SEUSSICAL is Coming Soon to Greenbelt Arts Center

A fantastical, magical, musical circus!. All your favorite Dr. Seuss characters come to life and transport you from the jungle of Nool to the invisible world of the Whos, while the Circus McGurkus fills the stage with unicycles, juggling, acrobatics and more! Join The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, The Grinch and others in a heart-warming musical circus adventure suitable for all ages. Will Horton Hatch the Egg and save the Whos from the Sour Kangaroo? Will Jojo get home safely from the butter battle? There's no guarantee, so come and see! This holiday season, use the "brains in your head and feet in your shoes" to steer yourself and your family in the direction of Greenbelt Arts Center for songs such as "How Lucky You Are", "It's Possible", "Amazing Mayzie", and "Alone in the Universe". "Oh the thinks you can think, when you think about Seuss!" December 2, 3, 9, 16, 17 at 8PM
December 4, 10, 11, 18 at 2PM

Ticket prices: $25 General Admission, $22 Students/Seniors/Military,
$14 Youth (12 and under with adult)
For more information on this production and for photos Please feel free to contact Malca Giblin, show producer, at malca.giblin@verizon.net
Seussical Director's Notes
Cirque du Soleil has revolutionized circus performing by merging stories, drama, characterization and theater into the traditional skills-based circus, while de-emphasizing animal acts. The influence of nouveau cirque has spread to Broadway, and productions such as Pippin, Matilda and The Lion King have continued to merge musical theater with acrobatics and other circus skills to create a new art form.

It is not uncommon to see stilt walkers or unicyclists parading through the streets of Greenbelt. With the Greenbelt Recreation Department's circus camps, the annuAl Greenbelt Youth Circus (GYC) and weekly carpools traveling to Greg May's Center Ring Circus School in Columbia, Greenbelt hosts an amazing amount of circus talent and skills. I was inspired at a recent GYC performance with the idea of bringing a nouveau cirque music theater performance to our own Greenbelt Arts Center.

Seussical was a clear choice. The show already contains the Circus McGurkus scene, an opportunity for traditional circus performances, while the surreal Seussian landscape and not-quite-logical story line of the rest of the show lends itself to playful innovation. The very best of children's literature appeals to both children and adults, and Dr. Seuss is no exception. Written by Ahrens and Flaherty, Seussical was co-conceived by Eric Idle, of Monty Python fame. The Seussical song, "How Lucky You Are" recalls Idle's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life," as both combine childish optimism with adult irony.

With Producer Malca Giblin's help, I was quickly able to assemble an outstanding artistic team. Mac, Rikki, Laura, Susan, Shemika, Renna, Jen, Jeff and Frank all readily agreed to lend their considerable expertise to the show, and Anne has helped me every step along the way.

At auditions, I was astounded at the incredible level of talent on display and I had the luxury of hand-picking actors that were perfect for each part. I am humbled and gratified by the hard work the cast has put into perfecting the show. We have all had a huge amount of fun putting this show together and are thrilled that you, the audience, have now chosen to join us.

Jon Gardner
SEUSSICAL CAST
The Cat in the Hat: Stephen P. Yednock
Jojo: Courtney Harris
Horton the Elephant: Bob Gudauskas
Gertrude McFuzz: Jamie Miller
Mayzie La Bird: Shawday Graves
Sour Kangaroo: Mayumi Griffie
Young Kangaroo: Harper Chadwick
Mayor: Jim Pasquale
Mrs. Mayor: Marie Nearing
General Genghis Kahn Schmitz: Jason Britt

Bird Girl: Amanda Dees
Bird Girl: Julie Dixon
Bird Girl: Rachel Pino-Elliott

Wickersham Monkey: John Carter
Wickersham Monkey: Kathleen Moors
Wickersham Monkey: Joey Rolandelli

Thing 1: Findley Holland
Thing 2: Sophie Cooper

Who: Joanna Andrus
Who: Win Britt
Who: Tiffany Chadwick
Who: Anna Shenk-Evans
Grinch: Jeffery Lesniak
Cindy Lou Who: Beatrice McNabb

Circus Performer: Bridget Adams
Circus Performer: Heather Babin
Circus Performer: Silas Fishburne
Circus Performer: Elizabeth Gardner
Circus Performer: Isabela Martins

Additional roles:
Yertle the Turtle: John Carter
Vlad Vladikoff: Silas Fishburne
Cadets: Bridget Adams, Heather Babin, Silas Fishburne, Isabela Martins
Solla Sollew Featured Dancers: Amanda Dees, Elizabeth Gardner, Shawday Graves, Jamie Miller