‘Seussical The Musical’ opens Friday in Des Plaines

“After all of those years being stuck on a page,Did you ever imagine you#146;d see me onstage?Now I#146;m here, there#146;s no telling what may ensue!No there#146;s no telling what!But I#146;ll give you a clue ...Oh, the thinks you can think!Oh, the thinks you can think!If you#146;re willing to try ...#148;

So begins Footlighters Theatre Company#146;s production of #147;Seussical the Musical,#148; from the composer/lyricist team of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, and based on the witty and wonderful words of Dr. Seuss.

Opening Friday, July 22 at the Prairie Lakes Theater, #147;Seussical#148; is a magical, fantastical show that weaves together elements from 14 Dr. Seuss classic stories in unexpected ways. Featuring many of his most memorable characters #8212; the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Mayzie LaBird, Yurtle the Turtle and the Grinch #8212; the story takes place in parallel universes: The Jungle of Nool and the infinitesimal planet of Whoville. The worlds are connected by loyal, tenderhearted Horton the Elephant, who#146;s sanity is questioned by his fellow jungle dwellers, when he becomes the protector of the Whos, whom only he can hear.

#147;Seussical#148; reveals a world where anything is possible, from an elephant sitting in a tree to a person too tiny to see, from a heroic child to dreams that run wild. Directed by Barry Norton, with choreography by Mary Williams, and musical direction by Mike Evans, Seussical is fun for the whole family and a must see this summer.

The cast: Peter Sisto (the Cat in the Hat); Kent Joseph (Horton the Elephant); Lauren Hagan (Gertrude McFuzz); Desiree Gonzolez (Mayzie LaBird) and Katherine Smail and Katherine Parker (Jo Jo).

Also: Jenna Hesseln (Sour Kangaroo); Matt Bonadona (Mayor of Whoville); Melissa Parilla (Mrs. Mayor); Bud Jones (General Genghis Khan Schmitz); Anna Marie Abbate, Amy Nolan, Regina Verhelst, Dolores Santiago, and Tami Boyce (Bird Girls); Adrian Delgado, Alex Steele, Rodrigo Arcibar, and Mitch Wernet (Wickersham Brothers); Daisy Anderson (Cindy Lou Who); Emily Murman and Julia Murman (Thing 1 and Thing 2); Lydia Stux (Yertle the Turtle); and Michael Lane (Grinch).