Seussical The Musical (5 out of 5)

This is Thomas Gasu as The Cat in the Hat. I'm on the right.

Regardless of my own personal stories and experiences Seussical is one heck of a show. It is great and has to be watched more than once. Anyone who tells you that this musical is anything short of great has a gun to their head or hearing things. I'm going to tell you about Seussical The Musical here at the Empress.

The story line is great as always, how can anything by Dr. Seuss be horrible... oh right, Mike Meyers' Cat in the Hat... but that isn't the case here. In fact, this is the total opposite of it. The storyline is adapted by a separate writer (not Dr. Seuss) and draws from many of Dr. Seuss original stories. The main story is a beautiful mix of both Horton Hears A Who an Horton Hatches The Egg. Horton is fulfilling both story lines at once all the while several story lines are also taking place. This is not to say that the entire musical is based on a string pf separate stories that never get finished. in fact the stories that are presented come full close and even present a sense of 6 degrees of separation. Focusing on Horton we see him as he protects the Who's from the Jungle Creatures and court, Hatching an egg through a traveling circus, hunters and a terrible storm. We also zoom in on Who-ville to meet a retired Grinch, Mr Mayor, Mrs Mayor and their thinking son Jojo who is also the main character from the intro to the show. Jojo gets thrown into war and giant mishaps happen. All the while the Cat in the Hat is playing the narrator, minor characters, and Jojo's (along as our) guide. The show, songs and even the set have many references from the works of Dr. Seuss. We hear about Sneeches on Beaches, Truffula trees, Judge Yertle the Turtle, The Battle of Butterhill, McElligot's pool, The Places You'll go and a large number of even more references.

The acting in this musical is fantastic and top of the line. Although most of the time you will be focusing on the Cat's antics you will be introduced to many characters along the way. Mayzie is a self-centered beauty who does her own thing, Gertrude is ever vigilant and trying to win the heart of the ever so innocent and kind Horton. Many of the characters seem to just have been born from these books as the actors have don't a fantastic job of capturing the essence of Seuss. Apart from the main characters it should be noted that you keep and eye out for the background characters that give and breathe even more life to this storybook tale brought to life. In numbers you will find the wanna-be-G's Wickersham Brothers picking up random things and eating them and even passing them along to be eaten by another. The Mayzie wanna-be Bird girls constantly fighting with one another for the spotlight (yet never taking it from Gertrude or Mayzie), you will find them pushing each other or fighting for the love and attention of the Cat in the Hat.

The singing is fantastic. The voices are powerful and passionate in two words (3 if you count "and"). They envelope a lot of emotion and enunciation is great... and that's just the solos and small group numbers. The giant group numbers are fantastic with various lyrics being sung at the same time, all the while creating a sense of chaos on stage.

The choreography is great, although when compared to previous plays such as Joseph, they can seem simplistic. A lot of the solo number are mostly standing in places, although the magic truly comes from the larger group number which just like the singing causes amazing chaos on stage. This is not to say that its unorganized, in fact it is the total opposite. With so many characters on stage, your eyes will be wandering catching so glimpses and funny moments such as Horton running and hiding from the Sour Kangaroo and the Sour Kangaroo running right past him, Wickersham Brothers flirting with the Bird Girls and even the Cat in the Hat just waving a red flag of war or fishing. Although one number is simply genius and nothing short of genius. Having a Hunch (which I will not describe) will not only catch your eyes and ears it will creep you out in many ways. as you watch you will be enveloped in a dark atmosphere and the music will send a chill through your back. Truly a one of a kind experience that makes the entire production even better.

The costumes are great and colorful. Whether you are watching the jungle creatures, whos, Bird Girls or the Wickershams you can absolutely tell who belong where. With the costumes creating more cartoon-like people rather than creating animals on stage you can still feel a Seuss like atmosphere to each character. Whether you are looking at the psychedelic Sour Kangaroo, the overall wearing pair of Gertrude and Horton or the Tuxedoed up Cat in the Hat.

Technically the show is great as well with Lights truly adding to the show. Whether in the darkness of Having a Hunch, the green jungle setting or blue ocean of McElligot's pool the Lights add an essence of awe. You will even see shooting stars on stage. Sound does a great job as well using high quality minus tracks provided by the MT Pit of Utah. And even the stage is well drawn. It feels like a Seuss book expanded on stage along with the Field of Clovers drawn out in the first act. Also put an ear out for some sound effects such as bird chirps and dog growls as an example.

Overall the show is great and perfectly done. I give this production 5 out of 5 stars. the actors personify the characters well, great singing, fantastic choreography and little bits and tidgets that will make anyone who sees this show more than once (which I highly suggest) smile and giggle with glee.

Seussical Thoughts

So I'm here at opening night for seussical. Its going on as I sit here and type this, but why am I not watching it? Well I was, I came to finally relax and watch it in peace and see how well sound was going to be ran. It was kelly's show now and I wasn't required to work on it since as of thursday my job as sound designer was over. Last guy got into trouble for going up to the sound booth so I decided to avoid that and just try to peacefully watch the musical.
Yeah Right, I never even stepped foot into the audience as I was going to just listen the show because I didn't want to deal with Glen's smug little face. So as I sit outside in the lobby just talking to Bob and listening to the show, Glen pops out and orders me to fix some mic problem that's going on. Now, I hate Glen with a passion, but I love the show, so for the sake of the show I take care of it and take the mic up to Kelly the Stage manager to see what she can do. As I turn around to return to the lobby I see the one thing that made me oh so happy. Trent is up in the sound booth with the sound operators, that gave me a little peace of mind, why? Well during my time as Sound Designer I was constantly having problems with the mics, volume balance, and just all around cue problems, All the time getting yelled at, glared at, insulted at and receiving death threats from Glen. My self esteem was shot to hell, my own abilities are doubted by me and my stress level was through the roof all because I couldn't find the balance.
So seeing Trent up there made me feel good, if anyone could fine the balance, it was Trent.
So after that little ordeal I decided to head up to the rehearsal room and kinda just post this, considering that I hadn't done a proper post in a long while. All the while, listening to the magic that is the great and wonderful show, Seussical The Musical (while receiving musical help from Trent).
Now, Why do I hate glenn with a passion?
Well, he's a jerk to technical crew. He doesn't understand that we are handicapped because we are dealing with DVD audio rather than our regular computer. He tells me he can't hear a balance, but won't tell me what he want. He tells us he wants music louder, but when we make it louder, it is TOO loud. Then the DVD won't cooperate and messes up the last cue and that his junior high students could do our job better than us (then bring them over so I can call it a night). That's basically it, well there's more but I've vented what needed to be vented. Although I have heard that as a director he is a great guy, but that's only word of mouth.

Scott Richardson

So today I was ordering my graduation pictures online. I was doing it last minute and I found out that I could order anyone's graduation picture. My curiosity was peaked and started looking around until I found his picture.
Scott Richardson.
He was my friend since 5th grade. He was the first person to talk to me when I moved to Magna, He would then become my friend for life. Always busy and aspiring to become a doctor Scott is determined to become someone great, not that he already isn't, and he worked for it. He sacrificed his drama classes in order to take medical classes at the GTI during high school and constantly worked to pay for school and to have fun. This drained time and energy from him, yet he always found time to be with his friends.
He eventually made time to be able to come to my improv show at The Empress (I was running sound that night) and that night he told me he was leaving in two days to go join the Army. They were going to pay for his medical schooling. I told him he was brave and that I wouldn't be able to do that, I hate the military, and for that I salute him.
These pictures are from graduation, I found them online and kinda took them for myself (I didn't order them, just a screen shot). I'm afraid of not seeing him again, I know I won't see him for at least 4 years. I hope he contacts me somehow... maybe through and e-mail or a text message. I just want to be sure that he is alive and well.
He has only been gone a couple of weeks... I miss him already. He was like a brother, like my own blood.
Please, keep Scott in your prayers (regardless of believes, he deserves that much) and hope for his safe return.

My Dear Graduating Class

My dear graduating friends. We are all in a transitional period. A period where we truly change from child and adolescent into adults. we are trading in our naivety for awareness. We are truly learning the meaning of the words The Real World.
Myself for example. and I am sure many of you can relate. I have lost the one thing that has kept me sane the last 3 years, my drama class. I forum for similar minds and my sanctuary. a place where no one could hurt me, and if I was hurt, a place where I could heal. The one place I could walk into and find someone who knew my name. Yet, as a graduate, I too had to say my good bye to the drama class.
The real world is a place more vicious than we realize, but its not to say its scarier than what we've already been through. many of us have faced puberty, lost a parent or loved one, had a friend move away and have maybe once or twice contemplated suicide. But we are all still here, moving on in life, some of us to become a doctor, a lawyer, an electrical technician, a navy seal or maybe even just another average joe. But what is it that has kept us here still? perseverance? luck? maybe even both or even an unnamed item, but all in all, Friendship.
Friends are what drive us to be ourselves, to better ourselves and to lower ourselves. Friends are what keep us sane when everything goes wrong and what makes us insane when everything goes correctly. You may come to find that friends in the real world are easier to lose than to gain. For every two friends that leave, we find comfort in one. And when we see that that one friend is suffering we try to better ourselves in order to help them. We push ourselves to the limit and do whatever thoughts come to mind that even hint at being helpful, yet sometimes its not enough. The thought counts, but our actions still need to impact... but they don't always.
This is when we realize that the real world is hard. it is harsh and if you let it, it will eat you alive. But it will only do it if you let it... and that's by doing everything yourselves. you have to accept help and learn to ask for it.

Don't let yourselves be alone, don't reject help from others, don't forget your friends. Remember my graduating class... although this message is months late, that it is friendship that has kept us strong, let it be what helps you grow stronger.