Rhymes, stories come to life in 'Seussical'
The ubiquitous and timeless rhyming tales of Dr. Seuss come to life this month in a high-energy musical presented by Spotlight Youth Theater Kane County.
"Seussical the Musical" will be performed Thursday through Sunday, April 27-30, at Burlington Central High School, 44W625 Plato Road in Hampshire. The colorful, all-ages show highlights lovable characters like Horton the Elephant, Mayzie La Bird, and JoJo the Who through a blend of harmonies sung by 82 students from the Kane County area.
"This cast is extremely talented, and 'Seussical' is filled with energetic dance numbers, amazing vocals and the fun stories of Dr. Seuss we all know and love," said show director Julia Irvin.
"Seussical" kicks off with the full-cast number "Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!" that introduces the main characters, including The Cat in the Hat played by Jake Mickel, 16, of Elgin. Mickel played the role of the Beast in the production of "Beauty and the Beast, Jr." at Central High in January.
"The Cat is extremely different from the role of the Beast I played this winter because it is a much more lighthearted, yet a complex mix of mischief and humor," Mickel said. "It requires less depth than the Beast, but far more comedic timing."
Lovers of the book "Horton Hears a Who!" will appreciate the storyline of the show, which focuses on Horton protecting a speck of dust containing the tiny town of Whoville.
The audience will also enjoy the character of Gertrude McFuzz, a bird who wishes for a large, feathery tail. The role is played by 18-year-old Danielle Klein of Algonquin, whose previous roles have been Kim Macafee in "Bye Bye Birdie" (2014); Eponine in "Les Miserables" (2015); and Penny Pengleton in "Hairspray" (2016).
"I've always loved Gertrude as a character, so being able to play her has been such an amazing opportunity," Klein said. "I love the journey Gertrude takes throughout the show."
Students in the show have been rehearsing every weekend since early March to gear up for 10 shows they'll perform over four days.
"People should come see this show because so much hard work and heart has been poured into it," Klein said. "You're also guaranteed to smile at least five times, I promise."
Many of the students, who range in age from 8 to 18, have to perform gymnastic stunts in the show or change from one character to another.
Though it's a fast-paced and fun show, it's not without emotional scenes, according to the cast members.
"It has humor for children and adults, and touching moments that will make anybody choke up," Mickel said.
Besides Irvin, the directing team includes Karen Gronowski, assistant director; Jane Layoff, vocal director; Rachel Iler, choreographer; and Emma Sterner, intern.
"We are proud to share this dynamic show with the community and bring laughter and fun to the weekend for our audience members," Irvin said.
See the full cast list at https://www.spotlight.org/showInfo.aspx?O=c&ss=754.
If you go
What: Spotlight Youth Theater Kane County's "Seussical the Musical." Run time is 90 minutes, with a 20 minute intermission.
When: 9:30 and 11:45 a.m. (school day shows) and 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 27-28; 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 29-30.
Where: Burlington Central High School, 44W625 Plato Road, Hampshire. Parking is free.
Tickets: $14 for adults; $12 for children ages 2-17, seniors ages 62 and older, and Spotlight alumni; $11 for groups of 15 or more. Add $2 at the door. School advanced tickets are $5 for groups of 75 or more; $6 for groups of 15-74; $9 for individuals. No door sales are available for school day performances.
To order: <a href="https://www.spotlight.org/gettickets.aspx">https://www.spotlight.org/gettickets.aspx</a> or (847) 516-2298