The Middletown High School drama department is putting together Seussical the musical preparing to be ready for audiences on March 20th, 21st, and 22nd.
One of the Wickersham Brothers, Evelyn Johnson said that the missed rehearsals due to the multiple snow days Frederick County Public Schools had during the month of January has affected the production saying that they were still ¨stumbling our way through.¨
Missing those music rehearsals had this impact due to the show being structured like an opera in the sense that it is almost entirely sung through, and any dialogue in the show for the most part has underscoring.
Another added challenge to this year’s show according to Evelyn Storer who plays the Sour Kangaroo is how high energy the show is. Saying that it ¨takes a lot of stamina,¨ due to just how ¨cartoonish¨ and ¨high energy¨ the characters are.
The tech crew have also worked hard to get this show stage ready. One of the stage managers, Jamie Geisbert says that one of the biggest challenges for tech this year has been ¨the circus coming to town.¨ Which is a challenging set change that occurs during Act two when Horton gets taken from the jungle to the circus.
Despite the missed music rehearsals, and the other challenges the cast have faced, according to the Cat in the Hat, Tristan Vail the show is ¨really working¨ as it all comes together. Caleb Witcomb who plays Horton also added that the sitzprobe or the first rehearsal with the pit ¨made everything come together and showed that all of what we have worked on so hard is actually something that´s pretty good.¨
The crew also believes that the show is coming togther. Giesbert said that while tech is ¨always important to a production, this year the costumes and the flow of the set changes have impacted this production the most.¨ Also stating that she is excited to ¨train and pass the torch to the next stage managers.¨
This show is also different from previous spring musicals, by having fifth graders from the community as a part of the cast. While the high school does open up auditions towards the middle school and elementary schools for A Christmas Carol every four years in the fall, the spring shows don’t usually feature anyone besides the high schoolers in the cast.
Many members of the cast have enjoyed this part of the show. Aurore Stuark who plays Jojo said that being a ¨role model for the fifth graders¨ has been one of her favorite parts of this year’s production, as going to the high school and participating in shows was ¨kind of how I started theater.¨
Storer said that she had been ¨very lucky to have a younger counterpart¨ as her kangaroo has a young kangaroo. Storer said that ¨it’s been great getting to bond with her and see young people get so excited about theater.¨
Giesbert said that ¨the fifth graders bring energy to the show and awesome personalities.” She also said that she was ¨glad¨ that they were invited to perform in the show.
This show will also be longtime director Susan Thornton´s last production at Middletown as she will be retiring at the conclusion of Seussical. Thornton said that it is ¨very sad¨ knowing that is her last show at M.H.S. but that it is ¨wonderful to see another show come to life, because the talent here at Middletown is so incredible.¨
The cast and crew are sad to see her go. Storer says that ¨She has really been a mentor¨ to her throughout her ¨theater journey.¨ Storer hopes that Thornton ¨enjoys her retirement from MHS drama.¨
Giesbert says that Thornton has been a ¨great mentor and influence to all¨ and said that while she is sad that Thorton is retiring, ¨she has left a legacy here at Middletown for all to admire.¨
