When Dr. Seuss once said “You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut,” he must have been talking about Gloucester High’s family-friendly spring musical “Seussical.” Beginning Thursday April 6, GHS students will put on a show containing all of your favorite Dr. Seuss stories into one that will make everybody smile from ear to ear.

“After months of rehearsing, we’ve managed to create this magical Dr. Seuss World. And it’s amazing to see what the show looks like because we have put so much work into it,” said Karlee Hynes, who will be playing The Cat in the Hat. “I’m so excited to perform this show, it’s so good. And I hope everyone comes to see it.”

Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, both Tony award winners, created a story which incorporates characters such as Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie, and Jojo, a little boy with a colorful imagination. The audience is taken through the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.

 “I am pretty excited, and I know that all of the cast will agree that the hard work through these past couple of months has really paid off,” said senior Steven McGrath, who is playing Horton “It’s hard that it is my last show because I have only been in the program for two years and seeing the bonds I’ve made in the short amount of time makes me imagine what it could’ve been like if I was here longer. I’m really going to miss all of it.”

The play is based on the Cat in the Hat, who narrates the story of Horton. If you did not see Horton Hears a Who, Horton is an elephant who discovers a speck of dust which contains a small town called Whoville. In “Seussical”, Horton finds Jojo, who is being sent to military school in Whoville for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton takes on the challenge of protecting the Who community from the rest of the pessimistic, danger-filled world. He is also left with the objective to care for the abandoned egg of the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird.

Throughout his journey he is forced to endure the hate of others, dangerous obstacles, cynics, a kidnapping, and a trial, with only Gertrude McFuzz to support him during his expedition. But in the end, friendship, the help of others, and trust conquer the dangers of the world in order to help those who need it.

“Seussical has just been so much fun,” said Jessica Ruggles, the theater director and teacher at GHS. “The high energy from the cast fits perfect in the world of Dr. Seuss.”

So open your eyes and take the time to see what the students put their hard work and dedication into.

Showtimes:

Thursday, April 6 @ 7:00 P.M.

Friday, April 7 @ 7:00 P.M.

Saturday, April 8 @1:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M.

General admission: $15

Students, staff, and seniors: $8

For a discount, go to https://gloucesterhighdrama.blogspot.com/ to buy your tickets for only $12 at general admission.

Note: All elementary school students were sent home with coupons that allows families to purchase four tickets for only $20.