The seats will be filled. It will be a magical night.
When the theater goes dim and on goes the spotlight.
As the music arises and the cast does appear,
the audience will clap, the audience will cheer.
When words turn to song and actors emote,
a cat wearing a hat will start rocking the boat.
And that is the start of what the public will see
at a musical called "Seussical,"
which will fill them with glee.
Theatergoers, get ready for mischief and melodies when actors and singers from Sahuaro High School perform the musical comedy "Seussical," based on the fantastical characters from 15 Dr. Seuss books.
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The Cat in the Hat, Thing One and Thing Two, Horton, the Grinch and his dog Max — played by a cast member's canine — will be onstage tonight and for two shows Saturday. They'll be joined by other feathery, frilly, poofy, colorful characters — 65 in all — to entertain Tucson Seuss-lovers.
Junior Jessica Leonard, 16, plays Gertrude McFuzz, a bird with a one-feather tail who falls in love with Horton the elephant.
"I like wearing costumes and pretending I'm a totally different person and being in front of an audience," said Leonard, who thinks the audiences will be impressed with the bright and colorful costumes.
Joe Hubbard, 16, is only a junior, but already has a little professional acting experience. His father is an actor at The Gaslight Theatre, where Joe has done some work as well.
"My biggest thing is, I like to make people laugh," said Hubbard, who plays the mischievous Cat in the Hat. "This show is a very high-end show. We have a big cast; there's a lot going on. I tell my friends it's controlled chaos."
Before a recent dress rehearsal, actors sporting feathered headpieces, poofy tails and colorful jumpsuits milled in the auditorium. Some chatted, and others compared costumes. One actor practiced juggling as an actress passed by carrying a platter of papier-mâché "roast beast".
Senior John Danloe, 18, plays Horton the elephant. It's a bigger part than his first role in a Sahuaro musical playing Chip, the teacup, in "Beauty and the Beast."
"It's kind of like a team," Danloe said. "This is an excellent cast. Especially for this show, Joe, I couldn't imagine anyone else as The Cat in the Hat. Our bird girls are excellent, and our Gertrude is perfect."
Junior Randi Jo Spragg, 16, is the stage manager, one of about 35 behind-the-scenes workers who pull the show together. As stage manager, Spragg runs the show, giving light, set and sound cues.
She "fell into tech work," Spragg said, "because, for starters, I can't sing."
Spragg is considering a career in theater even though her job is sometimes stressful.
"We have a cast of 65 and I'm only one person, and I have to get them all together and keep them quiet, and if there's a problem, they all come to me."
The stage manager gets support from assistant director and performer Christine Perry, 17. Perry, a senior who plans to pursue a career in entertainment, designed the whimsical sets based on the Seuss books and has two roles in the play — a blue Wickersham monkey and a fish. She and the other students staged the show in less than eight weeks.
"I love having my hands in everything," Perry said.
If you go
● What: The musical comedy "Seussical".
● When: 7 tonight; 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday.
● Where: Sahuaro High School Egbert Auditorium, 545 N. Camino Seco.
● Cost: Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for students. Backstage passes are available for an additional $10 and will provide audience members with early admission, choice front-row seating and refreshments during intermission.
● Call: 437-2888 to purchase tickets.
