Gallery Players, Inc.

Seussical, the Musical

February 24, 25, 26, March 3, 4, 5, 2006 

'Seussical' offers color, meaning By: Tom Dillon  Times News   If you’ve only been introduced to Dr. Seuss through "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," you may not be aware that Whoville is a very small place, so small indeed that it can’t be seen — though the people of Whoville can occasionally be heard.  If you’ve read some of Theodore Geisel’s other books, notably "Horton Hears a Who," you’ll be a little more familiar with the basics of the story we’re dealing with here.  But no matter how familiar you are with Geisel, alias Seuss, you’ll be doing yourself — and your family — a big favor by taking all of them to Gallery Players’ production of "Seussical, The Musical," which opens tonight at the Paramount Theater for a two-weekend run. It’s funny, it’s colorful, it’s imaginative, and it gives the theater group a chance to do some of the things it does best: swing and rock and pop music, special effects, and costumes that will be staying in your mind for days to come. There were a few glitches with the final dress rehearsal Thursday night at the theater, mostly in things like some singers’ mikes set too low or stage changes that weren’t as smooth as they could be.  But it all got better as the night went on, and it’s likely to get even better still through run of the show. A small audience sat in on the final dress rehearsal, and they all seemed to enjoy the show immensely. GALLERY PLAYERS’ SEASON for 2005-06 is "Through the Eyes of a Child," and "Seussical" is the next-to-last show of the season. ("Life With Father" will end the year in April.) But there couldn’t be a better selection to teach some of the moral lessons we need today.  Geisel is a modern version of Aesop, and that really comes through in the Gallery Players’ rendition. Start with Horton’s song about the little people, "A person’s a person, no matter how small," and you can go on from there. The play features veteran Jane McLelland as the Cat in the Hat, a sort of master of ceremonies. Young Davis Leonard is Jo Jo the Who child, Andy Mock is Horton the Elephant, and Kalie Nicole Torres is Gertrude, the bird with one tail feather. (Another lesson: Be content with the tail feather you’ve got.)  Heather Hamby is cute as Mayzie the irresponsible bird, Peggy Bazaka is appropriately green as the Grinch, and Wayne Leonard is appropriately Gilbert-and-Sullivany as General Schmitz. They’re all supported by a cast of some three dozen people with what must be the most whimsical costumes Gallery Players has ever created. Kudos must go to costumers Ginny Hammersmith and Gloria Van Weest, along with director Les Epstein and his three producers. That blue hair is great. THE MUSICAL INCLUDES a 10-piece orchestra led by music director Marilyn Fox (and the Cat in the Hat at times). If you sit down front, you may get involved in the action, too. Shows are at 8 p.m. today and Saturday and March 3-4, and at 2 p.m. Sunday and March 5. Tickets are $15, or $12 for students and seniors. The theater is at 128 E. Front St., in Burlington, and reservations can be made at 222-TIXS.

Production Team Director- Les Epstein Music Director- Marilyn Fox Choreographer- Stephen Hale Stage Manager- Denise Phillips Assistant Stage Manager - Randy Phillips Costumer- Ginny Hammersmith, Gloria VanWeest Props- Harriet Whitley Set Construction- Randy Phillips Set Decoration - Ann Imrick Lights- David Scheidt Sound- James Estrada Hair - Stan Andrews Makeup - Norman Whitney Producers- Linda Hollifield, Kay Kirkpatrick & Ronnie Jones Cast Cat in the Hat.............Jane McLelland JoJo........................Davis Leonard Horton..........................Andy Mock Gertrude.............Kailie Nicole Torres Mayzie......................Heather Hamby Wickersham Brothers.........Chip Barnette                         Christopher Crisp                              Joel Leonard                           Buddy Van Weest Bird Girls................Lindsay Boroush                              Lydia Graeff                          Felicia Gonzalez Sour Kangaroo.............Amanda Barzdins Mayor........................Stephen Hale Mayor's Wife...................Marlo Nall Schmitz.....................Wayne Leonard Grinch......................Peggy Bazakas Yertle......................Albert Guzman Vlad.......................Burton Peebles Thing #1...................Jason Bussiere Thing #2......................Beth Storey Baby Elephant...............Ana Sucaldito Cadets...................Jonathan Bazakas                              Lucas Carter                            Rachel Johnson                           Zachary Schmidt                             Ana Sucaldito Cindy Lou Who............... Bailey Brown Max, the Who Dog........Mitchell Holsclaw The Whos......................Linnea Coon                               Reid Dalton                            Cathy Hanville                             Kristin Hegel                                Ann Imrick                             Terri Leonard                            Burton Peebles                              Mike Uhlhorn Jungle Creatures..............Linnea Coon                               Reid Dalton                            Cathy Hanville                             Kristin Hegel                                Ann Imrick                             Terri Leonard                            Burton Peebles                              Mike Uhlhorn