More than 100 Plum High School students are preparing for a spring musical that’s a remix of classic Dr. Seuss tales.
Plum’s production of “Seussical” is set to hit the stage for three shows April 16 to 18.
The show weaves together several familiar tales into a new story as Horton the Elephant — of “Horton Hears a Who!” fame — attempts to saves the whos with the aid of other Dr. Seuss characters. The production is narrated by the Cat in the Hat.
John DeLuce, the show’s director, said he selected the piece because of its large ensemble cast and to mark the 25th anniversary of its initial Broadway debut.
“We felt we had the proper amount of students for a show so large,” DeLuce said.
The production will star seniors Damian Collier as Horton the Elephant, Naomi Casey as Gertrude McFuzz, Sydney Caliguiri as Mayzie LaBird, Olivia Baleno as JoJo, and junior Trevor Walling as the Cat in the Hat.
Casey said the show is highly unique and encouraged audiences to embrace the Seuss world, which she said is filled with “childhood wonder.”
“Plan to have zero plans and just enjoy the experience,” she said.
The show is also a perfect opportunity to introduce younger audiences, who might already be familiar with the characters, to musical theater, Collier said.
Describing his Cat in the Hat narrator as mischievious, Walling said “anything and everything” happens during the show.
Students have been rehearsing the production since mid-January, DeLuce said. So far, he said, students have risen to the challenge.
It’s not the first time Plum High School has opted for the production. DeLuce said students put on “Seussical” more than a decade ago. But he said students are raising the bar this time around.
“I feel like we’ve been building,” DeLuce said.
Involved in musical productions all four years of high school, Casey and Collier said the end of their careers at Plum is “bittersweet.”
But Collier said he plans to continue his studies at Duquesne University, where he plans to major in music education with a minor in theater arts.
As for Casey, she intends to pursue a music minor at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.
Curtains will go up at 7 p.m. for each of the three shows.
Tickets cost $12 and can be purchased at the school’s box office or online at events.ticketleap.com/tickets/pbsdmusical/seussical-1699198233.
