Seussical, Jr. Cast Members Recall Memorable Experiences

Middle School students who recently took part in the highly successful Middle School production, Seussical, Jr. share their unforgettable experiences as cast members.

Orly Brooker, grade 8:

Being part of the MS production of Seussical Jr. taught me lifelong lessons that I will forever cherish. First, of course, was the nail-biting audition process followed by the wave of joy when I realized I had been given a role. After that I began one of the most amazing journeys of my life. I was surprised when I got my role and I knew I would have a challenging time getting in touch with my character. I was looking forward to the challenge. One aspect I greatly enjoyed about being a part of Seussical was how easily the barrier between the grades seemed to disappear as the cast bonded and friendships were built and strengthened. When I slipped into my costume for the first time, I felt like my character, Mayzie La Bird straight away. Mrs. Weeks put so much time into designing and creating the costumes, and I really began to appreciate what she had done for each character and the show. I learned from her dedication. The entire ensemble became so involved in the show and we became a family. There are so many messages and morals within the Dr. Seuss stories, such as, ”a person’s a person no matter how small,” which applies to everyone. We were taught about loyalty and fidelity from Horton the Elephant when he said, “I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An Elephant’s faithful 100%”. When the final bows were taken and we shed some tears of sadness, it was worth every minute of the hard work it took us all over the nine weeks.

Joshua Cohen, grade 8:

It has been a powerful experience to come to a new school and to be slammed into such a generous role such as Horton the Elephant. I must admit, I was nervous to audition. I wasn’t sure that I would even make the cut, being new. The best part of all, by far, was everything that happened behind the curtain in the making of the show. Whether the brows furrowed in a desperate attempt to remember a line or the initial palpable energy passing between the actors before we finally burst out and the show begins and takes on a life of its own. Nothing could be more fun or exciting than being part of an ensemble in a show!

Lara Khoury, grade 8:

It was a real honor to be in the Middle School production of Seussical Jr this year. I learned so much, and it was really a challenge every day, every moment, every minute and every second. There was always something new to learn and add to our characters. Being an ensemble is very important in theatre. We grew together as a cast and worked as one to create a wonderful experience for both the cast and the audience. This musical was a great hit and took a lot of hard work from everyone. Thank you, Mrs. Weeks, and everyone who helped to put on this show.

Iman Khoury, grade 6:

Finally it was Friday, the day of our first performance. I prepared with everyone else, by getting into costume and make up. We were all extremely excited and nervous to see what our hard work would turn out to be like. I was a jungle citizen with a comfortable African costume and a whacky hairstyle. Seussical was my first show where I acted, and I enjoyed the experience very much. My acting skills have improved, and I hope I can do this again next year.

Mila Freeman, grade 6:

To me, being in Seussical at school was something that I’m never going to forget, and it will always be with me. It was such an amazing experience for me because I learned so much. Every single day I was there it felt special, and I was so excited to be there to rehearse. Even when I wasn’t needed for rehearsal, I didn’t get bored while I was there. I was always happy. The character I was given made me stretch myself so much and taught me how to become more comfortable on stage. I was so depressed when it came to an end. I miss the cast!

Laetitia Butler, grade 8:

Being a part of the Seussical ensemble, I learned that everyone is equal -- whether you’re a jungle citizen or Gertrude McFuzz. Everyone is relying on you to put on a good show. If you mess up a dance step or some lines, the audience will not notice if you keep acting. When we were in our costumes, with make up and hair done, we realized it was finally here. All our hard work was ready to put to the test. We had butterflies in our stomachs. It was great to be invited to perform at “The Night of the Opera” for one last time. We had grown as a company and closer together.