The characters of Dr. Seuss come alive on the stage at Clarkston Junior High School in the musical Seussical, Jr., Nov. 20 and 21 at 7 p.m.
The musical, by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, is based on ‘Horton Hears a Who,? ‘Horton Hatches the Egg? and ‘Miss Gertrude McFuzz.?
It takes place as JoJo, a creative boy, imagines a story about how Horton, an elephant, finds a clover with a world on it called Whoville. The small world is about to be destroyed by citizens of the jungle and JoJo and Horton are trying to stop it.
Lauren Ormsby plays JoJo, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Mayor in Whoville.
“The whole play revolves around JoJo’s imagination,” she explained. “The play starts off as he starts thinking of all these characters and then it just explodes into all these different ideas and scenes.”
Samantha Stanek and Justice Williams play the roles of Mrs. and Mr. Mayor.
“We are so busy with the Whos and ruling them that we don’t like JoJo thinking these creative things and he is abnormal,” Stanek explained.
“As his father and mayor I am wanting him to act like me,” said Williams. “I am disappointed.”
Though JoJo’s parents disapprove of his thinking, the Cat in the Hat, played by Julia Ruggirello, encourages JoJo to be creative.
“The Cat in the Hat is the narrator throughout the whole story,” Ruggirello explained. “He eggs JoJo on to keep thinking about these new ideas. Even though her parents keep telling her no more thinking, thinking is bad. The Cat in the Hat is saying keep thinking, thinking is good.”
Ormsby explained playing JoJo has been different because she is playing a male character.
“It was different to use my imagination to be someone I haven’t been before,” she said.
Ruggirello added there were some aspects of Cat in the Hat which made it easy for her to step into the role.
“Cat in the Hat is a goofball so I didn’t have to change that much because I am kind of wacky already,” she smiled. “It is fun to narrate the whole story, have lots of energy and sing some songs. I think it’s nice to be the big burst of energy that keeps JoJo going throughout the story. “
Seussical, Jr. is the first musical production for the Clarkston Junior High School Performing Arts Center.
Mark Magni, theater director explained they were looking for something fun to do and Michael Peterson, the junior high school and high school’s choir director, suggested it.
“We wanted a play for a big, flexible cast and just fun,” Magni added. “It something people knew – there was recognition. It’s your imagination as a director, a designer, as an actor. There’s very little rules.”
“I am so proud of the kids,” Peterson added. “It’s my first year doing a junior high production and it is a big undertaking for them. Some of them have been in shows before but not with the school. It’s been really neat to see them all come together to work as a unit. I am really happy for them and hopefully it will encourage them to try the high school productions.”
The cast and crew invites the community to come out and see the production.
“Seussical is a nice children’s play,” Stanek explained. “It’s good entertainment. I know my little brother wants to see it badly because he loves Dr. Seuss.”
“It’s really fun,” Ormsby said. “It’s really involved with the crowd.”
“Yes,” Ruggirello added. “I go in the audience and talk to them. It’s great for families. I know a lot of elementary schools talk about Cat in the Hat and Dr. Seuss. ‘Green Eggs and Ham? is our finale song.”
Seussical, Jr. is at the junior high’s performing arts center, Nov. 20 and 21, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5.