadway presents the musical “Seussical.”

The show brings Dr. Seuss’ literary characters and stories to life. It primarily focuses on the Cat in the Hat and Horton the elephant, combining elements of both characters’ stories along with other Seuss stories — all backed by songs.

“‘Seussical’ incorporates elements from at least 15 of Dr. Seuss’ books, as well as many of his best-loved and most familiar characters,” notes LHS Off-Broadway. “Many of the characters never met one another before. But they meet in this musical.”

LHS Off-Broadway is presenting this show for the public this weekend prior to one-act regional play competition next week in Warner Robins. Competition requires that competing high school theatre programs present entries under 55 minutes. LHS Off-Broadway has been working hard to meet this criteria since “Seussical” is a full-length musical.

“It has been very difficult to fit this musical into 55 minutes,” says Phyllis Childree, LHS Off-Broadway director.

“It is the version for Theatre for Young Audiences, which is a shorter version of ‘Seussical,’ but still is very difficult, and to this date, we have not been successful (in meeting the time requirement). We actually have two versions. One for our audiences, which is the longer, and a shorter one for competition. We still have a week, so we have hope.”

“Seussical” features Childree’s advanced drama students from her first-block class.

“We are able to rehearse each day for 90 minutes, and that has enabled us to practice vocals, choreography, and blocking,” she says.

Many of the students are also band students who would not have had the opportunity to participate, had play rehearsals not been in the morning, because of afternoon band practice, Childree says.

In competition, LHS presents one of what is expected to be eight musicals out of 10 competing schools. Valdosta High School is competing with the non-musical “If a Man Answers,” which played locally last week.



THE CAST: Martavius Parrish, Ethan Parker, Jaden Mierzekewski, Courtney Hegener, Kayla Mixon, Jennifer Robinson, Cody Darr, Hannah Hitchcock, Chelsea Beals, Kelsey Russo, Jonathan Alvarez, Nick McConnell, Austin Rivers, Amanda Tudor, Sarah Delgado, Candice Smith, Amber Hamilton, Anna-Marie Boyer, Rachel Flores, Chelsea Hyers, Mary Leonard, Will Lewis, Lindsay Bailey, Heather Cohen, Diana Futch, Caitlyn MacMillan, Taylor Pearson, Candice Smith.

DIRECTION, PRODUCTION: Phyllis Childree, director; Ethan Parker, Jennica Hurley, musical directors; Kaitlin Barrett, Jennifer Cooper, Heather Cannon, Michelle Moser, Alyssa Wilkerson, tech crew.



SHOWTIME

LHS Off-Broadway presents “Seussical.”

When: 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Where: Auditorium, Lowndes High School, off Norman Drive.