Beloved characters imagined by Dr. Seuss will come alive as more than 100 Mohonasen students perform “Seussical the Musical” to transport audience members from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus.
Mohonasen’s theater group Mohon Masque, consisting of students from fourth-grade to high school seniors, will hold four performances of its spring musical at the high school auditorium.
Director Kathleen Derochie thinks sold-out performances are likely to be possibility.
“It is a great piece and we know a lot of people are going to come out and see it,” Derochie said.
The “whimsical and magical” musical provides a great contrast to Masque’s previous fall show of “Little Shop of Horrors,” Derochie said. Fall performances are typically a drama or musical with a more mature theme, she said, but spring performances bring in the younger students.
“We are trying to give them a lot of different experiences,” she said.
Also, she was excited many students were interested in the production, which allowed for a robust cast. The theater group tries to do a bigger production every year to allow more students the opportunity to have a role, onstage or off.
During vocal warm ups before a run through of the production on Monday, March 19, the powerful sound of all the students signing together could be heard as their pitches rose higher and higher. There are two instances during the performance when every student sings, which Derochie said sounds “amazing.”
Nicole Gabriel, assistant director and music director for the production, said having teenagers working with the younger students is good because it allows them to be role models for the budding performers.
“They really connect and it is really nice,” Gabriel said.
She said working with students at younger ages has allowed her to see how much the kids learn and step out of their comfort zone.
Sixth grader Brandon Gunn is getting to work alongside his brother, Christian, who is a high school senior.
The spring show will mark the first time 12-year-old Brandon is in a school production, while 17-year-old Christian will appear in his last school performance after years of being active in the theater group.
“It is a lot of fun especially since it is my last show and his first,” Christian Gunn said. “I’ve just always loved music and love acting.”
Christian is playing Horton the Elephant, who the story is centered around, and his younger brother is playing the smart and imaginative child Jojo. Throughout the musical, Jojo keeps getting into trouble for his “thinking.”
Sixth-grader Nathaniel Finke, also playing Jojo, said, “Even though (Jojo) gets punished sometimes, he always uses his imagination.” Finke said he thought the role was “kind of just right” for him to play.
The cat in the infamous red-and-white striped top hat is being played by senior Michael Perkins, which is a different part from his typical role as the “bad guy” in the a performance.
“I like how much energy my character has … I am very excited to play the happy character,” Perkins said.
Portraying The Cat in the Hat also brings up nostalgic feelings for Perkins.
“I can just remember when I was little and getting the book read to me at bedtime,” he said.
There will be a 7 p.m. performance held each night from Thursday, March 29, to Saturday, March 31, and an afternoon performance at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 1. Tickets will be available at the door before each performance. Pre-sale opportunities have now concluded.
