Revised 'Seussical' to Play Off-Broadway; Starts 7/19

Variety reports that Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's Seussical will be presented in a new, revamped production by TheaterworksUSA.

Based on works by beloved children's book author Dr. Seuss, Seussical - with a book by Ahrens and Flaherty, music by Flaherty and lyrics by Ahrens - will play a free, monthlong run at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre beginning on July 19th. 

"In some odd way, I feel like this is the definitive version.  When we cut it down from the Broadway script to become the TYA (theatre for young audiences ) version, we suddenly loved the show more. It seemed purified," said Ahrens.  The 2000-2001 Broadway production "suffered bad reviews, designer and director changes, and the collapse of original backer Livent," but a revised full-length two-act version has since become wildly popular with schools, stock companies and amateur groups.  The TYA Seussical, running at 85 minutes, and the upcoming children's version Seussical Jr. will soon appear in numerous US venues.

Directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge, the new Seussical will be somewhat scaled down.  According to the article, "Instead of the glitzy design elements that got the Broadway production labeled 'eye-searing' by the New York Times, the show now has an everyday aesthetic. It rains when actors shoot squirt guns, and Gertrude McFuzz, a vain little bird, adds 'feathers' to her tail by tying shirts around her waist."  Flaherty is glad that the new production will "let the imagination fill in the gaps."

The production, which previously toured in 110 cities, has already become popular with its sales, and Theaterworks managing director Ken Arthur reported that 18,000 of the free seats have already been reserved.   Due to its high running costs (12 actors instead of the average 6 found in Theaterworks productions and a weekly budget that is more than 1 1/2 times what the group usually spends), there is some financial risk.  "For us, this is a major undertaking.  It has less of a profit margin. But 'Seussical' was still successful for us because it sold out everywhere," said Arthur, who hopes that commercial New York producers will want to stage the show elsewhere.

Seussical, featuring characters such as The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Who and Mayzie LaBird, ran at the Richard Rodgers Theatre from November 30th, 2000 through May 20th, 2001.  It starred Kevin Chamberlin, Janine LaManna and Michele Pawk, among others, while such stars as Rosie O'Donnell and Cathy Rigby appeared as the Cat in the Hat later in the show's run.

The show will be presented as part of Theaterworks' annual series of free summer theatre.

Visit www.theaterworksusa.org for more information.