Cat, Horton highlight 'Seussical' musical

Who can argue with the importance of helping friends, being persistent and keeping promises?

Those are just some of the messages conveyed in "Seussical the Musical," a show for both children and adults that is a medley of Dr. Seuss' many books and characters -- from the Grinch, to The Cat in the Hat, to Horton the Elephant and Gertrude McFuzz.

ArtReach Educational Theatre and Spotlite Theatrix Production Company will jointly stage this energetic musical Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Stage One Theatre, 620 Lee St., Des Plaines.

"I had seen this show on Broadway and I thought that it had a really good message," explains Dan Walsh of Chicago, ArtReach program director. "The children will enjoy the costumes and the story, but the older children and the adults will understand the depths of the piece."

The message, according to Walsh, is that a person is a person, no matter how small and that age and size do not matter when you have something to say.

This is conveyed through a story in which Horton the Elephant is the only creature in the jungle who can hear the cries of the tiny Whos in Whoville. He sets out to protect their tiny world, but has to cope with the ridicule of friends like the monkeys, who hide the clover that holds Whoville.

Horton sets off to find the clover and rescue the Whos, but he runs into many adventures and delays along the way. Narrated by The Cat in the Hat, the show contains appearances by the Grinch and many other Seuss characters.

Sixty-three children between the ages of 5 and 17 are involved in the show's two casts, according to Walsh. They have been rehearsing for 10 weeks as part of the ArtReach Educational Theatre spring session, which seeks to expose children to all aspects of theater, music and dance.

"All children are challenged and encouraged," said Walsh. "We offer private voice lessons, dance and acting classes, advanced musical theater workshops and summer arts camp programs in both Palatine and Schaumburg. Summer night camps keep the high school and college students involved."

Local residents in the cast include: Ian Hoffman of Palatine as JoJo; Dana Hardel of Roselle as the Cat in the Hat; Joey Pape and Merrick Wayne, both of Barrington, as The Wickersham Brothers; Lin Hendrickson of Round Lake, Hanna Forrest of Cary, Kaitlyn Kalbas of Palatine, and Morgan Moodhe, Lexi Seller and Olivia Seller, all of Lake Zurich, as The Bird Girls; Saja Blevins of Streamwood as the Sour Kangaroo; Jennie Davis of Rolling Meadows as Mayzie La Bird; and Barry Norton of Cary and Nikki Kanelos of Mundelein as the Mayor and his wife.

If you go

What: "Seussical the Musical," a musical medley of Dr. Seuss stories

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Where: Stage One Theatre, 620 Lee St., Des Plaines

Cost: $13 in advance, $16 at door

Call: (630) 808-5852 or visit www.artreachspotlite.com