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Overview
Synopsis
A musical perfect for the whole family, Seussical takes us into the world of Dr. Seuss, where we revisit beloved characters including The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie, and JoJo. The Cat in the Hat guides us into The Jungle of Nool where we see Horton, the kind hearted elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whoville. He meets JoJo, a Who child sent to military school for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton decides he must protect the speck of dust on a nearby clover, while at the same time protecting an abandoned egg left to his care by the lazy Mayzie la Bird. Horton tries to convince the other animals in The Jungle of the existence of the Whos, but he is ridiculed and put on trial for insanity. Only his loyal neighbor, Gertrude McFuzz, never loses faith in him. Eventually, the two fall in love.
Now one of the most widely produced musicals in the country, Seussical weaves a story of friendship, loyalty, and love. Despite all odds, Horton and Gertrude band together to save the Whos, free Horton, and restore peace and unity to the Jungle of Nool. Charming Seussical teaches us the power of being unique, and the importance of fighting for your beliefs.
Show Information
- Book
- Lynn Ahrens , Stephen Flaherty
- Music
- Stephen Flaherty
- Lyrics
- Lynn Ahrens
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2000
- Genres
- Comedy, Fairy Tale/Fantasy
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- a fantasy world called the jungle of nool, anytime
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Musical Staging
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Child, Early Teen, Elderly Characters
Context
Seussical is a conglomeration of stories written by Dr. Seuss (the pen name of Theodor Seuss Geisel), one of the foremost authors of American children’s literature in the twentieth century. He wrote 46 children’s books, and his affinity for fantasy and his clever rhyme schemes have had a profound impact on American culture. Seuss’s stories had previously been adapted for the screen, and this stage adaptation (which primarily draws its plotlines from the stories “Horton Hears a Who!,” “Horton
to read the context for Seussical and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
As Seussical begins, a “strange red-and-white striped hat sits on a very empty stage.” A boy wanders onstage and notices it. He wonders aloud who would wear such a hat and upon surmising that a cat might wear it, the Cat in the Hat suddenly appears onstage. The Cat tells the Boy that he has quite a mind for his age, having used only his Thinks to summon him. The Cat introduces the Boy to the world of Dr. Seuss, the characters who will appear in the musical, and what story is in
to read the plot for Seussical and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Either Gender |
Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Baritone |
Songs
Act One
- Oh, the Thinks You Can Think – Cat in the Hat, Company
- Horton Hears a Who – Horton, Bird Girls, Jungle Creatures
- Biggest Blame Fool – Sour Kangaroo, Horton, Wickershams, Bird Girls, Cat, Gertrude, Mayzie, Jungle Creatures
- Here on Who - Mayor, Mrs. Mayor, Grinch, Horton, Whos
- Oh, the Thinks You Can Think (Reprise) – Cat
- It’s Possible – JoJo, Cat, Fish
- How to Raise a Child – Mayor, Mrs. Mayor
- The Military – Schmitz, Cadets
- Alone in the Universe – Horton, JoJo
- The One Feather Tail of Miss Gertrude McFuzz – Gertrude
- Amayzing Mayzie – Mayzie, Bird Girls, Gertrude
- Amayzing Gertrude – Gertrude, Bird Girls
- Monkey Around – Wickershams
- Chasing the Whos – Sour Kangaroo, Bird Girls, Horton, Wickershams, Jungle Creatures, Whos
- How Lucky You Are – Cat
- Notice Me, Horton – Gertrude, Horton
- How Lucky You Are (Reprise) – Mayzie, Cat
- Horton Sits on the Egg – Bird Girls, Horton
- How Lucky You Are (Reprise 2) – Horton, Gertrude, Cat, JoJo, Company
Act Two
- Entr'acte – Orchestra
- Egg, Nest, and Tree – Sour Kangaroo, Bird Girls, Wickershams, Jungle Creatures
- Circus McGurkus – Cat, Circus Members
- How Lucky You Are (Reprise 3) – Horton
- How Lucky You Are (Reprise 4) – Mayzie, Cat
- Amayzing Horton - Mayzie
- Alone in the Universe (Reprise) – Horton
- Solla Sollew – Horton, JoJo, Mayor, Mrs. Mayor, Circus Animals
- Green Eggs and Ham – Cadets, JoJo, Schmitz
- Grinch Scene – Grinch, Whos
- A Message from the Front – Cadets, Mr. Mayor, Mrs. Mayor
- Alone in the Universe (Reprise 2) – JoJo
- Havin’ a Hunch – Cat, Hunches, JoJo
- All for You – Gertrude, Cat, Bird Girls
- The People Versus Horton the Elephant – Sour Kangaroo, Wickershams, Cat, Judge Yertle the Turtle, Bird Girls, Horton, Gertrude, Whos
- Alone in the Universe (Reprise 3) – Gertrude, Horton
- Oh, the Thinks You Can Think (Reprise 2) – Full Company
- Green Eggs and Ham (Bows) – Full Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
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Key Terms
A play, musical, or opera that has been adapted from a written work.
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