His characters are legends. From The Cat in the Hat to Horton the Elephant to The Lorax. Obviously I’m speaking about the amazing Dr. Seuss. His lively and endearing characters make up the cast of Seussical The Musical, playing at The Academy for Academics & Arts February 22nd-25th.

What better way to learn more about this upcoming production and all things Seuss than to go straight to the source? We recently chatted with cast members:

Marcus Gladny, 8th grade, playing “Horton the Elephant”
Becca Bradford, 8th grader, playing “Gertrude McFuzz”
Maddie Austin, 7th grade, playing “Mrs. Mayor”
Willem Butler, 7th grader, playing “Cat in the Hat”
Will Jenkins, 8th grader, playing “Jojo”

And we want to send YOU! Enter our ticket giveaway for a family 4 pack of tickets at the end of the post!

The Characters

At the heart of any good play are characters that make you laugh, cry, and everything in between. Here’s what the Seussical cast members had to say about getting into character.

“I feel that I am like the Cat in the Hat in that I am a little crazy and not quiet AT ALL. I want the best for other people but that sometimes means “stirring up the pot.” I love performing for other people, just like The Cat and I will do whatever I can to make people have fun!” -Willem Butler aka “Cat in the Hat”

“I am most like my character because I am always organized and I worry a lot, just like she does.” -Maddie Austin aka “Mrs. Mayor”

“I’m like Horton in many ways. Horton and I share the ambition to finish what we’ve started. He’s a simple guy (elephant) yet, has many different layers. One thing that separates us is our personalities. While Horton is the “straight-forward” guy, I am much more of a “jokester.”-Marcus Gladny aka “Horton the Elephant”

“I am similar to Jojo in that we both have really big imaginations!” -Will Jenkins aka “Jojo”

The Process

Anyone who has been a part of a show knows that it is a process and not something that happens overnight. Here’s what the Seussical cast had to say about bringing the works of Dr. Seuss to the stage.

“I love how the director and cast are professional and always stay on task. We have breaks but, once its over, we are right back to rehearsing. I love my character and I hope the audience will enjoy it as much as I do!” -Willem Butler

“To me, the best part about being in Seussical is learning all the great songs and I love working on the blocking and seeing it all come together!” -Will Jenkins

“My favorite part about being in Seussical is just getting to act with my friends and great directors.” -Maddie Austin

“My favorite part about being in Seussical is getting to be such a funny, awkward character. I also love working with all of my friends and directors!” –Becca Bradford

“My favorite part of the Seussical process is working with the newer cast members. While some of us are no strangers to the stage, there are others who have never been in a big production like this. I love to see the looks on their faces when they learn something about the theatre that they hadn’t known before! “-Marcus Gladny

The Message

Ultimately, what IS the show about, you may be wondering? Glad you asked….

“The message of the show, to me, has been to be yourself and dream! Also, to remind us that we are all equal because, “ a person is a person, no matter how small!” -Becca Bradford

“The message of the show to me is that you should always ‘think, wonder and dream far and wide as you dare!’ and I think it reminds us to be who we are rather than trying to be someone else!” -Maddie Austin

“One meaning of Seussical that sticks out to me is that this show teaches you to use your imagination. With imagination, you can create something beautiful out of nothing!” -Willem Butler

“The meaning of Seussical the Musical to me is to never allow anyone to deter you. Even though they call him a fool, Horton knows what he heard and will not rest until the entire jungle knows!” -Marcus Gladny

“The biggest lesson of the show to me is that, no matter what, you should always be yourself!” -Will Jenkins

Why You Should Come

And the most important thing you’ll want to know: why you should come!

“The part of the show that I think is most amazing is the number “The People vs Horton the Elephant” It’s awesome! -Maddie Austin

“I feel like this would be a great show for all ages because the amazing set and costumes compliment the wonderful acting. Also, the entire school seems to get involved. As you walk down the hallway, you will see the halls are decorated with truffula trees and other images from Seussical. It will feel like you are being thrown into the show from the moment you walk in!” -Willem Butler

“The amazing costumes would have to be one of the biggest ‘wow’s’ of the show!” -Becca Bradford

“I think the “wow” factor of our production is the artwork. From our truffula tree infested hallways, to the on-stage set, the artwork creates the world of Seuss!” -Marcus Gladny

“Costumes, to me, are the most amazing part of the production!” -Will Jenkins

Ticket Giveaway

Event Information

Dates:

Friday, February 22nd
Saturday, February 23rd
Monday, February 25th

Time: 7:00pm
Location: The Academy for Academics & Arts
Address: 2800 Poplar Avenue 35816
Cost: $10 Adults. $6 students
Tickets: Call 256-457-3291 to make your reservations