Members of the Elmhurst Children’s Theatre cast of Seussical the musical have learned all the lines, done all the rehearsing and prepared all the props for opening night, which is Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. at Blackhawk Middle School in Bensenville. Performances continue through the weekend.
Looking for a Broadway-caliber musical in the Western suburbs? Come join ECT for its production of Seussical from Nov. 11 – 13 at Blackhawk Middle School in Bensenville.
Set in the fantastical world of Horton Hears a Who!, Gertrude McFuzz, and Horton Hatches the Egg, among others, Seussical weaves together characters and adventures found in various beloved Dr. Seuss children’s stories.
The Cat in the Hat and his imaginative friend, Jojo, transport us to Whoville, the Jungle of Nool, McElligot’s Pool, and Circus McGurkus as Horton guards Mayzie’s egg and tries to protect the citizens of Whoville from the dangers of the Jungle of Nool. When none of the other jungle animals believe Whoville exists, Horton feels “Alone in the Universe,” not realizing Gertrude’s unwavering faith in him.
Will Gertrude stay loyal to Horton? What will happen to Mayzie’s egg? Can Horton save Jojo and the Whos?
Seussical is packed with non-stop thrills and tunes and showcases boatloads of dancing and singing…perfect for the whole family and every audience.
Seussical is a musical produced under the direction of Emily Leonard, Andrea “Dre” Figueroa (Music Director), and Nina Davalos (Choreographer). Seussical features talented youth performers, many of whom are seasoned actors in Elmhurst with experience gained through ECT and their school performances. ECT taps these talents to present Broadway entertainment right here in the western suburbs.
Director Emily Leonard shared her insights about the upcoming performance of Seussical for the fifth time in her directorial career.
“What I love about this show is how it embodies the spirit of Seuss, approaching serious topics through a playful lens,” she said. “The process of directing this show always sparks a lot of thoughtful conversations with students as we examine the motives of characters who make bad decisions.
“We are talking about responsibility, body image, bullying, and propaganda, but also having a great time playing delightful characters in imaginative settings.
“Of all the shows I have directed, I find actors in this show tend to bond as a cast more than most other productions. It’s a script that requires an extremely coordinated and flexible ensemble, and the actors absolutely have to take care of and support one another to make it work. It’s always a revelation to see how performers this young rise to the challenge.”
The ECT cast shares Leonard’s enthusiasm for the collaborative process involved in presenting Seussical.
“Seussical is great because everyone gets an important role and the whole cast gets to work together throughout the show,” said eighth grader Dylan Wargin, who plays Horton. “The best part of playing Horton is being able to interact with all the different groups of the cast and the friends I have in ECT.”
Performances are Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. All shows will be at Blackhawk Middle School, 250 S. Church Road, Bensenville. Tickets are $12 and available at bit.ly/ectboxoffice or at the door. Group ticket sales are also available.
For more information, visit elmhurstchildrenstheatre.com.
