Seussical is based on the works of the beloved children's author Theodore Geisel, known to the world as Dr. Seuss.
One would think it an impossible task to condense the major characters and stories of Seuss into a cohesive evening, but Stephen and Lynn have managed to incorporate bits and pieces of at least 14 Seuss classics, including Horton Hears a Who, Horton Hatches the Egg, Gertrude McFuzz, The Butter Battle Book, If I Ran the Circus, McElligott's Pool, I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew and of course,The Cat in the Hat!! The main story involves Horton the Elephant's efforts to save his friend Jojo and the other inhabitants on Who, even though everyone else in the Jungle of Nool thinks Horton is the "Biggest Blame Fool" for believing in people who live on a small speck of dust. But Horton is a determined, loyal and faithful friend who fights for what he knows to be true. In the end, Seussical is really about believing in yourself, keeping promises and the rewards of being an independent "thinker." The Seussical score is a wonderfully eclectic mix of everything from traditional ballads like "Alone in the Universe" and "Solla Sollew" to the funkier sound of "Monkey Around" and the Sousa-inspired sound of "The Military." Of course, Ahrens and Flaherty have a reputation for writing fantastic opening numbers, and "Oh, the Thinks You Can Think" is certainly no exception.
The show had its first 2 week reading in New York from May 3-May 14, 1999, and a month long workshop was mounted in Toronto from July 26- August 21, 1999.The first public performances were held in Boston from August 27- Sept 21, 2000. It opened on Broadway on November 30, 2000 and ran until May 20, 2001.
The first national tour of SEUSSICAL played the U.S. in 2002. A second national tour lasted through March of 2004. The rights for the show were recently released, and Seussical has become one of the hottest properties on the regional /amateur circuit. In a survey conducted by the National Thespian Society, the show was the most licensed property in high schools across America last year!! Also, Seussical now ranks in the top three of all the shows licensed by MTI. There were 650(!!!!!) productions in 2005, and there are already almost 200 productions slated for 2006! Ohh! What a trip!
One would think it an impossible task to condense the major characters and stories of Seuss into a cohesive evening, but Stephen and Lynn have managed to incorporate bits and pieces of at least 14 Seuss classics, including Horton Hears a Who, Horton Hatches the Egg, Gertrude McFuzz, The Butter Battle Book, If I Ran the Circus, McElligott's Pool, I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew and of course,The Cat in the Hat!! The main story involves Horton the Elephant's efforts to save his friend Jojo and the other inhabitants on Who, even though everyone else in the Jungle of Nool thinks Horton is the "Biggest Blame Fool" for believing in people who live on a small speck of dust. But Horton is a determined, loyal and faithful friend who fights for what he knows to be true. In the end, Seussical is really about believing in yourself, keeping promises and the rewards of being an independent "thinker." The Seussical score is a wonderfully eclectic mix of everything from traditional ballads like "Alone in the Universe" and "Solla Sollew" to the funkier sound of "Monkey Around" and the Sousa-inspired sound of "The Military." Of course, Ahrens and Flaherty have a reputation for writing fantastic opening numbers, and "Oh, the Thinks You Can Think" is certainly no exception.
The show had its first 2 week reading in New York from May 3-May 14, 1999, and a month long workshop was mounted in Toronto from July 26- August 21, 1999.The first public performances were held in Boston from August 27- Sept 21, 2000. It opened on Broadway on November 30, 2000 and ran until May 20, 2001.
The first national tour of SEUSSICAL played the U.S. in 2002. A second national tour lasted through March of 2004. The rights for the show were recently released, and Seussical has become one of the hottest properties on the regional /amateur circuit. In a survey conducted by the National Thespian Society, the show was the most licensed property in high schools across America last year!! Also, Seussical now ranks in the top three of all the shows licensed by MTI. There were 650(!!!!!) productions in 2005, and there are already almost 200 productions slated for 2006! Ohh! What a trip!
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