If anyone finds themselves going past “the building”, home of the Tyrone Community Players on Logan Ave., the former Tyrone-Snyder Library, they may be surprised at all of the vigor, color and imagination spewing outside from the creative energy being produced inside.
The directorial team, under the guidance of Cindy Bennett and Brett Keith, are busy preparing to audition the energetic, fanciful musical, Seussical, to be produced in the Tyrone Area High School auditorium on March 17-18, 2006.
Before auditions can take place however, Cindy and Brett must have a grasp on how TCP will turn a barren stage into Whoville and The Jungle Of Nool with the help of innovative, colorful sets and powerful, lively music.
Seussical takes several stories from the beloved children’s author, Dr. Seuss, and spins them into a tale told mostly from the vantage of Horton The Elephant and JoJo, his little friend from Whoville. Even though the musical is based on children’s literature, this show is not just for young audiences. There is something in Seussical that all ages will enjoy.
The cast of this Tony award winning show consists of the following characters, all of which will be cast from the auditions on November 27-28:
• six principle male roles including: Horton The Elephant, The Wickersham Brothers (three monkeys who sing harmony), The Mayor Of Whoville and general Genghis Kahn Schmidt;
• seven principle female roles including: Gertrude McFuzz, Mayzie LaBird, The Bird Girls (a back-up singing group ala The Supremes), Mrs. Mayor and The Sour Kangaroo;
• two principle roles that may be played by either gender: The Cat In The Hat and JoJo and
• a large ensemble of citizens of Whoville and The Jungle Of Nool, many of which have solo vocals and dialogue.
In addition, two scenes in this exhilarating musical have been reserved entirely for young performers between the ages of eight and 13 years. These scenes will be rehearsed at an earlier hour than the rest of the show to accommodate the performers’ age and school responsibilities, and will include some Saturday choreography sessions.
Auditions for this newly released show, which starred Rosie O’Donnell on Broadway as The Cat, are scheduled for Sunday and Monday, November 27-28 in “the building”, at 1019 Logan Ave., Tyrone.
Young persons’ auditions, between the ages of eight and 13 years, are scheduled for Sunday, November 27 at 2 p.m. These young thespians will be taught a song and dance from the show and they will perform in small groups, unless auditioning for the character of JoJo.
Auditionees for JoJo, which has extensive dialogue and solo vocals, will be required to provide a solo vocal audition and dialogue reading.
Adult auditions are scheduled for Sunday and Monday, November 27-28, at 7 p.m. Please be prepared with a vocal audition. An accompanist will be present.
If anyone needs further information, would care to peruse a script or make alternate arrangements, phone the ArtsLine at 684-ART2.
Rehearsals for this second production in the 22nd season of the TCP, “A Seat on The Aisle For Smiles”, will begin in the first week of January. Early auditions have been scheduled to facilitate the construction of all the whimsical and unusual costumes that will help bring everyone’s imagination into the forefront.
As Dr. Seuss says, “Oh the thinks you can think.”
