The young actors and actresses in Everett Village Theatre’s Kidstage SummerStock program have been brushing up on their Dr. Seuss knowledge as well as their dancing skills. Now the public is invited to see them showcase those efforts in “Seussical: The Musical,” tonight through Aug. 19 at Everett Performing Arts Center.
The company decided to produce “Seussical,” Everett’s Kidstage manager Janet Cole Hamilton said, because it’s “a great show with a wide variety of musical styles that has several feature roles to challenge young performers.”
“Kidstage almost always produces musicals, and some of the best musicals for young performers are rooted in literature,” she noted, citing shows from earlier this year, like “The Jungle Book Kids,” based on “The Jungle Book” children’s story, and “Honk! Jr.,” based on “The Ugly Duckling.”
“Seussical” follows Horton the Elephant, who is universally feared and respected, until he hears the plight of the Whos, caught on a dust speck on a clover. Horton’s friendship with JoJo, the youngest Who, allows JoJo to explore the worlds that the imagination can take one to – something her parents discourage. Horton also offers to egg-sit for his friend Mayzie.
The other jungle creatures, however, cannot tolerate an egg-sitting, Who-hearing elephant and, therefore, they ridicule Horton for his belief that “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
Hamilton encourages families to read Dr. Seuss’ “Horton Hears a Who” and “Horton Hatches an Egg” in advance, to better understand the show, and says while the content is suitable for all ages, it’s best for kids ages 5 and older.
The show runs just under two hours long and has one intermission.
Audiences can expect a polished production with themes of compassion, tolerance, imagination and more that will entertain, amuse and enlighten, Hamilton says.
“The choreography presented several challenges for many in the cast,” she said. “Most students have not had much previous dance instruction, so they are learning not only dance skills, but dance vocabulary and the skill of learning choreography in a quick manner, which will serve them well for all their upcoming musical theater experiences.”
She went on to say that the choreography often requires the students, who range in age from 10 to 18, to mimic animalistic movement and involves lifts and partner moves, which are difficult skills to master and to do safely, but that the kids have done well.
Sam Freeman photo
Dan Skubi as Horton the Elephant, Joe Royal as the Cat in the Hat, Autumn Lambright as JoJo and Caitlin Kinnunen as Mayzie La Bird in “Seussical: The Musical.”
“Seussical: The Musical”
Opens at 7:30 tonight, Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett. Other shows at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Aug. 17, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18 and 19. $9 to $11, 425-257-8600, www.villagetheatre.org.
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