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Pack your imagination and punch your ticket to the magical and invisible world of Whoville in “Seussical Jr.,” the spring musical to be performed at Severna Park Middle School April 24–26.
A favorite production for audiences of all ages, “Seussical Jr.” is an adaptation of “Seussical,” first performed on Broadway in 2000. The story weaves a handful of Dr. Seuss’ (Theodor Geisel) beloved stories into an enchanting musical with underlying themes of the power of imagination, having the courage to do what’s right, and a person is a person, no matter how small.
“From the opening number of ‘Oh, The Thinks You Can Think,’ the student actors are dancing around this colorful, wondrous world of Seuss stories and encouraging everyone to stretch their imaginations,” said April Gianvittorio, parent producer. “Then as the story progresses, Horton discovers the tiny world of Whoville on a speck of dust and hears the residents calling out for help. Although so many characters try to distract him and convince him to abandon the Whos, he follows his heart and tries to help.”
As expected, the “Seussical” costumes are as vibrant and lively as the characters who wear them. The costume team infused color and whimsy into each character, including the Who families, jungle animals and classic Seuss characters like the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, and the Grinch.
The primary set is a large stationary piece on the stage with several smaller moving pieces like a bathtub, a field of clovers, a piano, a helicopter, and large flats that look like the spines of the Seuss books included in the musical. Every set piece was meticulously crafted and painted by parents and students. With a little imagination, the audience will be pulled deeply into the tiny world of Whoville.
“One thing that I appreciate about this group is their ability to just go for it! After our director set the vision, the kids and the parents just jumped in and started working hard,” Gianvittorio added. “Most of these adults are not theater professionals, but you would think they were! Parents and students had the confidence to jump in and commit to the funny characters, to build and paint these huge set pieces, and create the magic that you will see onstage.”
As for the actors and everyone behind the scenes, Gianvittorio promises the talent and enthusiasm of all 42 students involved will be evident. “I think kids really identify with the theme of doing what’s right and also enjoy the chaos of a Seuss story,” she said.
Kate Hibbard, an eighth-grader, plays nerdy Gertrude with a droopy single tail feather, a Dr. Seuss character who debuted in 1958.
“Gertrude is a bird who doesn’t get noticed by someone she really loves,” Kate said. “I like playing her because it’s relatable for kids. Everyone wants to be noticed sometimes.”
She added that her fellow cast members sing in harmony very well together, and when they sound good, everyone feels good. She hopes audiences think they sing well, too!
The loveable Horton the Elephant, a character who first appeared in 1940, is played by seventh-grader Sophie Miller. “He’s a lot of fun to play because I get to use a wide range of my voice, which I don’t always get to do in other productions,” Sophie said.
Harry Freire plays Jo-Jo the Who, who was introduced in 1954. Although the sixth-grader has experience in the local theater scene, he really likes performing at the middle school.
“It’s really fun to perform with people you’ve grown up with, and the talent here is amazing!” Harry shared. He believes younger kids who are now reading Dr. Seuss books will enjoy seeing the characters come to life onstage.
Ana Gianvittorio plays the Cat in the Hat, first introduced by Dr. Seuss in 1957. The eight-grader has the unique role of playing the iconic character who serves as the show’s narrator. “It’s really fun to play the Cat in the Hat because everyone knows he’s a silly and fun character!” she added. “This show will be fun for children and adults because most people have read the Dr. Seuss books or seen the movies. I think people will really enjoy our musical.”
Tickets for Severna Park Middle School’s “Seussical Jr.” are available at gofan.co/app/school/MD79851_1.
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