A strange and fantastic red-and-white striped top hat appears on an empty stage. The hat and the stage are both full of possibilities! A young boy, JoJo, is curiously drawn to the magical hat…when suddenly The Cat appears to reclaim his hat.
That’s the magic of “Seussical, The Musical,” which is based on the stories of Dr. Seuss. The enchanting musical will be presented by the Tyrone Community Players Friday and Saturday, March 17-18 at the Tyrone Area High School. All the fun begins at 7:30 p.m. each night. All seats are reserved and can be purchased by calling the Tyrone Artsline at 684-ART2. The cost is $10 for adults and $8 for students and children.
Eli Wood of Hollidaysburg plays JoJo, the boy. Horton The Elephant, the somewhat misunderstood and often considered slow-witted animal will be brought to life by Jonathan O’Harrow and The Cat will be played by Katie Kensinger, both of Altoona.
Gertrude McFuzz and Sour Kangaroo are played by Tyrone’s Nancy Sloss and Alice Mulhollen. Terri Dennis of State College is Mazie LaBird, an independent and vivacious character who slinks across stage, stealing any scene she is in.
Bill Markely of Tyrone plays the most evil Genghis Kahn Schmitz. In the jungle, where Horton and others inhabit, the Wickersham Brothers also reside. The three singing and dancing monkey brothers are played by Pete Hedberg and Will Jones of Tyrone and Mike Seidel of Altoona. The Wickersham’s, who do not like Horton, are assisted in their mischief by Vlad Vladikoff, a black-bottomed eagle. Sara Fink has been cast as Vlad.
Imagine three doo-wop girls living in this same magical jungle and you’ve just pictured The Bird Girls. Director Cindy Bennett has put together three classy ladies, Kate Coltabaugh and Darcy Wilson, both of Tyrone and Lisa Myers of Philipsburg to run the show as The Bird Girls do!
The Wanna Bird girls are played by Desiree Dennis of State College, Gina Volpe and Megan Marcaurelle of Altoona. Joe Grabowski of Altoona is playing Whoville’s Mr. Mayor. His lovely wife, Mrs. Mayor is characterized by Tyrone teacher, Karen Mayhew.
Other famous Seuss characters who appear in “Seussical, The Musical” are The Grinch, played by Eric DiMemmo and Yertle the Turtle played by Betsy Beck, both of Tyrone. An entire village of Who’s, including Cindy Lou Who, are played by Emily Dennis, Sara Slep, Catherine Hommer, Laura Moore, Lauren Grabowski, Hope Wilson, Kasey Kowalski, Katie Riley, Mara Murphy, RJ Beck, Olivia Stever, Nick Finocchio and Zachary Estright.
Creatures of the Jungle of Nod include Leara Latchford as Baby Kangaroo. An entire flock of magical fish occupy McElligot’s Pool. The fish are played by Mary Beth Raabe, Kyle Raabe, Alison McGovern, Jael Epple, Josiah Epple, April Taylor, Katie Stevens, Zoie Robison, Adam Zook, Kathleen Beck, Lisa Baiasco, Zach Dennis, Kaitlin Spangler, Nicole Spangler and Emily Estright. These children are from Altoona, Bellwood, Warriors Mark, Tyrone and State College.
And what would a jungle be without ominous trees? How ominous the Nod trees are is questionable, but three Tyrone women – Kathy Fink, Brandy Burket and Holli Keeley, do a fine job playing them.
To find out if Horton really does hear the microscopic Who calling, or if the devilish Wickersham Brothers monkey around and actually cause trouble for Horton, or if the Cat in the Hat is as naughty as he appears in the classic Dr. Seuss storybook, get to the Tyrone Community Players production of “Seussical, The Musical” at the Tyrone Area High School.
