The Lincoln High School Musical Theater will present the musical, Seussical March 28-30th in the high school auditorium. Under the direction of Rick Hudson, this musical is based on the Dr. Seuss storybook series.
Seussical is a musical of The Cat in the Hat, who tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton faces a double challenge: not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.
We caught up with some of the leads in the show for a cast Q&A. Today’s Q&A is PART ONE in a three-part series about Seussical. Featured tomorrow will be part 2 of the cast Q&A and part three will feature a review of the show and gallery of show photos.
Eric Woodend
Part in Musical: Cat in the hat, Grinch
Current Grade: 11th
Been in Musicals/Plays Since: I’ve done musicals since Marry Poppins at LHS
Previous Musicals/Leads You’ve been in: George in School House Rock and Eric in Godspell
Favorite Song: Havin a hunch
What Interested You in this Role: his comedy and constant fourth wall breaking
What is an Iconic Prop in the Musical or Favorite Part of Your Costume: my cane
What’s the Hardest Part About Your Role? having the constant interaction between the audience and the cast
Has Your Character Taught You Anything “Life Changing” or that will Stay with You After the Show: the cat has taught me that sometimes causing chaos leads to good and bad outcomes
What Do You Think the Audience will Like About this Musical: the comedy and the voices of the cast.
What is Unique About this Musical: the amount of rhyming
If You Could have a Part in any Musical… What Would that Musical be and Why: Hermes in Hadestown he is such a unique role that fills the show with such energy and emotion that moves the show forward that I strive for in this role
What Other Activities are You Involved In: band and choir
Future Plans: I plan on going to college to hopefully go into the medical field but more specifically, pathology
Anything Else You Would Like to Add: This show is wild and often confusing but it’s such a fun show I can’t wait till audiences can see
Noah Rhodes
Part in Musical: Horton the Elephant
Current Grade: 10th Grade
Been in Musicals/Plays Since: I’ve been in musicals since 2nd grade.
Previous Musicals/Leads You’ve been in: Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, Shrek, Willy Wonka, Godspell, and SchoolHouse Rock Live.
Favorite Song: My favorite song in this musical is “Here on Who”.
What Interested You in this Role: the fact of doing a production in Lincoln High School again. I enjoy my time during these productions, and I love performing.
What is an Iconic Prop in the Musical or Favorite Part of Your Costume: the little truffula tree clover I have.
What’s the Hardest Part About Your Role? The hardest part about my role has to be getting off and on my tree and taking it around the stage.
Has Your Character Taught You Anything “Life Changing” or that will Stay with You After the Show: My character has taught me that a patience is a virtue.
What Do You Think the Audience will Like About this Musical: I think the audience will love the set.
What is Unique About this Musical: The unique thing about this musical is that it’s all a poem. Every single line rhymes with one another.
If You Could have a Part in any Musical… What Would that Musical be and Why: If I could have a part in any musical I’d either want to be Beetlejuice from “Beetlejuice” or Seymour from “Little Shop of Horrors”. ever since the first time I watched these musical’s I’d always wanted to play them because of how great the soundtrack is.
What Other Activities are You Involved In: I’m involved in the Marching Band, Choir, Drama Club, and ECTV.
Future Plans: My future plans are to keep auditioning and (hopefully) continue to play in more Lincoln Musicals. Once I graduate, I want to go to school to become a neurologist.
Anything Else You Would Like to Add: I think this show is really great and I think my friends and fellow cast members are doing such a great job. I can’t wait to see them shine on the stage :).
Peyton Confer
Part in Musical: Gertrude McFuzz
Current Grade: 11th grade
Been in Musicals/Plays Since: 2nd grade
Previous Musicals/Leads You’ve been in: Been in numerous productions at the Red Barn, Strand theatre, and Comtra. Was Veruca in Willy Wonka, Uzo in Godspell, and Dina in School House Rock at Lincoln High School.
Favorite Song: Monkey Around
What Interested You in this Role: The costume
What is an Iconic Prop in the Musical or Favorite Part of Your Costume: My growing tail
What’s the Hardest Part About Your Role? Trying to be constantly happy.
Has Your Character Taught You Anything “Life Changing” or that will Stay with You After the Show: It taught me about loyalty
What Do You Think the Audience will Like About this Musical: How colorful it is
What is Unique About this Musical: It is as unique as Dr. Seuss
If You Could have a Part in any Musical… What Would that Musical be and Why: Christine or The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, because I really love that music and both of their parts are really good so I would love to play either one of them.
What Other Activities are You Involved In: Marching Band, directing the middle school musical, community theatre, and civic choral.
Future Plans: I plan to become a music teacher after I graduate.
Anna Elder
Part in Musical: I play Jojo in Seussical.
Current Grade: I am in 7th grade.
Been in Musicals/Plays Since: 2016
Previous Musicals/Leads You’ve been in: This is my first Ellwood City school musical; however, I have participated in Christ Presbyterian Church’s Boar’s Head Festival every year since the age of 4 when I played the part of the candle sprite.
Favorite Song: My favorite song in Seussical is “It’s Possible” because it is a great reminder that thinking big can make anything possible.
What Interested You in this Role: Jojo is a very dynamic character, and I get to portray many different emotions when I step into his role. He is also quite shy and sometimes awkward, just like me.
What is an Iconic Prop in the Musical or Favorite Part of Your Costume: In the show, my favorite prop is my butter knife sword. My parents thrust it into my arms, and it is laughably large.
What’s the Hardest Part About Your Role? I think the hardest part about my role in this musical is- as our director puts it- being BIG. Being BIG is being louder, more expressive, and more dramatic for the audience. Sometimes it is a challenge to be BIG enough on stage, but that BIGness is what separates a good show from a great show.
Has Your Character Taught You Anything “Life Changing” or that will Stay with You After the Show: Jojo has taught me that I shouldn’t be scared of how other people judge me or my ideas. Sometimes the world needs big thinkers who aren’t too scared to take action.
What Do You Think the Audience will Like About this Musical: This show is really great for kids because they will really love all the recognizable Dr. Seuss characters and energetic scenes. That being said, there really is something in the show for everyone- drama, comedy, and a bit of Dr. Seuss nostalgia for the adults who grew up with the world of Seuss.
What is Unique About this Musical: I think what makes this show so unique is that it starts off with a young boy that imagines a mischievous and trouble-loving cat that wears a red and white striped hat. Together, they create a world full of wonder, love, and amazement, but also darkness, war, and fear. The cat forces this poor young boy into the story where he makes many new friends, finds his family, and learns valuable lessons.
If You Could have a Part in any Musical… What Would that Musical be and Why: There are so many musicals that I’ve never seen and even more that I’ve never even heard of! That being said, I’d have to say that I would like to be either Dorothy or the scarecrow from “The Wizard of Oz.” Both Dorothy and the scarecrow are such amazing characters in such a wonderful musical. I would love to be Dorothy because she is kind, charming, and sincere. I would also love to be the scarecrow because he is absolutely hilarious and he tries his hardest, even though he is very vulnerable and not as capable.
What Other Activities are You Involved In: In school, I am involved in board game club, choir, band, the gifted program, and math counts. As far as extracurriculars go, I am involved in dance, track, and cross country.
Future Plans: Obviously, I plan on continuing acting in our musicals until I graduate. After that, I plan on going to college to obtain a degree in teaching. I would also like to write and publish novels.
Anything Else You Would Like to Add: I would love to thank my family for helping me so much from my auditions to now, my first high school performance. I would also like to thank my friends for encouraging me and keeping me company through the long and tiring practices where I might have otherwise given up.
Complete Cast List
Leads:
- Eric Woodend – Cat in the Hat
- Noah Rhodes – Horton the Elephant
- Peyton Confer – Gertrude McFuzz
- Anna Elder – Jojo
Supporting:
- Paige Moffatt – Mayzie LaBird
- Jaiden Cress – The Sour Kangaroo
- Chase Ramsey – Mr. Mayor
- Calista Poole – Mrs. Mayor
Featured:
- Ray Heitzenrater – General Genghis Kahn Schmitz
- Isaac Smith – Wickersham Brother
- Nicholas Genova – Wickersham Brother
- Jacob Evans – Wickersham Brother
- Lila Fox – Bird Girl
- Brooke Van Horn – Bird Girl
- Lilah Sturgeon – Bird Girl
- Landon Dombeck – Vlad Vladikoff, Yurtle the Turtle
Ensemble:
Eden Bungar, Della Hall, Jordyn Haswell, Ellery Hooker, Addyson Karis, Zoey Leech, Dalaney Leech, Lily Marthens, Claire Pander, Ava Rape, Morgan Ritter, Arianna Salvucci, Caylee Sammons, Lily Simpson, LenaRose Smith, Virginia Smith, Tessa Thomas, Keegan Twentier, Sofia Weisz, Makenna Woloszyn
Kid Chorus:
Scarlett Almquist, Tesla Brady, Lea Brenneman, Aubrey Edwards, Emmie Elder, Jeff Frye, Sophia Gatto, Amelia Giancola, Junell Goehring, Lillian Gordon, Dottie Griffith, McKinley Hoellein, Lena Ierino, Daphne Kincaid, Alivia Kuny, Evelyn Marshall, Adelina McClintick, Aliyah Schriner, Myla Simeoni, Kendalyn Stetler, Avah Thomas, Isabella Vazquez-Cosme, Hailey Venezie
DATES & TIMES
- Friday-MARCH 28-7:30 p.m.
- Saturday-MARCH 29-7:30 p.m.
- Sunday-MARCH 30-2:00 p.m. *MATINEE
There are 2 ways to get tickets. They are available for $12 at: https://cur8.com/22609/project/129146. You can also purchase them right at the door. Lincoln High School is located at 501 Crescent Avenue, Ellwood City, PA 16117. If you have questions, you can contact the producer CAMANIN COLEMAN at camanincoleman@gmail.com
Seussical is presented through special arrangement with MUSICAL THEATRE INTERNATIONAL.
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