A musical with heart: Spotlight Youth's 'Seussical'
Journey back to your childhood with the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss when Spotlight Youth Theater Aurora brings "Seussical Jr." to the stage in Batavia this weekend.
Performances are Thursday, Oct. 8, through Sunday, Oct. 11, at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre. Tickets, $9-$12, are available by calling (847) 516-2298 or visiting www.spotlight.org/.
The Daily Herald caught up with director Edward Perry of Aurora, a first-time director with Spotlight, to learn more about the show.
Q. Why did Spotlight choose to put on "Seussical Jr." for this particular show?
Edward Perry. "Seussical Jr." is an outstanding show filled with whimsical characters, heartfelt messages and an unforgettable story.
Q. Tell us about the plot of this version of "Seussical."
Perry. "Seussical" centers around Horton the Elephant and his connection to a world blown to him by fate landing on a clover. Centered on ideals: loyalty, strength, and heart, Horton tries to overcome the daunting task of saving the Whos. As a parallel in the story, a Who by the name of JoJo gets in trouble with the help of Cat and works to find a friend in the Universe. The story unites the unlikeliest of friends through imagination and the power of faith. Seuss allows us to believe anything is possible.
Q. How difficult or easy was it to cast the lead roles for this play? How many performers are there, total, and what is their age range?
Perry. Casting for "Seussical" took the team hours because we wanted to lead with our hearts and sound minds to ensure the right actor were placed in the role they were meant to be. We are proud of every actor and their dedication in this show. We have 94 actors in "Seussical Jr." ranging from age 8 to 18.
Q. Is there singing and dancing in this show? If so, how easy or difficult has it been for the performers to learn those numbers?
Perry. The beauty of "Seussical Jr." is almost the whole show is in rhyme or in song. There are over 15 songs in this show and an amazing amount of dancing. The dancing did challenge the actors in a fun and energetic way. Even though some of the dances may have pushed these actors, we would never fail to see a smile on so many of their faces when they finished practicing. Thanks to Wendy Perry, Kali Libby, and all the actors for all of their hard work.
Q. Are there any special effects or other unique/different aspects to the production?
Perry. This production pulls out all the stops by including almost all of the special effects Spotlight has to offer. We will be using bubble machines, snow machines, streamer cannons, fog geysers, a fog machine, and trap doors. Our biggest unique aspect for our production will be the use of projections. We will have four different projections that will be used throughout the show to enhance the audience's experience.
Q. What has been the most challenging part of putting this show together?
Perry. To me the most challenging part for the show has been making sure all of the components piece together with our vision, while adding something fresh and different from other counties have done of this show. Putting all the pieces together from combining the costumes, to the sets, to the animations, to the actors is never an easy task. We have been focused on placing the actors in the right spot, developing characterization, and bringing the stage to life.
Q. What do you think audiences will like best about this show?
Perry. I think each and every audience member is going to enjoy the ability to just sit back, relax, and enjoy a show that takes you to someplace where only your imagination can make reality. We feel with all of the hard work that is been put into this show, the audience will truly wonder where the time has gone when the show is over. We want them to get lost in a world where they feel like truly anything is possible.
If you go
What: Spotlight Youth Theater Aurora's production of "Seussical Jr."
When: 9:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8; 9:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9; 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10; 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11
Where: Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St., Batavia
Tickets: $9-$12 in advance, $2 extra at the door
Details: (847) 516-2298; <a href="http://www.spotlight.org">www.spotlight.org</a>