SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL - September 22

Celebrating the power of the imagination and the wonderful joys of childhood!!
Suessical the Musical

Book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty

Co-Conceived by Eric Idle

Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens with Music by Stephen Flaherty

Co-Conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Eric Idle.

Directed by John Olbert

Musical Direction by Timothy D. Turner

Production by Sands Theater Center of Deland, Florida

auditions in July & August, information below! Large Cast, Medium Chorus

Performances on September 22, 23, 28, 29 30, October 5, 6, 7 @ 8 p.m. // September 24, October 1, 8 @ 2:30 p.m.

All Performances at Sands Theater Center of Deland, Florida (Click for Map)

"I can see that you’ve got quite a mind for your age!
Why, one Think and you dragged me right onto the stage!
Now, I’m here, there is no telling what may ensue
With a Cat such as me, and a Thinker like you!"

So says the mischievous Cat in the Hat at the onset of this fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Once On This Island, and Ragtime) have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and all of the Whos of Whoville!

These classic, colorful tales are seamlessly brought together by Jojo, a young boy and “thinker of strange and wonderful thinks”! As each story unfolds you will marvel at how relevant and profound Seuss’s subtle themes are; making this musical one that appeals to all ages.

The score emerges as a Seussian gumbo of musical styles, ranging from Latin to pop, swing to gospel, and R&B to funk! So let your toes tap, your fingers snap, and your imagination run wild, for

"If you open your mind,
Oh, the Thinks you will find
Lining up to get loose!
Oh, the Thinks you can think!
Oh, the Thinks you can think
When you think about Seuss!!"

Opened November 30, 2000 played for 198 performances

Cast

The Cat	played by Jym Howe
Horton	played by Mike Dowell
Gertrude	played by Katie Pettit
Mayzie	played by Nicole Hopper
JoJo	played by Aubrey Peeples
Sour Kangaroo	played by E'lexis Brown
Bird Girls	played by Lauren Nieuwland, Jessica Triplett, Krista Amico
Wickersham Brothers	played by Ryne Cherry, Dene Gainey, Samantha Weppleman
Mr. Mayor	played by Bill Brown
Mrs. Mayor	played by Terri Schmidt
General Schmitz	played by William Lage
Whos & Jungle Creatures	played by Kaitlyn Moss, Anthony Baumgartner, JoJo Hennessy, Christina Coulter, Chantalle McKinney, Pat Calvin, Holly McMasters, Katie Switalski

Audition Information

Please prepare an upbeat musical selection and bring the sheet music I your key. An accompanist will be provided. All roles are open for the non-paid production.

July 23, 2006

6 - 9 p.m. Sands Theater Center of Deland, Florida (click for map)

Call Jeffrey at 386-801-2391 or email jdault@aol.com for an appointment
For Sands Theater Center additional information, please call (386) 738-7156

July 24, 2006

6 - 9 p.m. Golden Music Academy of Casselberry, Florida (click for map)

Call Jeffrey at 386-801-2391 or email jdault@aol.com for an appointment
For Sands Theater Center additional information, please call (386) 738-7156

August 20, 2006

5 - 7 p.m. Sands Theater Center of Deland, Florida (click for map)

OPEN CALL, no appointment necessary
For Sands Theater Center additional information, please call (386) 738-7156

Roles Needed: All roles available.

THE CAT IN THE HAT	is the essence of mischief, fun and imagination. The Cat stirs things up, causes trouble, but always sets things right again, helping JoJo to discover the power of his imagination as they create the story for the show together. Look for a physically adept actor (male or female) to play the Cat, one who will be able to play many comic cameos and is comfortable improvising with an audience.
JOJO	is a "Thinker"--a smart child with a wild imagination. He can be played as being a little bit awkward, a little bit of a loner, or simply a rambunctious kid whose 'Thinks' get him into constant trouble. By the end of the show, he learns what it means to be a responsible member of his world, using the power and possibilities of his own 'Thinks.'
HORTON THE ELEPHANT	A gentle giant, rotund and appealing. Think of him as a big-hearted blue collar guy who is steadfast and responsible and always tries to do the right thing for his friends. He is imaginative and receptive to the world around him. He is very un-self-conscious. Horton's view of the world never changes--he believes in its goodness. But by the end of the show, without even realizing it, he is ready to become a parent.
GERTRUDE McFUZZ	Very self-conscious and aware that her one-feather tail isn't perfect. Gertrude changes during the show from a vain, neurotic, nervous and shy bird into one with the power to protect and care for a baby elephant bird and commit herself to Horton. In other words, she stops worrying about her looks and grows up.
MAYZIE LA BIRD	Self-centered, selfish and vain, Mayzie will never admit to her own flaws. She manipulates anyone she can (especially Horton) into doing what she wants. But Mayzie isn't all bad. In giving up her egg to Horton once and for all, she has a moment of generosity--she realizes she isn't the kind of person who'd be a good parent, and she does the best thing she can do for the egg.
SOUR KANGAROO	She isn't really sour at all. She's just got a lot of attitude. She's loud, brassy and a lot of fun.
GENERAL GENGUS KHAN SCHMITZ	General Schmitz is bursting with pride at the military academy he runs, and the boys he turns out. He is not sadistic, mean or abusive. He is proud! He is doing the right thing for his boys! He is making the world a better place! This makes him a comic character, because it's clear he's so misguided. Please don't play him as a villain or bully. By the end of the show, he's discovered that making war may not be the right thing to do, and that adults can learn from children as well.
THE WICKERSHAM BROTHERS	These are not bad guys! They're simply a lot like kids who tease, play pranks and get a kick out of making mischief, although often at others' expense. They enjoy hanging around with one another, making music together on the street corner, and playing off one another.
THE WHOS	They're a lot like you and me only so small as to be invisible. Don't think of them as cute midgets or weird little aliens. They should be played for inherent humanity. This goes for MR. and MRS. MAYOR, who are parents trying hard to raise a difficult child in a difficult world. They may get aggravated with Jojo, but they love him dearly and try to do the right thing, even if it turns out to be a mistake.
JUNGLE CREATURES	No matter how these actors are costumed, please ask each one to create a distinct human persona. They are real people at heart, just like us, even though they may be described as animal characters. Be imaginative. Be Wild. Be simple.

Musical Numbers

To hear a brief clip in Windows Media format from a specific song click on the song title.

· Oh, The Thinks You Can Think	The Cat In The Hat, Company
· Horton Hears A Who*	Bird Girls, Horton, Citizens of the Jungle of Nool
· Biggest Blame Fool	Sour Kangaroo, Horton, Wickersham Brothers, Bird Girls, Gertrude McFuzz, Mayzie LaBird, Citizens of the Jungle of Nool, The Cat
· Here On Who	Mayor of Whoville, Mrs. Mayor, The Grinch, Whos, Horton
· It's Possible (McElligot's Pool)*	JoJo, The Cat, Fish Chorus
· How To Raise A Child	Mayor, Mrs. Mayor
· The Military	Gen. Genghis Kahn Schmitz, JoJo, Cadets
· Alone In The Universe	Horton, JoJo
· The One Feather Tail Of Miss Gertrude McFuzz	Gertrude
· Amayzing Mayzie	Mayzie, Gertrude, Bird Girls
· Amayzing Gertrude	Gertrude, The Cat, Bird Girls
· Monkey Around	Wickersham Brothers
· Chasing The Whos*	Horton, Sour Kangaroo, Bird Girls, Wickersham Brothers, The Cat, Vlad Vladikoff, Whos
· How Lucky You Are	The Cat
· Notice Me Horton	Gertrude, Horton
· How Lucky You Are (Mayzie's Reprise)	Mayzie, Horton, The Cat
· Horton Sits On The Egg*/Act 1 Finale	Company
· Egg, Nest, And Tree*	Sour Kangaroo, Bird Girls, Wickersham Brothers, The Cat, The Cat's Helpers, Hunters
· The Circus McGurkus	The Cat, Horton, Circus McGurkus Animals and Performers
· The Circus On Tour	Horton
· Mayzie In Palm Beach	Mayzie, The Cat, Horton
· Solla Sollew	Horton, Animals and Performers, Mayor, Mrs. Mayor, Cadets
· The Who's Christmas Pagaent	The Grinch, Whos
· A Message From The Front	Gen.Schmitz, Mayor, Mrs. Mayor, Cadets
· Havin' A Hunch*	The Cat, JoJo, Hunches
· All For You	Gertrude, Bird Girls
· The People Versus Horton The Elephant	Horton, Sour Kangaroo, Wickersham Brothers, Judge Yertle the Turtle, Bird Girls, Gertrude, Mayor, Mrs. Mayor, JoJo, Whos, The Cat
· Finale/Oh, The Thinks You Can Think	Company
· Green Eggs And Ham*	Company

Musical Director Biography

Timothy D. Turner has been performing professionally for 27 years in professional & commercial productions, on stage and screen, with celebrities such as Shirley Jones, Rita Moreno & Marvin Hamlisch and groups like Canadian Brass & the King’s Singers. He has directed and produced theatre, cabarets, stage shows, concerts and film for more than 20 years throughout the continental United States and Europe. “Seussical the Musical” marks his 25^th production with The Sands Theater Center and this show marks his 63^rd production in the area since his relocation to Central Florida in 2001. He holds a BM in Performance from Millikin University and works as a director, performer, performance coach, clinician, producer, composer, community organizer and writer. Currently, he resides in Longwood, Florida just north of Orlando, but he travels extensively as a working professional.

Presented with Special Arrangements with

Production Company Information

Since 1985, The Sands Theater Center has provided quality entertainment for the citizens of and visitors to the Central Florida area through live theater experiences and educational opportunities to students at all levels. They strive to provide a means of artistic expression for both serious artists and participants for whom theater is an avocation.