‘Oh, the thinks you can think:’ Charleroi Area to present ‘Seussical the Musical’

By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com

The “Jungle of Nool” will come to life on stage when the Charleroi Area School District presents “Seussical the Musical” this week.
Opening night is slated for 7 p.m. Friday, with additional performances 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets are $15 and available outside of the auditorium prior to the start of the show.
“Seussical the Musical” brings well-known characters like Horton the Elephant and the Cat in the Hat to life onstage and transports audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus.
The Cat in the Hat guides the audience into The Jungle of Nool where Horton the Elephant discovers a speck of dust containing Whoville.
There he meets JoJo, a Who child sent to military school for thinking too many “thinks.”
Horton decides he must protect the speck of dust on a nearby clover, while at the same time protecting an abandoned egg left to his care by the lazy Mayzie La Bird.
Horton tries to convince the other animals in The Jungle of Nool of the existence of the Whos, but he is ridiculed and put on trial for insanity.
Only his loyal neighbor, Gertrude McFuzz, never loses faith in him.
Horton and Gertrude band together to save the Whos, free Horton and restore peace and unity to the Jungle of Nool.
Director Melissa Vitali said the musical was chosen because of its fun, playful nature and variety of parts available to students.
“We have so many strong performers and this gives them all a chance in the spotlight,” Vitali said.
In addition to dozens of students from the middle and high school participating this year, there are 20 students in fourth and fifth grades from the elementary center involved, playing infamous citizens of Whoville and of the Jungle of Nool.

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