The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant and other favorite Dr. Seuss characters will come alive on a local stage through a heartwarming musical. 

Area children and adults, led by director Allison Blanford, are teaming to produce the G-rated “Seussical Jr.” through Richmond Civic Theatre’s Stage One Youth Theatre. 

The 75-minute shows take place March 1-3 and 8-10. 

According to RCT staff, the Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos.

Horton must protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers. He also must guard an abandoned egg that irresponsible Mayzie La Bird left in his care.  

Although Horton faces ridicule, danger and a trial, Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant. 

Liberty Elementary School second graders provided art for the theater’s lobby. Their teacher is Cathy Bartos.   

“Seussical Jr.” cast, crew

Cast: Dawson Jurgens, Za Fecher, Jonathan Marsh, Ada Smoker, Alessandro Santiago, Lilly Coblentz, Peyton Bain, Lucas Miller, Gabriella Benns, Charleigh Kamps, Kameron Richert, Daniel Herzog, Leah Evans, Isabelle Hampton, Allison Hamilton, Rowan Bailey, Adelina Burket, Lena Allen, Lotus McAdams, Olamide Benedict-Araba, Xephyniah Harrison, Zai Aire Harris, Bristol Sams, Maya Hamilton, Clara Lipps, Syrus Stohler, Bella Larsh, Winry Sandlin, Norah Staifer, Greta Royer, Allister Bergfield, Lily Royer, Sam Royer, Rileigh Kamps, Hope Royer, Danika Martin, Cara Blunk, Alivia Leyes, Xylon Martin, Olivia McCullough, Caleb Norris, Sophie Royer, Tori Morris, Leilani Roosa, Lilli Girdley, Madeleine Edwards, Emmett Yingst 

Production team: Allison Blanford, Andrea Marsh, Trudi Weyermann, Barb Blanford, Kim Shipley, Alaina Harris, Simon Clopper, Tricia Sheridan, Julie Pickett, Charity Hawkins, Chastity Hinshaw, Aaron Clarke, Ryan Shaw

Crew: Tammy Bertsch, Cailene Webster, Alaina Webster, Evan Bain, Jenna Larsen, Ben Sexton, Sean Andreas, Noah Homer, Nicole Morris, Cooper Smith, Emily Hawkins, Ryan Shaw, Kipton Smith, Traci McCollum, Ashley Beckett, Cathy Guthrie, Ella Jaynes, Olivia Allen, Penny Smoker, Amanda Stuckey, Susan Arnett, Whitney Kaehr, Sunshine Rankin, Jill McKellar, Nicole Andreas, Ezekiel Andreas, Aureana Andreas, Alli Blunk, Micah Blunk, Cara Blunk, Titus Blunk, Sophie Royer, Greta Royer, Sam Royer, Lily Royer, Hope Royer, Rileigh Kamps, Claire McCullough, Olivia McCullough, Olivia Allen, Erica Kretchman, Cameron Kretchman, Alejandra Salazar, Lillyn Tompkins, Zoe Kennedy, Lorelai Bever-Ripberger, Jah’Kyah Sloan, Aubree Stomm, Josephine Wessel-McCoy, Darian Schmaeng, Pam Woods, Mike Woods, Alexis Heaston, Sophia Heaston, Leslie Royer, Ryan Shaw, Duke Silver, Karen Dubai, Teresa Smoker, Peyton Bain, Nathaniel Arnett, Ron Blanford, Mickey White, Aaron Clarke, Doug Wambo, Kyle Zajdel, Joel Zajdel

If you go

  • What: “Seussical Jr.” 
  • When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays (March 1-2 and 8-9); 2 p.m. Sundays (March 3 and 10)
  • Where: Richmond Civic Theatre, 1003 E. Main St., Richmond
  • Cost: Advance, $13 adult, $8 students/seniors 65-plus. Tickets are $2/$1 more on show day, respectively. 
  • Tickets: gorct.org or 765-962-1816
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A version of this article appeared in the February 28 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.

Millicent Martin Emery is a reporter and editor for the Western Wayne News.