Director’s Note
There’s a man who is known for the tales he has sown. Told to children, young and almost full grown. One sly cat dons a hat, one Horton hears a who, and a grinch who stole Christmas got a new heart too. He was a doctor named “Seuss”, but he was not a doctor at all. Just a man who loved writing for both big and small.
Throughout his career, Theodore Seuss Geisel published over 60 books. He invented thinks that were never thought of before, while simultaneously developing a new language that was whimsical, nonsensical, and completely outlandish. Using colorful characters, obscene settings, and engaging stories, his rhythmically spun stories were able to twist a young reader’s mind and teach them valuable lessons that were never directly addressed. Dr.Seuss had created an entire world for an elementary reader to escape to and this musical is a true testament to that statement.
I think we can all remember our first few encounters with Dr.Seuss. The first book I was ever able to read entirely was a Dr.Seuss book. It was 2001, I was in first grade, and I could barely read a full sentence. Mrs.Newman of Santapogue Elementary School had handed me Dr.Seuss’ “Go Dog Go” and told me that if I was able to read the entire book, I could read it to the class all by myself. Appropriately and ironically, anytime I stood up in front of a class was an opportunity to perform so I was very determined. Although I never got the chance to read it to the class, I worked so hard on reading the book with my mom that it taught me a lesson about perseverance and encouraged me to start reading more.
Fast forward to 2010, I was cast as Horton the Elephant in the West Babylon High School’s production of Seussical the Musical. To this day, it still remains one of my most favorite roles I’ve ever performed. Playing Horton taught me about knowledge, responsibility, and respecting people, ‘no matter how small’. I was a chubby, red-faced, anxious tenth grader, who needed to go through Horton’s adventure in order to learn about myself. Another paradox in my journey was that playing the role of Horton, led me to perform a song selection on our very own Lindenhurst High School’s stage for a BACCA awards ceremony. Completely foreshadowing where I would be in ten years. Oh the Places I’ve Gone!
Being the director and a past performer of Seuss gave me so much perspective. I revisited who I was in high school, which essentially helped me learn about every single student you see on stage tonight. Each and every one of them can relate to at least one adventurous path found in a Dr.Seuss book. Vanity (The One Feathered Tale of Miss.Gertrude McFuzz), equality (Yertle the Turtle), graciousness (Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are), or not caving in when the going gets tough (Oh, the Places You’ll Go!). These students and Dr.Seuss can teach us how to write our own books with our individually-unique language, that people may never understand! While enjoying this colorful journey, I challenge you to recreate your own storyline, reinvent your main character, and/or rewrite the next chapter you may encounter. The thinks you may encounter may completely alter your perception of the world, the people around you, and yourself. Embrace it and enjoy Lindenhurst's production of Seussical the Musical!
