Photo credit: Maggie McGill
BY MAGGIE MCGILL // Hood students are rehearsing for Seussical the Musical, a Tony award winning production that will hit campus in late March.
The musical, a combination of Dr. Seuss books and stories, will be student organization Hood College Student Musical Theater’s seventh production.
“It’s a very good mix of children’s humor and adult themes,” Travis Gilbert, the director of the show, said
Students have been rehearsing since the start of the Spring semester in January to prepare for the production. Those involved dedicate four days out of the week for vocal and dance training.
The cast is excited about performing such a quirky and powerful show that combines different styles of song and dance that match the time periods during which each Seuss book was written.
Seussical the Musical follows Horton, who finds a tiny village on a speck of dust and his neighbor Gertrude, who only wants to be noticed. It also follows Jojo, a boy living on the speck of dust, and his antics with the Cat in the Hat who encourages him to use his imagination.
Lew Dean, who plays Horton in the show, identifies with the characters as they journey through the show. He said, “The characters go through a lot of hardship but come out better for it in the end.”
The students plan to interpret the show as a biographical piece of Dr. Seuss, using a fresh, hardworking cast and crew. They hope to combine childhood nostalgia with a new art form so that members of the audience will be forced to think about the show on many different levels.
Gabe Cassutto, who plays the role of the Cat in the Hat, is making his Hood theater debut. He said, “It’s about acceptance, self-worth, the powers, of imagination, and how one person can make a difference.”
HCSMT was founded in 2010 by now-alumni Billy Lewis and Ashley Birdsell. It is a student run organization, which sets it apart from other clubs on campus. Their past shows include 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Avenue Q.
This year, Hood College Student Musical Theater is reaching out via social media to connect with students and members of the community using its Facebook page and newly founded blog. The blog can be used to track progress and keep up with performance dates.
The show’s blog, Seussically Inclined, and their information page can be found here. Seussical the Musical can be seen on campus from March 27-30.