Seussical, the musical event of the summer, opens next Thursday, July 6, at The Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton.
The cast and crew for Seussical are participants in The Plaza’s and The Arts Barn’s collaborative effort of a Broadway Intensive. The cast, young adults from sophomores in high school to workforce professionals, auditioned in early spring and have been awaiting the Broadway Intensive since then.
Seussical is the product of two weeks of intense rehearsals, set-building and costume-making to produce a professional-level performance in just 14 days.
This marks the third year for The Plaza and The Arts Barn collaborating on this effort. Both previous years proved to be extremely successful, involving participants from a half dozen middle-Georgia counties and attracting hundreds of audience members.
One thing about this show is you’re sure to laugh right along with the cast, whether you’re a kid or just a kid at heart; it’s truly an experience for everyone. A musical perfect for the whole family, Seussical takes the audience deep into the world of Dr. Seuss, where they revisit beloved characters including The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie, and JoJo.
The Cat in the Hat guides us into The Jungle of Nool, where we see Horton, the kind-hearted elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whoville. He meets JoJo, a Who child sent to military school for thinking too many “things.” Horton decides he must protect the speck of dust on a nearby clover, while at the same time protecting an abandoned egg left to his care by the lazy Mayzie la Bird.
Horton tries to convince the other animals in The Jungle of the existence of the Whos, but he is ridiculed and put on trial for insanity. Only his loyal neighbor, Gertrude McFuzz, never loses faith in him. Eventually, the two fall in love. Now one of the most widely produced musicals in the country, Seussical weaves a story of friendship, loyalty, and love.
Despite all odds, Horton and Gertrude band together to save the Whos, free Horton, and restore peace and unity to the Jungle of Nool. Charming Seussical teaches the power of being unique and the importance of fighting for beliefs.
Putnam County Middle School teacher Seth Wicker plays the role of Horton the Elephant; Elisa Garcia-Carreras, a graduate of Lake Oconee Academy plays The Cat in The Hat; Lylli Flanders, a Putnam County High School graduate plays Gertrude McFuzz; and the Sour Kangaroo is played by Peaches Mitchell, a teacher at Grace STEAM Academy.
The cast is diverse in age, but they all have been intently working together to get this production to look the best it possibly can. Performances will be at various times July 6-8 and July 13-16.
Get your tickets to see Seussical online at plazacenter.org or call 706-923-1655. Plaza members can receive free tickets to the musical this summer.