The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 94, No. 17, Ed. 1, Friday, October 14, 2005 Page: 16 of 28

                                
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HOMECONHNfi MUSICAL
Friday Octobtr 14 2005
HOMECOMING MUSICAL
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OH TH SOffQS YOU CM 5IYG
Mayzie LaBird played by Annika Johansson relaxes on a tropical island after the passes off the
responsibility of caring for her egg to Horton (Jeffrey)
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H The Theatre Department begins the first of three
weekend shows ol the Homecoming Musical
"Seussieal" on Friday at the Abilene Civic Center.
By MALLORY SHERWOOD
MNVCISC IlllTOR
Audience numbers cm return to childhood
and arrive In the magical .md imaginative world
of Dr. Swiss and his belov cd characters w ith the
opening of the HomecomiiiK Musical Sumui
Scmskiil created by lony ward winners
Lynn Ahrens and Stephen llalurty weaves
together famous characters and stories irom
Or Suiss' children's books creating a hit on
Broadway and an exciting show for the bilcne
community.
Dr. Adam Hester chair ol the Ihcatie Do
partment and director of Seussieal said in an e
mail that the musical delivers a lun and heart
lelt message through an exciting story. He said
It is kid friendly yet it appeals to adults and
has great music and ilcver story tilling
Hen Jeff re senior theatre major fiom Kan-
sas City Mo  who plays a lead as Horton the
elephant agrees.
A 10 time performer at the university in his
theatrical career Jeff rev said he tompares .Si'-
imtoi to the motion picture Shwk because ol
the childlike delimits and profound thenies
intended for every age.
Jeffrey said the audience can look forward
to a great show with good dancing musk a fun
siript and dynamite performances by the cast.
Hester said Ihe play oflcrs diversity and many
surprises leaving the audiuiie wondering what
will happen neM. lie said the Cat in the Hat char
acter will llv over the audience and a ramp will
iMend over the
pit orchestra
'We've pulled
the stops" lies
ter said "lhls
is the musical to
see. We're doing
terrilie special clleets we've got a dynamite
east and we're giving it our all
He said although he may be exaggerating
the fact that people will talk about Seussieal
lor the next 100 years a will still be a fantas
lie show to see.
Jclfrcy said Acimniis musically different than
other musicals because it incorporates a plethora
of diilcrent music styles such as pop pop rock
gospel R&B and ragtime. Seussieal allows the au
dience use its imagination and is upbeat.
Seussieal is a celebration of Dr. Seuss' imagi-
"W'e'ie doing temfic special effects we've got
a dynamite cast and we'ie giving it our all."
Dr Adam Hester chair ol the theatre Department
nation and creations and is comprised a or ti-
student cast ol theatre majors Including the
Cat In llie Hat performed by Jason Kennedy 
lunior horn Abilene elephants monkeys a
kangaroo several birds Including1 Gertrude
Mtlu. performed by lara Seibert senior
from (rapevine and Mav le I aKird perlormcd
by nnika Johansson senior from Amarillo
Other memorable Dr. Scuss characters Include
the mayor and
residents of Who
ille the Grinch
Judge erlle the
turtle and Mad
Madlkoff.
Hester said
the variety of cast members makes the musi-
cal culling
"It's been exciting to create that seamless
quihtv ol moving Irom one moment Into the
next as we deliver a single story that is actual-
ly an amalgamation ol many stories" he said
lie said rehearsals have gone exceptionally
well and spirits and anticipation are high lor
opening night. He said the cast Is talented and
has made rehearsals fun and exciting despite
set backs it has endured.
Hester said the cast has suffered several in-
luries such as sprained ankles as well as ill-
nesses associated with colds and allergies that
go with West lexas weather changes.
Jeffrey and Hester said Ihey hope ticket
sales increase as the opening night approaches
Alter an unusual turn of events that occurred
in August when the original musical was can-
celled after a casting controversy ticket sales
are beginning to gather momentum.
Hester said Seussieal Is close lo approach-
ing regular ticket sales but that tickets arc
still available.
Jeffrey said cast numbers had a dilficult
lime adjusting lo Seusskal after preparing re-
search on their characters Irom the originally
planned musical Ahtii
'Obviously we lost three months of charac-
ter work wiih the change" Jelfrey said. "Adam
Hester is one of the finest men I know and
after he made this decision he gave us a chal-
lenge to which we said 'bring It on '"
Si'imfnif performances will be at 8pm I riday
and Saturday and a matinee performance at 2
p in Sunday. Tickets at all price ranges can be
purchased in the box oflice in the W illiams Per-
forming Aris Center or by calling ("4-J"H7.
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Seibert tries to attract Jeffrey s attention at the beginning of the productions while Jeffrey first discovers the Who Members of the cast perform the final number of the Homecoming Musical Seussieal at the dress rehearsal Tuesday at the Abilene Civic Center The Cat in the Hat played by Jason Kennedy Is lifted by wires above from the cast Fonville imagines scenes while standing in a bathtub after the Cat in the Hat (Kennedy) teaches him to use his imagination
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Horton the Elephant played by Ben Jeffrey listens to a plant where the tiny Who live Residents to Whoville call out to Jeffrey in the background
Matt Worthington plot to destroy Whoville while dancing around a boiling cauldron