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Ouachita to present "Seussical" as spring musical April 19-22

April 06, 2018 - Jessica Williamson

Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts will present one of the most performed shows in America, Seussical, where Dr. Seuss’ best-known characters collide in an unforgettable musical. The book is by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, with music by Flaherty and lyrics by Ahrens.

The show’s opening performance will be held on Thursday, April 19, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center. Performances will continue April 20-21 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee Sunday, April 22, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased from the OBU Box Office for $12 each. Ouachita students may get one free ticket with their student ID.

Seussical tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for “thinking too many thinks.” Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, but the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. His struggles highlight the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community.

“I’m super excited for Seussical. It’s my senior year and last time performing at Ouachita, so this show will be really special to me,” said Hannah Hines, a senior musical theatre and mass communications double major from Russellville, Ark., who plays JoJo. “Seussical is a fun show! We’re having a lot of fun rehearsing it and we hope it’ll be just as much fun for the audience to watch.”

“The cast has been working incredibly hard to put together this fun and heartwarming musical,” said Will Stotts, a senior musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark., who plays Horton. “My character, Horton the Elephant, is like nothing I've played before, which is sweet and innocent. But it's so fun to step into his shoes! (Actually, he doesn't wear shoes. They're figurative shoes). I think the audience should be prepared to have a ton of fun, but should also be prepared to learn a valuable lesson!"

“It’s a fun show without a doubt. It’s colorful and silly, but under the surface, the writers have crafted a very touching story that deals with meaningful themes, including connection and the power of imagination,” said Drew Hampton, assistant professor of theatre arts and director of the musical. “Similarly, I believe there is a tremendous amount of power and poignancy in Horton’s repeated lines ‘a person’s a person no matter how small’ and ‘I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful 100 percent.’”

A musical such as this requires many moving parts and many hours from dedicated faculty, staff and students.

In addition to Hampton, other lead production team members include: Music Director Dr. Jon Secrest, professor of music; Choreographer Grace Hampton, Ouachita alumnus; Assistant Stage Director Andrew Martin, a senior theatre arts major from Hot Springs Village, Ark.; Stage Manager Nadalie Gill, a senior theatre major from Price, Texas, who will be assisted by Ashton Spence, a sophomore theatre arts major from Marion, Ark.; and Accompanist Susan Monroe. Co-Dance Captains are Lauren Terry, a senior musical theatre major from Evansville, Ind.; Dylan Blackwood, a junior musical theatre major from Walnut Ridge, Ark.; and Bonnie Gentry, a sophomore musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas.

Tickets may be purchased at the OBU Box Office in Jones Performing Arts Center on weekdays from 1-5 p.m. or online at www.obu.edu/boxoffice. For more information, call the box office during business hours at (870) 245-5555 or email [email protected].

By Jessica Williamson

April 6, 2018

Cast members:

Cat in the Hat: Michael Peré, a senior musical theatre major from Roland, Ark.

JoJo: Hannah Hines, a senior musical theatre and mass communications double major from Russellville, Ark.

Horton: Will Stotts, a senior musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark.

Sour Kangaroo: Zachary Myers, a junior musical theatre major from Greenwood, Ark.

Mayzie: Kenzie Henderson, a junior musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas

Mayor: Scotty Scott, a senior musical theatre major from Russellville, Ark.

Mayor: Esther Atkinson, a senior musical theatre major from Rogers, Ark.

Bird Girl: Hannah Hill, a sophomore musical theatre major from Alexander, Ark.; Lauren Terry, a senior musical theatre major from Evansville, Ind.; and Autumn Romines, a sophomore musical theatre major from Cabot, Ark.

Wiskershams Brothers: Dylan Blackwood, a junior musical theatre major from Walnut Ridge, Ark.; Micah Brooks, a junior musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas; Logan Dooley, a sophomore musical theatre major from Allen, Texas; Jacob Hemsath, a senior musical theatre major from Wylie, Texas; Jesse Robinson, a junior musical theatre major from Lewisville, Texas; and Cody Walls, a senior musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.

Gertrude: Mackenzie Holtzclaw, a senior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.

General Schmitz: Clay Mobley, a sophomore music industry major from Wylie, Texas

Ensemble:

Hannah Anderson, a freshman musical theatre major from Austin, Texas

Bawo Asagba, a freshman musical theatre major from Murphy, Texas

Matthew Burns, a junior musical theatre major from Benton, Ark.

Anna Darr, a senior musical theatre major from Alexander, Ark.

Elizabeth Dawson (Vlad), a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.

Melodie DuBose, a freshman musical theatre major from Minden, La.

Hannah Earls, a freshman musical theatre major from Alexander, Ark.

Jessica Elliff, a junior musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark.

Michaela Finley, a junior musical theatre major from Cedarville, Ark.

Bonnie Gentry, a sophomore musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas

Lizzy Griffin, a senior musical theatre major from Pittsburg, Texas

Caleb Harris, a sophomore musical theatre major from Griffithville, Ark.

Emily Johnson, a junior musical theatre major from Benton, Ark.

Ryan Lynch (Grinch), a freshman musical theatre major from D’Hanis, Texas

Alex Marrin, a sophomore musical theatre major from Greenwood, Ark.

Paige Price, a freshman musical theatre major from Plano, Texas

Kristi Roshto, a sophomore musical theatre major from Alexandria, La.

Hannah Saunders, a senior musical theatre major from St. Paul, Ark.

Emily Siemens, a sophomore musical theatre major from Bentonville, Ark.

Anna Joie Valdez, a senior musical theatre major from Terrell, Texas

Cedar Valdez, a sophomore musical theatre major from Rogers, Ark.

Sharayah Wallace, a sophomore musical theatre major from Bryant, Ark.

Rachel Webber, a senior musical theatre major from Longview, Texas

Jhonika Wright (Yertle), a junior musical theatre from Arkadelphia, Ark.

Emorie Carozza, age 10, from Arkadelphia, Ark.

Production Teams

Costumes

Designer: Christina Johnson, visiting assistant professor of theatre arts

Crew Head: Sam Elmore

Crew Members: Hannah Anderson, Anna Crane, Elizabeth Dawson, Michaela Finley, Jacob Hemsath, David Hudson, Emily Johnson, Destiny Kirkham, Zach Myers, Sharayah Wallace, Jhonika Wright

Makeup/Hair