1214 Foundation's Production of 'Seussical' - My Review

Not even torrential rains could dampen the spirits of the audience that packed Newtown High School's auditorium for opening night of the 1214 Foundation's production of Seussical. Michael Baroody, MD, the founder and president of the foundation, thanked everyone who came out to support the 84 young performers involved onstage and the 20 behind the scenes. He spoke of the importance of the young performers having the opportunity to interact with the audience (and each other) as a way of healing and how the adults involved encouraged them to have higher expectations for themselves in order to achieve excellence. Throughout the rehearsal process, each and every member of the two casts worked hard with commitment and dedication to bring this production to the stage. The mission of the 1214 Foundation is to build a landmark Performing Arts Centre in Newtown that will serve as a remembrance with a focus on improving the lives of young people exposed to tragic events.

Lynn Aherns and Stephen Flaherty's Seussical was chosen by Director/Producer Michael Unger because it is joyous and tender, but also because of "its universal themes of loyalty, protection, longing, courage and perseverance." Ms. Aherns and Mr. Flaherty actually did some re-writing for this production of Seussical - Theatre for Young Audiences, making it a custom-tailored, Newtown version of Seussical. The lyricist also sent a message in rhyme to the cast and crew that appeared in the program. Mr. Unger goes on to liken the speck of dust in need of protection that Dr. Seuss' writes about in Horton Hears a Who to the town of Newtown. This group of young actors and the professionals who worked with them are "fiercely protecting it in this musical with tender, yet strong hands."

There are two complete casts; the Lorax cast got to do opening night (the show I attended) and the Saturday matinee, while the Sneetch cast will do the Saturday night show and the Sunday matinee. Only the dance ensemble, Max the Dog (played by Cosmo Unger) the large youth ensemble and the star of the show, John Tartaglia, get to be in all the seventy-five minute performances. Given the level of talent that was only display in the Lorax cast, I can only imagine that the alternate cast will be just as good.

Of course the tiniest members of the cast, who were blessed with two "child supervisors," were adorable whenever they were onstage. It seemed to me that a concerted attempt had been made to include them as much as possible and their staging was perfect. Many of them had at least one costume change and they had several entrances through the house, much to the delight of the audience. The musical numbers ranged from the frantic "Monkey Around" when the Wickersham brothers chased Horton throughout the house to the wistful "Solla Sollew" by the full company.

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Very talented teens played most of the lead roles and each move that they made was polished by their directors. Preteen Jane Shearin was perfectly cast and simply adorable as Jojo. There is so much talent in this little lady. Kyle Watkins played a convincing Horton the Elephant and had an outstanding singing voice. Brianna Bauch was the perfectly perky Gertrude McFuzz and could easily move on to the role of Glinda in Wicked. Kirsten Liniger was another fine singer as the lazy Mayzie La Bird. Juliana Koziol knocked out the vocals of the Sour Kangaroo and wore an amazing costume/hairstyle. Kieran Minor and Marina Kolitsas were terrific as the Mayor of Whoville and his wife.

Some roles were super sized to accommodate more actors. The Wickersham brothers were five in number and all impressive. The Bird Girls were six young ladies dressed in bright colors and feathers and sang together beautifully. The lovely dance ensemble, choreographed by Jennifer Paulson Lee, was a nice touch.

As the only Equity Member, everyone knew that John Tartaglia would be amazing; some audience members may have purchased a ticket simply to see him in the role of the Cat in the Hat. The students in the cast brought their performances up to his level...not an easy task, because Mr. Tartaglia is supremely talented and has extensive theatrical and puppeteering credits to his name. He was a charming, mischievous Cat, but he also played many other characters throughout the show. One was funnier than the next, and included The Grinch, a judge (for which he voiced a puppet of Yertle the Turtle,) and an auctioneer that interacted with the audience. By far my favorite was when he played Jose, a pool boy to the vacationing Mayzie. This generous actor worked so well with the slew of young actors with whom he shared the stage for the last five weeks and brought his star power along.

Musical Director Jeffrey Saver conducted the large orchestra of volunteer musicians that sat onstage at the back of the set. They sounded as a professional orchestra should and from that position allowed the actors to hear every note. The amazingly Seuss-like set designed by Leanne Luetkemeyer, a children's book artist, among other things, was whimsical and fun. It was incredibly lit by Herrick Goldman, making the NHS stage look like it has probably never looked before. Newtown High School's Choral Director Jane Matson served as Associate Director.

I truly did not want the show to end. There was tons of supportive cheering at the curtain call so I suspect that others felt the same way. There are three performances left; if you can get a ticket, I encourage you to come out and support this great cause while enjoying an excellent production of a great show for young and old enough to have seen it before. The production team of Broadway professionals deserve a big thank you for all the hard work that went into making the summer so wonderful for all the young performers involved and their families.