SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL to Play Centers for the Arts Bonita Springs

"Oh the thinks you can think if you're willing to try." So says the beloved Dr. Seuss, entertainer of children and their families (and a slew of grown-ups, too) for decades.

Southwest Florida families and their children will most certainly enjoy Center for the Performing Arts of Bonita Springs new production of the Seussical the Musical this weekend, performed by a talented and hard-working cast of kids who've been working hard all summer long under the direction of Dee "Momma Dee" Betcher. Betcher is a regular at The Sugden Theatre where she received the The Edna Springer Unsung Member Award. Music direction is by Carolann Sanita and choreography by Jennifer Johnson.

Dive into Dr. Seuss' Jungle of Nool filled with his unforgettable characters like The Cat in the Hat (Callie Gilmore), Horton the Elephant (Maddie Owens), The Grinch (Aiden Thayer), Gertrude McFuzz (Abby Corcoran), Mayzie La Bird (Nydia Brown), JoJo (Abby Ciabaton) and the adorable Thing 1 and Thing 2 (Delaney Back and Lucy Smith).

Seussical is a charming piece of theatre, appropriate for all ages. Classic stories and familiar rhymes remind us to listen and to love, to stand up for your fellow Whoville-ians, to be loyal, and to never underestimate anything-even a speck of dust.

The cast includes Johncarlo Arredondo as Yertle the Turtle, Madison Brown as Lion, Joshua Gersbach as Bear, Christine Mazuryk as Sour Kangaroo, Peyton McManus as Mrs. Mayor, Kendall Schad as Mr. Mayor, Allyson Mihelich as Leopard, Nicole Ribeiro, Kristen Noble and Marianna as the Bird Girls, Adaela Amick, Gianni Gizzi, Cassie Grossarth, Skyler Moore, Lorelai Vega as the Wickersham Brothers, and Jinze Burgess, Jordy Caballero, Zoe Ciabaton, Marcus Durand, Avery Kalina, Ella McGilvrey, and Tucker Mills as Citizens of Whoville

Rilie Scott serves as Intern Director and Michelle Stegawski as Intern Stage Manager). Production staff includes Callie Gilmore and Sue Gilmore (costumes), Abby Ciabaton (hair design), Jodie Fox (set design) Eric Condit and Bill Gilmore (construction), James Corbett and Lyrics Parker-Bernet (projections design), Bonnie Thayer and Meredith Condit (props), Martin Towne lll and Dominic Vigliotti (technical direction), Alexandria Pfent and Caitlyn Conway (lights/sound), and Christine Grossarth (volunteer coordinator).

Center for Performing Arts is located at 10150 Bonita Beach Rd., in Bonita Springs, Florida, two blocks west of Old 41 Road. Showtimes are Friday & Saturday, August 11 & 12 at 7:00PM and Saturday & Sunday, August 12 & 13, 2:00PM. Tickets are $15 general admission, $20 for reserved seating. 239-495-8989. Visit www.artcenterbonita.org for more information.