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Oh, What Thinks the PPP Thinks!
It’s Dr. Seuss’ 100th birthday anniversary, and the Poplar Pike Playhouse is bringing his timeless tales to the stage with the Memphis and Mid-South area debut of Seussical the Musical. Dr. Seuss’ colorful stories of wild odysseys and exotic lands have intrigued millions and introduced countless children to the world of literature. The Poplar Pike Playhouse is pleased to carry on Suess’ legacy with a production sure to delight the entire family, from the smallest of small to the tallest of tall!
Just off its national tour and Broadway run, Seussical comes from the same Tony award-winning duo that brought you Ragtime and Once On This Island, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. The show is a musical re-imagining of Seuss’ most familiar works. The plotline follows the faithful Horton the Elephant through the misadventures made famous in Horton Hears a Who. While lounging on the fifteenth of May in the Jungle of Nool, Horton hears a cry for help from a tiny dust speck and pledges to keep the miniature planet of Who out of harm’s way. He is helped along the way by his lovesick neighbor Gertrude McFuzz and a wide range of whimsical characters. Among them are the mischievous Who boy JoJo, the glamorous Mayzie La Bird, the meddlesome Wickersham Brothers, the soulful Sour Kangaroo and the honorable Judge Yertle the Turtle. Driving this fanciful tale of self-discovery and true friendship is that beloved master of imagination the Cat in the Hat.
As one of the first non-professional productions of this mammoth musical in the nation, the PPP hopes to give audiences of all ages a feast for the senses as well as food for thought. Like most of Dr. Seuss’ stories, Seussical contains a much more profound message than is obvious on the surface. The show touches on themes of loyalty, true friendship, imagination and family. Horton’s poignant ballad “Alone in the Universe”, JoJo’s magical tune “It’s Possible” and the Cat in the Hat’s jazzy “How Lucky You Are” add depth to the show while keeping viewers totally entertained.
Tickets for this Memphis/Mid-South area premiere of Seussical are now on sale. The show opens at the Poplar Pike Playhouse on May 6th and runs through May 22nd. For information, call the Poplar Pike Playhouse box office at 755-7775 between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The Poplar Pike Playhouse is the theatre complex located on the campus of Germantown High School. The corporate sponsor for the production is Trust One Bank.
The Poplar Pike Arts Guild, the support group for the Playhouse, will sponsor an opening night benefit on May 6th. The prices of the tickets for this special performance and reception are $18 and $20 and may be purchased by calling Jean Hinds at 757-4508. All other ticket purchases can be made by calling the Poplar Pike Playhouse box office at 755-7775.
The cast for Seussical includes Cara Austin, Séra Babakus, Sarah Bare, Vicki Beall, Brian Berry, Blake Brewer, Jeremy Byrd, Amy Culbreath, Jake DeFur, Tiffany Fluellen, Stephanie Forshee, Matthew Gabriel, Nina Galindez, Corinne Germain, Danny Gomez, Eula Hinds, Beth Hoag, Jeffrey Ingram, David Lawhon, Lauren Levins, Gina Micheletti, Brittany Mickens, Courtney Mickens, Tricia Mickens, Archie Mitchell, Mario Pendarvis, Joshua Polk, Emmi Ramey, Stephanie Shotwell, Masha Skobeleva, Greg Stephen, Ryan Sweeney, Dan Taylor, Kirie Taylor, Melissa Tillman, Mallory Trenor, Tucker Wade, Patrick Warren, Anthony White, and Erin Williams.
Seussical the Musical is directed by Frank Bluestein and Leonid Mazor. Mary Lee Gilliland is musical director, and Elizabeth Anne Brown is the choreographer. The scenic designer is Mary K. VanGieson, and Amy Hagan is the scenic artist and graphic designer. The costume designers are Brenda Bluestein, Casey Smith, Lynette Gilbert and Peggy Burgan. Ashleigh Williams is associate director and assistant choreographer. Jeff White is the assistant director. The orchestra conductor is Lanny Byrd. Joe Haslwanter and Jack House are the technical directors. Chris Hair and Andy Johnson are the set supervisors. Ernest Newbern is makeup designer and Dusty Evans is the properties designer. Ted Horrell is the sound coordinator, Allison Rogers is the costume coordinator, and Jeff White is the props coordinator. Gail Ridenhour is the business manager for the PPP.
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