‘Seussical’ opens Feb. 3

The NCLUSD Drama Department will open its seventh production Feb. 3 as Seussical the Musical takes center stage at the West Side Theatre.

NEWMAN – Cat in the Hat is coming to town and bringing the Whos from Whoville along with him, or so Horton the Elephant proclaims.

He is the only one with ears big enough to hear their plea for help as their tiny planet, small as a speck of dust, flies through the air in the NCLUSD Drama Department production of Seussical the Musical. The play opens Feb. 3 for a six-show run through Feb. 12 at the West Side Theatre in Newman.

“There is something for everyone in this production. It’s one the entire family can enjoy,” director and choreographer Hardy Reeves III said.

Seuss enthusiasts will discover familiar characters throughout the two-act play, which transports the audience from the Jungle of Nool to Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.

The wildly entertaining, thought-provoking and often inspiring story lines crafted by Dr. Seuss were the inspiration for the musical written by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens and co-conceived by Eric Idle.

Essentially there are three stories woven into one wild adventure on stage, Reeves explained, and the majority of it is told through songm which the entire cast is enjoying.

Imagination is also a key factor in this particular show which doesn’t rely on elaborate costumes and make-up to define characters. “Our kids have great facial expressions,” the proud director noted. “They know how to tell a story which most impresses me with them.”

The play uses not only the imagination of the cast to bring their characters to life but that of the audience in making the journey led by Cat in the Hat.

“This is a fun show,” explained C.J. Patereau, the veteran of local productions who plays the famous cat in the striped top hat and is loving the challenge of portraying the imaginary character.

Cat in the Hat basically leads the storyline of Seussical as he helps a young boy named Jojo use his creative imagination while manipulating the direction of the other characters through a variety of antics.

Those characters include Sour Kangaroo and the citizens of Jungle Nool, who think Horton is crazy and don’t believe the Whos exist.

Seussical is the seventh production for the NCLUSD Drama Department, which formed five years ago. The 46-member cast includes experienced thespians like Patereau who is a senior at Orestimba and many first-time actors like Zitlalith Ruelas, a sixth-grade student at Yolo  who will be making her stage debut. She and fellow newcomer Zoe Munoz, a fourth grader at Bonita, were cast as two young kangaroos who think Horton is crazy.

“We get to be sassy which is a lot of fun,” Ruelas told Mattos Newspapers during a rehearsal.

Both girls are looking forward to their first opening night. “I think we will be nervous but I know I can hold that in and just bring it to the stage that night!” Munoz assured.

From the energetic opening number, “Oh, The Thinks You Can Think!” for which all of the characters fill the stage, to the sentimental message of “Solla Sollew,” audience members are sure to ride the roller coaster of emotions that this interactive play brings in true Dr. Seuss fashion.

“The story will probably seem familiar in ways to Seuss enthusiasts but it is new. Anyone who sees it surely will have a lot of fun with it,” Patereau noted.

Tickets for Seussical The Musical can be purchased by calling the school district office at 862-2933 ext. 11 or Hair Krazy at 862-0909. Showtimes are 7 p.m. on Feb. 3, 4, 10, 11 and 2 p.m. on Feb. 4 and 12. Reserved seats are $15; general admission is $10 ($5 discount for students and seniors).

Cast members

The cast includes Patereau, Samuel Williams, Morgan Richardson, Yaya Muñoz, Timothy Junkin, Gabriel Muñoz, Wesley Vasquez, Bailey Vasquez, Moriah Williams, Zoe Muñoz, Ruelas, Matthew Connolly, Jose Pelayo, Solomon Bell, Eric Rodriguez, Abraham Gutierrez, Jaclynn Collins, Javen Rocha, J.C. Miranda, Madilyn Vasquez, Kali Reeves, Cadence Tallcott, Emanuel Bautista, Alicia Rodriguez, Ashlee DeMerritt, Garry Martel, Abigail Williams, Angie Lamas, Jaidah Allen, Teresa Rayon, Riley Marroquin, Mwalimu Mwaniki, Courtney Mendonca, Nicole Panetta, Giavanna Panetta, Keyaira Variste, Itzayana Pelayo, Justiana Martin, Juliana Roberts, Victoria Carpenter, Shawna Hornbaker, Sunshine Williams, Alyssa Lopez, Shane Montoya, Kyra Zaleski and Katelyn Trayer.
Hardy Reeves, director and choreographer; Charles Tallcott, musical director; Coral Munoz, stage manager; and Mia Vasquez, stage mom.