Park district dancers of all ages bring Dr. Seuss classic to life
Turns out Dr. Seuss wasn't just a fan of green food, but also the green movement.
Tonight the Naperville park district's dance program is staging a production of "The Lorax," an adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book with a timely environmental theme.
The show begins at 7 p.m. today at Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St., and tells the story of a forest full of animals that is invaded by people who start chopping down trees and constructing buildings.
"Eventually everything gets polluted, everything is gone, they have to move away," said Avery Sipla, dance program coordinator. "It's about what can happen if we aren't careful about preserving (the) environment."
The production will include more than 40 dancers from age 4 to adult, performing in a variety of dance styles.
Many are from the park district's dance program including resident Vivienne Venderley.
The Naperville woman took dance lessons as a child and picked it back up a couple years ago when the park district started offering adult ballet classes. She said being part of the class and the production have been an enjoyable experience and a good workout.
"As an adult we're always looking for fun ways to exercise. I don't like exercising, but I do enjoy the arts and music and moving to music, so it's a great way to exercise if you want to do it creatively and expressively," she said.
Sipla said she hopes the dancers will learn what it takes to put a show together and wants to make it an annual event.
"I also hope they learn about playing a character and staying in that character for the performance," she said. "Most of those involved have done recital dances, so this is a different feel for them to have a character and have to think about the character and stay within character the whole time on stage."
The park district tried to make the inaugural production one anyone could enjoy.
"We think the story is just very appealing to all ages and we also tried to take a lot of the characters and portray them in a very Dr. Seussish way, with different colors and costumes that would really represent the character," Sipla said.
Tickets are $6 and can be purchased at the door.
If You Go
What: Dance performance of Dr. Seuss' "The Lorax"
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St.
Tickets: $6, available at the door
Info: (630) 848-5000
Cast List
Narrator: John Radford
Visitor: Miriam Kotacka
Old crows: Susan Albert, Robi Dooling, Rachael Hilton, Chloe McLean, Krista Pyrcioch, Jennifer See, Avery Sipla, Vivienne Venderley
Onceler: Lauren Brazell
Jr. Truffula Trees: Anna Folliard, Alexandra Hanselman, Hannah Heise, Stephanie Hotz, Hannah Killacky, Alexandra Moxon, Jillian Schulte
Sr. Truffula Trees: Katie Katzenbach, Mollie Shanahan, Halle Stallworth, Taylor Stallworth
Barbaloots: Kailey Beckham, Allison Conwell, Holly DuBose, Emily Hotz, Christine Mesarchik, Julie Moore, Jessica Moxon, Maggie Tuft, Natalie Tuft, Mary Woodrough
Humming Fish: Megan Frederick, Emma Kotacka, Sarah Roque, Bethany Simos
Swomee Swans: Miriam Kotacka, Halle Stallworth, Taylor Stallworth
Lorax: Julie Hennessey
Person who buys a Thneed: Krista Pyrcioch
Onceler family: Jamie Hennessey, Jessica Moxon, Penny Johnston, Jason Kotacka, Amanda Wisniewski
Onceler family speaking roles: Andrew Conwell, Scott Conwell
People who buy Thneeds: Anna Folliard, Alexandra Hanselman, Hannah Heise, Stephanie Hotz, Hannah Killacky, Alexandra Moxon, Jillian Schulte