‘Seussical Jr.’ leaps to EF Middle School stage this weekend

Students will bring beloved characters from Dr. Seuss to stage with “Seussical Jr.” this weekend with three performances.

“Oh, the fun you’ll see — oh, the joy you’ll feel.” Dr. Seuss

Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, and other favorite Dr. Seuss characters will spring to life this weekend in the musical “Seussical Jr.”, at Elizabeth Forward Middle School.

Elizabeth Forward Middle School is putting on a production of Seussical, Jr. From left, are student actors Nevaeh Prescott (Mrs. Mayor), Blake Harper (Mr. Mayor), Charlize Tyhonas (Jojo), Emmy Donovan (Gertrude McFuzz), Aubree Hughes (Horton the Elephant), Lola Triplett (The Cat in the Hat) and Faith Flanigan (Mayzie La Bird). Sarah Pellis / Mon Valley Independent

The show will take place 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at the middle school auditorium located at 401 Rock Run Rd. From the Jungle of Nool to the land of Whoville, students have been working hard to bring this colorful, high-energy musical to life with music, laughter, and heart for the whole community to enjoy.

The musical follows Horton the Elephant, played by eighth-grader Aubree Hughes, as he discovers Who-ville on a speck of dust and tries to protect it from the skeptical jungle, while the mischievous Cat in the Hat, played by seventh-grader Lola Triplett, narrates and weaves in stories from Gertrude McFuzz, The Butter Battle Book, and

Elizabeth Forward Middle School students, from left, Lola Triplett (The Cat in the Hat) and Faith Flanigan (Mayzie La Bird) are seen rehearsing on stage in Seussical Jr.

Horton Hatches the Egg.

Aubree said the cast and crew has put in a lot of work into the show, and everyone is dedicated to the show.

“It’s a really fun and vibrant show, but it also has a lot of emotion,” Aubree said. “It’s happy and sad and it tells a really good story. It is supposed to be for kids, but it is really good for all ages.”

Horton also has help from Gertrude, played by eighthgrader Emmy Donovan, and the lonely JoJo, played by sixth-grader Charlize Tyhonas, strives to save the Whos and hatches a mysterious egg.

Charlize said she wanted to join the show as a stage crew member, but decided to try acting instead, which she said is “fun.”

Lola and Emmy both said they both have always enjoyed singing and dancing.

EF Middle School musical and choral director Tim Hanna said “Seussical Jr.” is so much fun, and a way for families and the community to enjoy the arts. His favorite part this year are the unique costumes.

“I really just love the message (of the show),” Hanna said. “The repeated line is, ‘A person is a person, no matter how small,’ so it’s a really good theme and reminder. The arts are such an important part of what kids get to experience, so coming out to support what they do matters.”

According to Hanna, the show has 51 students involved between cast and crew from 6th grade to 8th grade, which is the most they have had, and it’s about 10 percent of the middle school’s population.

“I was looking at different musicals and I said what gives us the chance to have a lot of people in ensemble and cast,” Hanna said. “Everyone loves Dr. Seuss, and everyone loves ‘Horton Hears a Who.’ So, it’s a fun musical. It’s catchy.”

This year, sixth-graders were welcome to join the cast. They started getting sixth graders students involved in the crew last year.

“I’ve been very involved in theatre and I’ve done shows before,” said sixth-grader Faith Flanigan, who plays Mayzie La Bird. “I knew I wanted to do the show, and sixth graders were not allowed to perform in the show last year, so I was happy I got to be a part of the show.”

Also new to the crew this year is assistant director Sydney Mannion and choreographer Abigail Ross, who are both Elizabeth Forward musical theatre alumni.

Mannion said it is important for people to see children’s theatre, and the show teaches really important lessons for kids and adults.

Ross, who attends CCAC for theatre, said she grew up with her mom as a choreographer. Her mom was supposed to do the show but she was unable to due to her schedule.

“I just felt it was a great opportunity to give my knowledge to the younger generation. Seussical is one of the hardest shows to do, and nothing is cut out,” Ross said. “It is one of the longest junior productions, and these kids have been putting in so much work. (The community needs) to show these kids they can do an adult production and have that big audience to show them they are doing an amazing job.”

Technology director Tony Miller said he has been helping with the middle school show for three years.

“We actually have a big backdrop that is going across the back. That’s a new thing for us, and it’s a little more impactful for them,” Miller said. “This is such a fun show to do. That’s the nice thing about this show. It’s fun. It’s colorful, it’s sassy.”

Miller said the production of the show has been going well, and everyone has been working hard. He encouraged the public to come see the show because the students have a passion for theatre.

The arts are a major part of Elizabeth Forward’s legacy, according to Hanna. A lot of the kids he mentored and directed go on to perform in the high school musicals, and that is why he encouraged the

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community to come out to the show.

“It’s a chance for all the students to shine,” Hanna said. “The district does a great job of supporting the arts, and it’s a chance to see kids that aren’t involved in other stuff. This is where it starts here for kids. High school, college, real life. The support here gives them the chance to keep things going with things like this.”

All tickets are $10. To purchase tickets, go to https:// efmsmusical.ludus.com Concessions will open 45 minutes prior to shows, while doors to the auditorium will open 15 minutes prior to show time.

Cast

The cast, in its entirety, are: Charlize Tyhonas (Jojo), Lola Triplett (The Cat in the Hat), Aubree Hughes (Horton the Elephant), Blake Harper (Mr. Mayor), Nevaeh Prescott (Mrs. Mayor), Emmy Donovan (Gertrude McFuzz), Faith Flanigan (Mayzie La Bird), Addison Handza (Wickersham Brother #1), Ryan Smith (Wickersham Brother #2), Morgan Haney (Wickersham Brother #3), Eliza Holloway (Bird Girl #1), Lylah Merling (Bird Girl #2), Veronica Holdren (Bird Girl #3), Finley Biro (Sour Kangaroo), Aubrie Floriolli (Young Kangaroo), Victoria Lucas (Judge Yertle the Turtle), Hailey Rodeheaver (Vlad Vladikoff/ Ensemble), Nayomi Prescott (The Grinch/Ensemble); Isabelle Lucas and Mackenzie Sauter (Jungle Animal/ Ensemble); Loralai Berube, Sarabeth Boal, Lydia Cavalancia, Emma Hawkins, Lillian Kiss, Adriana McVicker, Zane Nolder, Emily Petrulak and Mila Schimmel (Who/ Ensemble).

Crew

Benjamin Bartko, Lilah Ciccanti, Maddie Ferson, Josh Garofolo, Eva Gentile, Reilly Henry, Harper Jones, Dominic Karelitz, Madison Kosko, Kennedy Michaels, Jameson Miller, Jamey Miller, Madyson Reed, Lyla Robb, Dante Sedlak-Reggiannini, Cassidy Shipe, Natalie Sninsky, Allison Swartzlander, Vincent Tartalone, Grace Tyner, Falyn Vahosky and Camryn Wertz.