'Acceptance' at core of 'Seussical' the musical, to be performed next week at River Campus

Classes are out of session, but Kenn Stilson and his students have been putting in more hours than usual producing "Seussical" the musical, which Stilson describes as "a big box of Crayola crayons."

Costume designer Matt Buttrey, left, works with volunteer Chelsea Mangan on a feather outfit for Vlad Vladikoff in "Seussical" at the costume shop of the Department of Theatre and Dance on Wednesday at the River Campus. (Fred Lynch)

The show will be the featured performance of Southeast Missouri State University's second annual River Campus Summer Arts Festival. Stilson said the hours they're putting in are comparable to what would be considered a typical River Campus show, but concentrated to a few short weeks.

"During the regular academic year, you're surrounded with distractions," he said. "In a summer situation like this, this is what we do. For the next three weeks, my 100 percent focus is this."

The show itself revolves around the story of Horton the elephant, a pensive pachyderm who runs into trouble trying to protect a tiny community of Whos whom no one else can hear.

Like the children's books from which the musical draws, the silliness and color aren't just for show; they're used to make a point more palatable.

Nick Hart helps dress the stage for "Seussical," which has several performances at the River Campus' Rust Flexible Theater. (Submitted photo by Kenneth L. Stilson)

"[Horton's] an outcast from society because he hears and sees things that [the other characters] don't," Stilson explained. "But it's about acceptance more than alienation."

Jose Alpizar, who plays Horton, says the show is emotionally resonant to audiences of all ages.

"We're creating this whimsical world, but there's those underlying messages," he said. "A person's a person, no matter how small. There's definitely that emotional core."

Ellen Carr, who plays the one and only Cat in the Hat, says it's been different trying to portray a character she grew up reading about, especially since the emotions are more apparent than they seemed as a child.

"It's really weird. As a kid, you read the stories, but it's weird putting yourself in their shoes, going through all of the stuff that they go through," she said.

And on top of it all, there's a heavier-than-usual song-load in "Seussical."

"There are a lot of songs that are split up by dialogue," Alpizar explained, which sometimes makes the entire show feel like one extended song.

"It's a lot altogether," he said. "Your energy has to be up all day."

How do they do it?

"Lots of espresso shots," Carr admitted.

Patrice Nelms, a sophomore theater-design tech, works on a sidedrop for "Seussical" in the Rust Flexible Theater on Wednesday at the River Campus. (Fred Lynch)

Which makes sense, given the show's rhyme-happy exuberance.

"It's so much fun," Stilson said. "And it's written for everybody. It's a show that's going to appeal to anybody. We all grew up on Dr. Seuss."

Dr. Seuss books referenced in the musical include "Horton Hears a Who!," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," "The Lorax," "Green Eggs and Ham," "Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories," "Horton Hatches the Egg," "I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew," "McElligot's Pool," "Hunches in Bunches," "If I Ran the Circus," "The Butter Battle Book," "Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!," "The Cat in the Hat," "The Sneetches and Other Stories," "Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?," "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" and "One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish."

The musical is written by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.

Southeast graduate Jennefer Warfield works on scenery in the run-up to the presentation of "Seussical." (Submitted photo by Kenneth L. Stilson)

In addition to Stilson, the production team includes Hilary Peterson, choreographer; Jeffrey Leutkenhaus, scenic designer; Matthew Buttrey, costume designer; and Jonathan Allender-Zivic, lighting designer and technical director.

The cast and crew total more than 50 children, Southeast students, alumni, community members, outside professionals, faculty and staff.

Jess Love adjust costumes for "Seussical." (Submitted photo by Kenneth L. Stilson)

Performances, which will take place in the Rust Flexible Theatre on the River Campus, are scheduled at 7:30 p.m. June 18, 19, 25, 26 and 27; 2 p.m. matinees June 21, 27 and 28; and a 10 a.m. performance June 26.

Tickets, which are $20, may be purchased by contacting the River Campus box office in the Cultural Arts Center, 518 S. Fountain St., weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by calling 651-2265 or by visiting RiverCampusEvents.com.

tgraef@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

518 S. Fountain St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.