AUDITIONS: May 18, 19 & 20
Preview: July 9
Performances: July 10-12, 16-19 & 23-26
Audition Info
6pm – 7pm – Children’s auditions (may bleed over into Adult audition times)
7pm – 10pm – Adult auditions
What will be expected of Auditioners:
Children – 10 yrs. Or older
- Prepare 16-32 bars of an appropriate musical number, bring the sheet music, and accompanist will be provided
- Auditioners will be expected to perform a dance audition of a vigorous nature – please dress accordingly…
- Auditioners will also be asked to read a brief section of a Dr. Seuss book…
- Auditioners will also be asked if they would like to demonstrate any special talents they feel may benefit the production (unicycle work, tumbling, magic, etc…)
Adult Auditioners
- Prepare 16-32 bars of an appropriate musical number, bring the sheet music, and accompanist will be provided
- Auditioners will be expected to perform one of two dance audition options
o One of a vigorous nature – please dress accordingly…
o One more movement based – please dress accordingly…
- Auditioners will also be asked to read a brief section of a Dr. Seuss book…
- Auditioners will also be asked if they would like to demonstrate any special talents they feel may benefit the production (unicycle work, tumbling, magic, fire swallowing, etc…)
Cast Requirements
Major Characters
- The Cat in the Hat (M or F –varied adult age) – The mischievous, imaginative, comedic narrator of the show. The Cat acts as a mentor to Jojo throughout the play. The Cat also plays several other characters in the story, including the Bailiff in “The People vs. Horton The Elephant,” Mr. McGurkus, Jose the Pool Boy in “Mayzie in Palm Beach,” Doctor Dake in “Amazing Gertrude,” a piano player imitating Louie Armstrong, an auctioneer, and others. Cat will often break the Fourth Wall for comedic effect and will be interacting with the Audience in an improvised nature.
- Horton the Elephant (Male – variable adult age) – The main character. While the Cat gets top billing, Horton is the heart and soul of Seussical. He is described as a thinker and an outsider, almost a blue-collar worker. He tries to protect the Whos and care for the egg Mayzie leaves behind even though the animals think he is crazy. He and Gertrude become the parents of the elephant-bird.
- Gertrude McFuzz (Female – variable adult age) – The loyal bird-neighbor of Horton, she loves him but is shy due to having only one feather for a tail. She has major insecurities about her tail and seeks help from Mayzie La Bird because she has a tail Gertrude envies. Horton eventually falls for her and she becomes the adoptive mother of the elephant bird in the end.
- JoJo (M or F – possibly double cast – variable child age) – A thinker, the child of The Mayor and Mrs. Mayor, gets into trouble for thinking. He and Horton bond over the fact that they are outcasts because of what they do (Horton protecting the Whos and Jojo’s “thinks”). He is appreciated in the end.
- Mayzie LaBird (Female – variable adult age) – A vivacious and vain bird who tells Gertrude to take pills so her tail will grow longer, forcing Horton to love her (Gertrude). She is the mother of the elephant-bird Horton and Gertrude adopt but she abandons him and goes to Palm Beach.
- Mr. Mayor (Male – variable adult age) – The Mayor of Whoville, JoJo’s father. Mr. Mayor is the source for the never ending happiness in Whoville. Mr. Mayor is faced with several problems such as his town falling from the sky, dealing with his son’s crazy thinks and finding out his son was lost at war.
- The Sour Kangaroo (Female – variable adult age) – The main antagonist of Seussical. She thinks that Horton is a fool for thinking that there is life on a speck of dust. She is generally seen as “nasty and cruel” as she states in Biggest Blame Fool. She is the Mother of the Young Kangaroo.
Supporting Characters
- Mrs. Mayor (Female – variable adult age) – The Mayor’s wife, Jojo’s mother.
- General Genghis Khan Schmitz (M or F –varied adult age) – The general of the Whos’ military. S/He leads Jojo to war against the Butter-Side-Downers.
- The Wickersham Brothers (3 Males – variable adult ages – must be athletic~!) – Three mischievous monkeys who steal Horton’s clover from him. They work as henchmen for the Sour Kangaroo.
- The Young Kangaroo (Female – variable child age) – The Young Kangaroo does everything Sour Kangaroo does.
- The Bird Girls (3 Females – variable adult ages) – The Bird Girls are a type of Greek chorus who are Mayzie’s friends. They act as the narrators when the Cat in the Hat is not around.
- The Grinch (Male – variable adult age) – The Grinch is a notable member of Whoville, known for organizing their Christmas pageant.
- Yertle The Turtle (M or F – variable adult age) – Yertle is the judge of the jungle, appearing at the beginning of the show and in “People vs Horton the Elephant”
- Vlad Vladikoff (M or F – variable adult age) – A cameo role. He is hired by the Sour Kangaroo to steal Horton’s clover. Due to his cameo role, he may also be in the ensemble.
- The Hunters (2 or more M or F – variable adult age) – They hunt and capture Horton. They take him to New York City and auction him to the Man from the Circus.
Kids Choir (Two Kids Choirs of 10 children each – they WILL be on stage and active nearly 100% of the show – we will be splitting the performances between the two choruses)
- The Whos – Citizens of Whoville, idealistic citizens of a “pleasantville”-type town. Also included in this category are The Cadets, boys in Schmitz’s military.
- The Jungle Creatures – Flexible movers who appear as dancers and singers in jungle scenes.
- Hunches – These are representations of Jojo’s thoughts, and are controlled by the Cat in the Hat.
- Circus Performers – Acts in the Circus McGurkus. Clowns, animals, gymnasts – they sing backup in “Solla Sollew”.
- AND MANY OTHERS~!
Tony winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (LUCKY STIFF, MY FAVORITE YEAR, ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, and RAGTIME) have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie, and a little boy with a big imagination–Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos. The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many “thinks.” Horton faces a double challenge–not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping, and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family, and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.