Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music and Department of Theatre Arts will present the musical Seussical, based on the books of Dr. Seuss April 15-18. Performances will be held in Jones Performing Arts Center on Ouachita’s campus at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 15-17, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 18.

Dr. Jon Secrest, OBU professor of music, serves as the show’s musical director and Daniel Inouye, OBU assistant professor of theatre arts, serves as the show’s stage director. Mary Handiboe, OBU associate professor of theatre arts, serves as costumer for the show, and Eric Phillips, OBU professor of theatre arts, serves as technical director and scenic designer. Joey Licklider, manager of Jones Performing Arts Center, will also assist with lighting and sound. Secrest said they chose the play based on many different factors.

“Anytime we select a show we must first consider the strengths and weaknesses of our performing forces,” Secrest said. “We also must consider the financial impact each production will have on the budget and whether or not we will cover the expense of a show through ticket sales. People may not realize how costly it is to mount a full production with costumes and orchestra.”

The production includes a cast of more than 30 students in scenes depicting some of Seuss’ most memorable stories such as Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who and the Grinch. The original play debuted in 2000 with lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty and book by Ahrens and Flaherty.

Rehearsals began in January with the cast taking seven weeks to learn the music alone. “The dialogue in Seussical is nearly all accompanied by music or related to music in some way,” Secrest said, “so it is a very involved show musically.”

Lead members of the cast include: Michael Krikorian, a senior musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas, as the Cat in the Hat; Jacob Watson, a junior musical theatre major from Wynne, Ark., as Horton; Rachel Street, a senior musical theatre major from Mahomet, Ill., as Gertrude; Krysteena Koiner, a senior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark., and Lauren Casteel, a junior musical theatre major form Garland, Texas, are double cast as JoJo; Haley Broadaway, a senior musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark., as Mayzie; Sam Parrish, a senior musical theatre major from Forney, Texas, and Cortnie DeVore, a senior musical theatre major from Beebe are double cast as Sour Kangaroo; Jody Lee, a senior musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas, as General Schmitz; Daniel Collier, a senior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark., as Mr. Mayor; and Heather Baker, a senior musical theatre major from Cleburne, Texas, as Mrs. Mayor. The three students playing the Bird Girls are Katie Edenfield, a senior voice major from Fort Worth, Texas; Ashley Partridge, a senior musical theatre major from Baton Rouge, La.; and Kathryn Kellogg, a junior musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark. Doug Brady, a junior musical theatre major from Saginaw, Texas; Kyle Huey, a senior musical theatre major from Grapevine, Texas; Xavier Lagunas, a sophomore musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas; and Greg Schwartz, a senior theatre arts major from Texarkana, Texas, will be playing the Wikersham Brothers.

Members of the chorus include: Brooke Ault, a junior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.; Taylor Bass, a sophomore musical theatre major from Houston, Texas; Molly Brown, a senior musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas; Patrick Copeland, a church music major from Mansfield, Texas; Rachel Harris, a junior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.; Katelyn Helton, a freshman musical theatre major from Grand Prairie, Texas; Rudy Jones, a sophomore theatre arts major from Smackover, Ark.; Michelle Lackey, a sophomore musical theatre major from Decatur, Texas; Shay Michael, a sophomore musical theatre major from Grapevine, Texas; Steven Miller, a senior theatre arts major from Westminister, S.C.;  Moriah Patterson, a junior musical theatre major from Sheridan, Ark.;  Lynley VIre, a senior musical theatre major from Searcy, Ark.; Adam Wheat, a senior mass communications major from Ruston, La.; and Josiah Wheeler, a junior music education major from Jacksonville, Ark.

The show also calls for a large production crew. “Every student cast in the production also fills a technical role of some kind,” Secrest said.

Grace Whitaker, a senior biology major from Hillsboro, Texas, is serving as choreographer for the production. Moriah Patterson and Taylor Bass serve as dance captains.

Cessany Ford serves as the show’s stage manager. Cortnee Stewart, a junior theatre arts major from Ward, Ark., and Brooke Ault serve as assistant stage managers.

Members of the costume crew are Michele Beach, a freshman musical theatre major from Trophy Club, Texas; Katelyn Helton; Michelle Lackey; Kelly Lester, a freshman chemistry major from Bismarck, Ark.; Shay Michael; Amanda Murray, a freshman musical theatre major from Racine, Wis.; and Alyssa Thomas, a freshman musical theatre major from Malvern, Ark.; with Sam Spradling, a junior theatre arts major from Italy, Texas, serving as crew head.

The makeup and hair crew includes Rachel Harris and Lynley Vire with Heather White, a freshman musical theatre major from Houston, Texas, and Bethany Swiontek, a freshman musical theatre major from Colorado Springs, Colo., serving as crew heads.

Members of the props crew are Callie Chancey, a freshman musical theatre major from Branson, Mo.; Rudy Jones; Beth McGowan; and Steven Miller; with Alexis Pace, a freshman musical theatre major from Sugar Land, Texas, serving as running crew head and Taylor Bass and Molly Brown serving as props masters.

The scenery crew includes Michael Krikorian, Jody Lee, Steven Miller, Amanda Murray and Sam Spradlilng.

Alison Johnson, a freshman musical theatre from Shreveport, La., and Josiah Wheeler will assist the JPAC crew with lighting and sound.

Katie Willhite, a junior theatre arts major from Rowlett, Texas, is box office manager. Hannah Beth Midkiff, a freshman musical theatre major from Grandview, Texas, is house manager. Adam Wheat will provide poster and program design. Other members of the publicity crew are Alyssa Eskelsen, a freshman musical theatre major from Grandview, Texas, and Moriah Patterson.

Ouachita students will also serve as orchestra members. They are John Ashburn, a junior music education major from Monroe, La., and Bradley Lindsey, a freshman music education major from Longview, Texas, on saxophone; Carrie Brown, a senior piano major from Knoxville, Ark., on keyboard; Deborah Caldwell, a sophomore music education major from Siloam Springs, Ark., and Chris Sumner, a junior music education major from Needville, Texas, on trumpet; Nathan Courtright, a junior music major from Rowlett, Texas, on guitar; Alex Goff, a sophomore music major from Nashville, Ark., on saxophone; Brandon Knight, a junior Christian studies major from Searcy, Ark., on guitar; Andrew McCraw, a sophomore music education major from Fort Worth, Texas, on trombone; Elyse Senteney, a sophomore music education major from Plano, Texas, on flute; and Ruthie Stoner, a sophomore performance major from McKinney, Texas, on clarinet. Trey Gosser, a freshman music major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Paul Hill, a sophomore music education major from San Marcos, Texas; and Josh Lee, a junior business major from Hot Springs, Ark., will play percussion. Susan Monroe and Linda Thompson, staff accompanists, will join the orchestra on the keyboard.

The show is open to the public and tickets are $10 per person. Tickets may be purchased by visiting or calling the JPAC box office weekdays from 2-5 p.m. or online at http://obu.edu/finearts. For more information, contact the box office at (870) 245-5563 from 2-5 p.m.

By Julie Hagar