Seussical revival

[michael.jubak]

Now I know this is farfetched here but it's something that needs to happen!  I think the show failed when it first came out for a few reasons, first of all, it has a faulty score, however it can be easily fixed I think.  Second, let's face it, David Shiner was a good idea for cat in the hat, having a clown play him and all, but let's be honest, he didn't do too well, and really seemed forced https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36b07-zZZ8A&list=RDMMp0vSj5zzoMM&index=5

Third of all, it should be in a smaller theater, the Richard Roger's theater was not right for Seussical, too big.  If it's gonna succeed, it needs to be down-sized a bit.  Fourth and finally, costume changes.  This goes without saying.  Now I know what you're saying "It makes too much money from schools to be put back on broadway" sure it's popular among schools and childrens theater, but still, this needs to be put back on broadway, and it needs to happen soon.  Plus I think it being done by so many schools in the past will draw more of an audince.  People who have been in it in the past will want to see it on broadway, right?  But how can Seussical survive the most effectively?  A better cast!  I will put a really stupid dream cast below, feel free to leave yours!  (try to avoid A listers, because let's face it, Neil Patrick Harris is not going to be the cat in the hat).

 

Cat In The Hat: Christian Borle (like I said, stupid dream cast)

Horton: Norbert Leo Butz

Gerttrude McFuzz: Annaliegh Ashford

JoJo: Anthony Rosenthal

Mayzie LaBird: Ana Gasteyer (does she count as A list do you think?)

Sour Kangaroo: Tracie Thomas

Mayor of Whoville: Brian D'arcy James

Mrs. Mayor: Donna Murphy

General Ghengis Khan Schmitz: David Hyde Pierce

Tell me what you think!

 

[Itonlytakesajourney]

I'd beg to differ, Seussical doesn't really need to be revived. 

It's cute and that's all it really is

[adamgreer]

Donna Murphy is not going to be in any production of Seussical, and certainly not as Mrs. Mayor, which is essentially an ensemble role. 

[michael.jubak]

I know lol, just a dream cast, I know that the revival won't happen and certainly not with this cast

[michael.jubak]

valid point

[dramamama611]

Let the rest of the middle schools produce it. Really, the only thing it's suited for.  The Jr Version is far superior.

[bwayobsessed]

I think a version with more Gertrude and Mayzie less of everything that's not Horton could be superior.

[Deedee23]

dramamama611 said: "Let the rest of the middle schools produce it. Really, the only thing it's suited for. The Jr Version is far superior."

I agree, dramamama. There's no good reason for Seussical to ever come back to Broadway.

[SNAFU]

When Seussical first ran the Producers knew it wasn't very good from the beginning. What they did was fire the design creatives thinking that was what was wrong. They were in fact very wrong. The show just wasn't that great or really Broadway material.

 

[Alfie6]

I don't see this coming back for a long long time (maybe City Center in a few decades down the road), I saw Rosie in the original for my 12th birthday and she was fantastic I think I love the show just because I remember it with her.  

[gypsy101]

lol your dreamcast is hilarious, “no a listers but let’s put people who have several tonys in the ensemble of seussical”

tbh this is really just a mediocre show. you’d have thought it would have succeeded since the amount of people that love Seuss is (i assume) hundreds of millions of people. leave it to the kids (i’ve unfortunately had to sit through two junior versions in the last few years and find it exhausting)

[raddersons]

I have a really soft spot for Seussical... it’s so cute and fun! I wouldn’t mind an off-Broadway production at New Victory or New World Stages for a few months, so it can give the Gazillion Bubble Show a break. But Broadway?? Don’t take away Rosie’s big break. 

[HamilHansen]

Cat In The Hat- Christian Borle, agreed

Horton- James Monroe Iglehart

Gertrude McFuzz- CYNTHIA. FRICKIN. ERIVO

Mayzie- Amber Gray

JoJo- Anthony Rosenthal, agreed

Schmitz- Either Lewis Cleale or Chris Sieber

Mr. Mayor- Christopher Fitzgerald

Mrs. Mayor- Probably an unknown

[HamilHansen]

OH! I forgot. She wouldn't do it but I'd LOVE Amber Riley as the Sour Kangaroo

[BroadwayMan5]

I was at a workshop with Lynne Ahrens recently and somebody asked about Seussical and she said there's no desire to mount a professional revival because (and I'm paraphrasing), the first run was such a painful and bad experience but they've felt vindicated by the life and success it has had in regional and amateur theaters

[dramamama611]

bwayobsessed said: "I think a version with more Gertrude and Mayzie less of everything that's not Horton could be superior."

 

 

Which is pretty much what Seussial, Jr. IS.

 

[nasty_khakis]

I've heard the Weisslers talk about regretting firing the wrong people and placing the blame in an endless circle instead of just going back to what worked in the original workshop. They essentially blamed the online boards, which were new at the time for poisoning them and the show in general. They'd read "the costumes for so and so were ugly!" on here and they took that to mean "fire the costumer!"

They said they should have originally gotten Equity wavers to do what the Grinch ended up doing-- multiple matinees a day (10am, 2pm, 5pm) since those always sold out, but they couldn't give away tickets to the Tuesday night show.