What do you think of this story?

Click here to send a message to the editor.

Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

Seuss lives at Landmark HS

Oh! The Places You'll Go!

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
lbianchi@thecitizennews.com

Disney has got nothing on the characters dreamed up by everyone’s favorite children’s author, Dr. Seuss. Is there anyone who hasn’t read and reread the antic adventures of The Cat in the Hat, Amazing Mayzie, Horton the elephant and the Whos of Whoville? The odds are against it. So what are the chances that you can see them leap from the page and onto the stage? If you can get over to Landmark Christian School this weekend, be prepared to sing along with the cast of nearly 50 students as they present “Seussical, The Musical.”

Director Mark Smith asserts “Seussical is the largest musical in terms of technical requirements (sets, lighting, sound, costumes) and cast size that Landmark has ever done.” The show will be performed at Landmark’s Peachtree City Campus at 777 Robinson Road.

“I'm new to Landmark this year, and my background is in professional theatre, so I've come here to try and give the students at Landmark a real taste of what it's like to be involved in a high quality theatrical endeavor. In fact our whole fine arts department is new this year: Don Johnson is our new music director, Tony Daniel is our new band director, and Whitney Stansell is our new visual arts faculty member,” Smith said.

The musical weaves together several storylines into one upbeat tale of imagination and the places it can take you. “On, The Things You Can Think,” opens the first act with The Cat in the Hat (Nia Baker). The Jungle of Nool, where Horton (Jacob Parker) lives, is the first stop. Form there we are transported to the tiny dust speck of a world where the citizens of Whoville reside. Mr. and Mrs. Mayor (Scott Chartier and Katie Larson) want their son JoJo (Katy Wilson) to curb his imagination and to think “just a little bit less.” Eventually they send their son off to military school to be whipped into shape by General Genghis Khan Schmitz (Chris Floyd).

Back in the jungle Gertrude McFuzz (Lane Eisenberg) sympathizes with Horton’s speck obsession and sings “The One Feather Tail of Gertrude McFuzz,” as she envies the plumage of Mayzie La Bird (Rachel Skinner). Right around the corner are the horrible Wickersham Brothers (Amy Avant, Kathleen Duncan, Rebekah Larisey), the Bird Girls (Josie Baker, Holly Sumney, Amanda Hale), Yertle the Turtle (Alek Pike), The Grinch (Eric Hogan), Cindy Lou Who (Bethany Chartier), and Sour Kangaroo (Amanda Broussard).

“I've found the kids to be dedicated and willing to try new things. They are talented and outgoing and the parents and administration are extremely supportive.” Smith said. The Citizens of Who and various Schmitz cadets, hunches and fish add another 35 or so members to the cast. The music by Stephen Flaherty encompasses many styles such as pop, gospel, blues and R & B. The lyrics are by Lynn Ahrens.

Smith concludes “This high-energy musical from the creators of Broadway's ‘Ragtime’ brings all your favorite characters from the world of Dr. Seuss to life, guaranteeing an evening that will make you laugh as well as warm your heart. If you loved Landmark's production of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ you'll absolutely fall head over heels for Seussical!”

Thursday and Friday’s performances begin at 7:30 p.m. There will be two shows on Saturday at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $10 at the door.

For reserved seating information, phone 770-692-6765.