"Seussical" Rocks!

Round Rock High School's Fine Arts Department opened their musical, "Seussical" tonight.

Folks, this is a heck of a show.

Round Rock's musicals are always impressive, but this is over the top.

The show was originally written and produced on Broadway, but didn't do very well. It may not be glitzy enough for the Big Apple, but it's musically pretty mature for high school. The songs are not simple, and, I confess I was not at all sure our school had the voices for it.

I should not have worried. All the songs are beautifully sung, and I could understand every word. The chorus was fantastic, and the soloists, outstanding.

Michael Fariss as The Cat in the Hat is frenetic and brilliant. His characterization owes something to Joel Grey in "Cabaret," and his Cat is sophisticated and edgy. While not actually a dark character, you sense that he could be. This is the same young man who played Conrad in "Ordinary People" in the Fall. What a range of talent he has!

Other stand-outs are Alex Langley as Mayzie La Bird (and Ashley Jergins, Jaclyn Joseph and Logan Wright as the Bird Girls). These voices are far more developed than I would expect from high school girls. And, speaking of high school girls, remember the name Rebekah Wachhoiz. Her Sour Kangaroo brought down the house. Hannah Dunnington as Gertrude McFuzz showed just the right blend of innocence and maturity. Matthew Campbell as JoJo has a great future in theater, both dramatic and musical; and Paul Wilding and Morgan Quezada as his parents have a harmonic blend of voice that you would expect to hear in a couple who had been singing together for years.

There is another trio that stands out--the Wickersham Brothers; Aaron Lofton, Ammon Wilding and Cameron McKnight. These three danced and sang their way into my heart.

However, no matter who wears the hat, the star of the show has to be Horton, played by Garik Cotton. Horton's steadfast courage and strength shine forth with utter conviction in the voice and acting of this young man. He is golden.

Nathan Graves as General Gengus Khan Schmitz is another outstanding voice.

The dancing is excellent, the singing even more so, and the staging simple and effective.

The light design is lovely and deserves a mention of its own. Good job, Charles Hobby and the PAC Staff!

There are three more performances, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 PM. Plan on getting there by 6:45, because there will be a line for tickets. Plenty of seating, and all of it good, but you do not want to be late for this.

Congratulations to Johanna Whitmore, the Director, and the entire Fine Arts Department.

And all the kids, both in high school and the younger ones, particularly Ben Carneiro (whose name I heard being tossed around the lobby after, due to his very expressive acting as a Who Child), and Olivia Lord as Cindy Lou Who.

I haven't even mentioned Nathaniel Hailu, Eric Isenhower, Nicholas Orzech as The Grinch, Yertle the Turtle and Max the Dog, respectively, and the dynamic duo of Blake Dunnahoo and Rebecca Reap as Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Heck with it. Go see the show. There is a cast of 75 very talented kids here, telling a story that deserves to be told.

I think the tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students.

Cheap at twice the price.