University City High Drama Students to Perform Seussical The Musical

You're never too old to enjoy the odd and wonderful works of Dr. Seuss.

That's why the theatre department at is bringing to the stage this month. The plot of the school's spring musical is based on a mish mash of characters from Dr. Seuss books such as Horton Hears a Who!, The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories, focusing mostly on Horton the elephant's story of discovering a tiny village of people. 

The show begins on Friday, Feb. 25 at 7pm and repeats Saturday at 2pm and 7pm. An additional elementary school student matinee on Feb. 24 will serve as the final dress rehearsal.

"We were really lucky this year," theatre director Caroline Ibnabdeljalil said. "Seussical is a deceivingly hard show. We have very strong singers and dancers this year."

At the beginning of the school year, Ibnabdeljalil knew she wanted students to perform either Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat or Seussical in the spring, depending on the level of talent the students showed.

"I know that the students in those productions are incredibly talented, and it's great to watch high school students be able to express themselves through drama," said Linda Russell, the school district's Director of Communications. "They’re an impressive group of kids ... They put so many hours of work into those productions."

Set against the partially completed backdrop of a student-constructed set, complete with Dr. Seuss book covers painted on wood, the cast worked on polishing their dialogue and musical numbers like "Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!" without a script on a recent Wednesday evening. 

"You have to have endurance to make a successful musical," said Demetrius Clayton, a junior playing the role of Horton. "It's difficult sometimes, but I can make it work."

For Armani Cross, playing Sour Kangaroo has been a growing experience. Overcoming stage fright proved a challenge, especially considering her character's outspokenness.

"My character really belts it out," Cross said.

Cross, a junior, hopes to become a famous entertainer.

Likewise, a senior playing The Cat in the Hat -- the show's narrator -- looks forward to higher education and a career in the arts. Javon Jordan enjoys ad-libbing and improvising, which is provided for in the script.

"You get to be really expressive and keep them entertained," Jordan said. "You have to make the character your own. You can't just read lines on the page."

Jordan auditioned and was accepted to the dance program at Columbia College in Chicago.

For Alexis Jones, performing carefully choreographed dance moves as Gertrude the bird is a piece of cake.

"It's not that difficult," Jones said. "It would be harder if I didn't like to dance."

A sophomore, Jones looks forward to graduating from high school and moving away from the St. Louis area for college.

Participating in stage productions provides a valuable experience for high school students, Ibnabdeljalil said.

"A lot of these students aren't in athletics," Ibnabdeljalil said. "It's enriching, positive and challenging. You have to completely dive into the book and enthrall yourself into it."

Adult tickets to Seussical will cost $8. Seniors, children under the age of five and students with ID get in for $5. All shows will be held in the University City High School auditorium.