Red & Black Players explore the worlds of Dr. Seuss with the fantastical musical ‘Seussical’ March 24-26
The Red and Black Players continue their musical exploration of the worlds of the imagination as they present Seussical at the Tupper Lake Middle/High School auditorium, 25 Chaney Avenue, on March 24 and 25 at 7 p.m. and March 26 at 2 p.m.
There will be flowers and a bake sale in the lobby before the show and during intermission of each show. There will also be a 50/50 raffle in the lobby to raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation; the winner will be drawn on Sunday, March 26. That Sunday is World Epilepsy Day, and audience members are encouraged to wear purple to support this worthy cause.
Seussical is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza. Tony winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Once on This Island, Ragtime), have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, Mayzie La Bird, and a little kid with a big imagination – Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.
The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks." Horton faces a double challenge: not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant. Seussical is fun for the whole family!
The cast features Meika Nadeau as the Cat in the Hat, Cody Auclair as Horton the Elephant, Lacey Pickering as Jojo, Raegan Fritts as Gertrude McFuzz, Shae Arsenault as Mayzie La Bird, Sophia Staves as the Sour Kangaroo, Ayden Rabideau and Nevaeh Toohey as Mr. and Mrs. Mayor of Whoville, Ava Facteau as General Ghengis Khan Schmitz, Hannah Barber, Aubrey Nadeau, and Aubrey Sparks as the Bird Girls, Joelle Bedore, Haylee Callaghan, Dean LaVigne, and Emily Roberts as the Wickershams, Antwon Gachowski as Yertle the Turtle, Noah Switzer as the Grinch. Portraying an array of other Seussian characters are Ash Barber, Aubrey Bissonette, Jeevika Branchaud, Eliza Bujold, Brittany Curry, John Fallon, Gabby Frenette, Yana Kucipak, Bryce Richer, Oliver Roberts, Rain Skiff, Ghost Switzer, Lily Wilber, and Raina Gillette.
Crew for Seussical are stage manager Genna Carmichael, assistant stage manager Jack LaQuay, along with Vivian Allen, Rebecca Becker, Heather Bujold, Hannah Callaghan, Liza Crouse, Jackson Dukette, Kaileigh Dukette, Lucy Frenette, Molly Hales, Raegan Hudak, Rylee Kennedy, Morgan Lohr, Jackson Rice, Alison Richer, Claire Snye, and Mariah Young.
Stage director George Cordes and music director Elizabeth Cordes have again been joined by their own intrepid team: lighting and tech director David Naone, assistant director Danielle LaMere, and choreographer Kendall Davison. This production will also mark a return to a live pit band, featuring an all-star lineup of musicians.
Seussical is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized materials are supplied by Music Theatre International. It follows the Red and Black Players’ 2022 production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. sWith this production, the Red and Black Players celebrate their 17th anniversary of bringing musical theatre to Tupper Lake. Previous shows include also Footloose: The Musical, Guys and Dolls, Godspell, Anything Goes, Hello, Dolly!, All Night Strut: A Jumpin', Jivin', Jam!, Back to the 80s: The Totally Awesome Musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, Annie, Seussical: The Musical, The Boy Friend, and Bye, Bye Birdie. In 2020, they had to cancel their production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The directors hope to revisit this production (with the original cast) sometime in the future. Stay tuned!
Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students and senior citizens and will be available at the door. Children 5 and under admitted free.