Welcome and thank you so much for attending our production of Seussical JR.! This production is a labor of love between a lot of people over a long time. We began auditions and rehearsals last August and have one of the largest casts in Clariden Drama Club history! Along with the talented cast, we have a large group of talented student artists who worked on the props, and a technical crew both backstage and in the booth. Including our adorable Early Childhood and first grade students who performed before the matinee, almost a third of Clariden students participated in this production! I'm so grateful to work collaboratively with every single student to bring you all the fantastic performance you'll see today.
Seussical was conceived and created by legendary theatrical writing team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. This dynamic duo is the creative partnership behind such musicals as Ragtime, Once On This Island, and Anastasia. The original musical combined elements of dozens of Dr. Seuss books, with most of its plot being based on Horton Hears a Who!, Gertrude McFuzz, and Horton Hatches the Egg. Seussical opened on Broadway in the year 2000 and subsequently spawned two national tours and a West End production. Seussical is one of the most produced shows in America and is most frequently performed at schools and regional theaters.
I think Seussical is an excellent show to work on with students this age because it teaches us so many important lessons. Jojo's "thinks" get him in trouble, but it is ultimately his imagination that helps him save his entire civilization! Gertrude learns that appearances don't matter as much as loyalty and kindness. And Horton demonstrates the importance of commitment and that every person matters, "no matter how small." These lessons, and countless others, are what makes Seussical such a special show to perform.
I started this rehearsal process with one daughter and ended it with two! I am so thankful to the cast for continuing to work dilligently during my maternity leave. It was difficult for me to return to work with such a young baby, but getting to rehearse this show with them made it so much easier. A huge thank you is due to Ursula Daniels for directing in my absence, and I am so proud of my student director Evelyn Tatta for the work they did while I was gone. Several of the scenes you'll watch today were blocked during my maternity leave, and Evelyn made such brave and creative choices. Thanks to you both for your excellent work!
Thank you so much for attending today and supporting our Drama Club. Directing these shows is so fulfilling to me, and I know these students are making memories that will last a lifetime. A little birdie told me that a certain Simmons is making her theatrical debut today, too! I hope you are inspired to think and wonder and dream far and wide as you dare. Enjoy the show!
Kirsten Simmons
