A wide range of local talent is coming together May 12 and 13 to put on "Seussical: The Musical" at North Battleford Comprehensive High School.
The ensemble is made up of the Battlefords Children's Junior Choir, Battlefords Children's Preparatory Choir, the Kamala Youth Choir and the King Street Station Jazz Band. Diane Gryba and JoAnne Kasper are the artistic directors. Also aiding in the production are Sherron Burns, Kali Weber and Becky Tucker, local artists who are creating sets, props and costumes and Stephanie Ballendine, a former Kamala Choir member who is choreographing sections of the musical. Parents of singers in the choir are also contributing in whatever way they can.
Seussical is a musical that made its Broadway debut in 2000. It is written by Lynn Ahrens, with music by Stephen Flaherty. The two have previously collaborated on Once on This Island, which was nominated for eight Tony Awards, and Ragtime, which was nominated for 12 Tony Awards and won Best Original Score. Seussical was itself nominated for a Grammy award in the category of Original Broadway Cast recording.
The plot of Seussical interweaves and incorporates a wide range of Dr. Seuss books, but generally follows the plot of Horton Hears a Who. A large number of well known Dr. Seuss characters, from the Cat in the Hat to the Grinch, are characters or make cameo appearances.
Tickets for Seussical can be purchased at Sobeys Customer Service and at Battleford Furniture Ltd. Adult tickets are $20, sSeniors' tickets are $17.50, and tickets for anyone 18 or under are $15.
