Kirk Players closes its 50th season with 'Seussical the Musical Jr.'

Kirk Players will present the popular children's story-musical "Seussical the Musical Jr." as the final show of its 50th season.

The show will open at 7 p.m. Friday, June 3, at Mundelein High School theater. Additional performances are at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 4, and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 5.

"Seussical Jr. is a show full of colorful characters and fantastically memorable rhyming words and songs," said Kirk Player guest-director, Jeanna Daebelliehn. "The audience, both young and old, will surely appreciate one of the story's central messages and echoing theme, 'a person's a person no matter how small.' "

The story, written, composed and lyricized by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty and co-conceived by Eric Idle, is based on the works of Dr. Seuss. The group has lovingly brought together all of the favorite Dr. Seuss characters to present an engaging story about the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community.

The colorful characters transport the audience from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos. The Cat in the Hat, played by Thomas Ferro, tells the story of Horton the Elephant, played by Ethan Kofman, who discovers a speck of dust containing the Whos, including Jo Jo, played by Sammie Cruz, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks".

Horton faces a double challenge - he must protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, and also guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by irresponsible Mayzie LaBird, played by Ellie Mellen. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz, played by Sierra Bouchard, never loses faith in him.

"This amazingly talented group of young performers has made it easy to bring the vision of 'Seusscial Jr.' to life," Daebelliehn said. "The audience will delight in the fact that these gifted performers represent 15 of our local elementary, middle and high schools in Lake County."

Additional cast members are: Eva Pechtl as Sour Kangaroo; Sarah Joy Pechtl as Mrs. Mayor; Luis Catalan as Mr. Mayor; Katie Myrant, Hannah Willems and Megan Saunders as Bird Girls; Vance Mellen, Max Dunlap, Liam Nold and Henry Hogan as Wickershams; Taylor Gates, Sadie Johnson, Lilah Potempa, Trenton Mellen, Ayla Baker, Julia Myrant, Natalie Nissen, Eileen Jarrett and Xavier Nold as Whoville Citizens; Lillia Nissen, Stephanie Bolanos, Shannon Oimet, Chloe Pocius, Brooke Mellen, James Stubich and Harper Yaffe as Jungle Creatures.

Supporting Daebelliehn with management and technical duties are executive producer Gretchen Grassl; technical director and stage manager; Jon Matousek, production assistants, Emilie Blake and Ben Fenton; set designers, Jeff Griffith and Vance Mellen; lighting designers, Mike Stebbins and Patrica Roques; costumer Amy Sharer; props mistresses, Bev Karns and Lisa Willems; sound design, Amy Cruz and Jeff Harding; videography, Robert Pechtl. Daebelliehn also serves as choreographer and vocal coach.

For more information about "Seussical the Musical Jr.," visit www.kirkplayers.org or call (847) 521-6192.