The ACS production of the Seussical, JR. musical drew over a thousand people to our school’s stage for three shows on November 18 and 19. A cast of 45 students from the 3rd-12th grades put on a spectacular performance — singing, dancing, and bringing to life the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, JoJo and the townspeople of Whoville, Mayzie LaBird, Gertrude McFuzz, and other wacky and whimsical Dr. Seuss characters.
Narrated by the Cat in the Hat, played by 12th grader Evan Power, the story in the musical centers on Horton the Elephant’s quest to save the people of Whoville, who live on a tiny speck of dust. Horton, played by 10th grader Joshua Kinch, lives with other interesting animals in the Jungle of Nool, including a plain bird named Gertrude McFuzz, played by 11th grade Ryleigh Martin, and Mayzie LaBird, a fancy, showy bird, played by 6th grader Sophia Gomez.
Horton places the speck of dust on a pink ball of clover, and as the story unfolds he builds a friendship with one of the youngest Whos, JoJo, who only he can hear speaking from tiny Whoville. No one believes that anyone is living on the speck of dust until JoJo, played by 5th grader Megan Connolly, gives out a great yell that everyone in the Jungle of Nool can hear. The iconic Dr. Seuss quote that becomes a recurring theme throughout the musical is — “A person is a person no matter how small.”
Director Genevieve Huff said the cast worked very hard and bonded over the 10 weeks of rehearsals — becoming like one big, happy family. A talented group of some 50 volunteers — including ACS teachers, staff, students, and parents — served behind the scenes doing set design, scenery, face painting, costumes, stage crew, and much more.
“I know the audience members felt like they were walking into a Dr. Seuss storybook and I’m very grateful for the countless hours that our volunteers spent to make the show visually spectacular,” Huff said.
ACS Art Teacher Sherry Mirakian led a team of volunteers who focused on the scenery — creating and painting the backdrop, the Pill-Berry Bush, glow-in-the-dark fish, and other props for the show. The student Set Design Club worked diligently on Thursdays during school and additional volunteers served after school and in the evenings for two weeks prior to the show.
ACS Computer Teacher Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney and Instructional Specialist Bethany Kiefer focused on costumes. Hahn-Chaney, who majored in fashion design in college and worked for several years at fashion houses in Manhattan, made the costumes for the six Bird Girls and the lead characters of Maizy LaBird and Gertrude McFuzz, and made the ears and tails for the six monkey-like creatures known as the Wickersham Brothers.
Thank you to Gail Crafton of AC Photo for donating her services to create these photo memories.
