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The musical, directed by math teacher Mark Roeckers, elaborates on the lives of many favorite Dr. Seuss personalities.
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Horton, right, played by Tony Speltz, tries to persuade Mayzie LaBird, played by Sarah Eichenberg, to take her egg back during a dress rehearsal on Thursday of Cotter High School’s production of "Seussical" at St. Cecilia Theatre.
The Broadway musical, which combines characters from Dr. Seuss stories, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday at St. Cecilia Theatre.
(Photo by Melissa Carlo/Winona Daily News) |
The principal character, Horton (from “Horton Hears a Who!”) played by junior Tony Speltz, gets into trouble when he believes a speck of dust is housing a person. His friends in the Jungle of Nool ridicule him, all except for his neighbor, Gertrude McFuzz, played by Sara Wasinger, who is in love with him.
Since the second week of school, the 60-person cast has rehearsed 12 to 14 hours a week.
“We still had time to go home and eat and do a majority of our homework,” said 17-year-old Mallory Severson, a senior chorus member. “I liked the set construction, being backstage and bonding with other cast members.”
She decided to try out after being “hounded” by friends for four years.
Auditions included a little bit of choreography, some line reading and a song.
Severson sang “Itsy Bitsy Spider.” Others, like senior Tyler Speltz, went with more elaborate numbers — he sang “Another Try” by Josh Turner.
“Auditions aren’t as pressured as you think they are,” he said. “You know everyone there, and there’s room for error. The directors tell you what to do, and you do it.”
His audition landed him the role of Jojo the Thinker, the son of the mayor of Whoville.
“I fit my character well. He’s little kid who thinks too much,” he said. “He makes up stories, imagines things, and is constantly making up situations. It gets him in trouble a lot.”
The fantasy musical runs three days, starting at 7:30 p.m. today in the St. Cecilia Theatre, and continues Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $5. Reserved seating is available.
