The 20th Annual Summer Family Musical, Seussical
Family Weekend Performance Dates: July 20-23 & 27-30, 2023
Oh, the thinks you can think! Let your imagination soar in this colorful musical filled with favorite Dr. Seuss characters like Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, the Whos down in Whoville, and of course, the Cat in the Hat. As their stories intertwine, Seussical weaves a tale of friendship, acceptance, and love for both ourselves and those around us.
Ages 3+
≈2 hours, including a 15-minute intermission
Larry and Vivian Snipes Main Stage
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Co-conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Eric Idle
Based on the Works of Dr. Seuss
Family Weekend Performance Info
Thursday, July 20 – 7:00pm
Friday, July 21 – 7:00pm
Saturday, July 22 – 2:00pm
Saturday, July 22 – 7:00pm (Pay What You Will)*
Sunday, July 23 – 2:00pm
Thursday, July 27 – 7:00pm
Friday, July 28 – 7:00pm
Saturday, July 29 – 2:00pm
Sunday, July 30 – 2:00pm
Buy Tickets
Review
“Just call my name and I’ll see you through: one small voice in the universe, one true friend in the universe who believes in you.”
The Lexington Children’s Theatre has yet again brought a whimsical tale to life with Seussical. The story is full of themes of believing in yourself and remaining loyal in addition to less direct themes exploring body image and morality providing plenty of opportunities for discussion for viewers of all ages.
As my family and I entered the theatre, we were transported to the Jungle of Nool. My favorite aspect of the setting was the directional signpost that leads us through the locations of the story. It served as a charming guide through the plot. My daughter viewed the multi-level platforms as “super cool.” The eclectic costumes and facial expressions of every cast member allowed us to settle right in to Nool and forget the bustling streets of Lexington. In addition, the musical brings the characters into the seats and aisles, and provides opportunities for audience participation, further bringing us into the story.
The musical starts with all of the characters introduced in “Oh, the Thinks You Can Think,” a song that encompasses the visions of JoJo, the Who’s youngest member who is often finding herself in trouble for indulging in imagination and ideas that stray from conventional ideas. JoJo’s experiences throughout the story invite thought and conversation into individuality. The musical’s protagonist is Horton, an elephant who hears a small cry for help and realizes there’s an entire community of people living on a clover desperately trying to survive. He relentlessly resolves to save the Whos, despite those who doubt him and his sanity. However, the unsung hero of the story is Gertrude. She has the utmost faith and admiration for Horton. When others call Horton the “biggest blame fool,” Gertrude stands alone saying “He’s always been friendly and loyal and kind. I just don’t believe Horton’s out of his mind!”
Horton’s focus remains on protecting the Whos and later Mayzie’s egg that she abandons and as a result, he fails to notice Gertrude’s efforts. She goes as far as to alter herself in attempts to get Horton’s attention. However, Gertrude never stops believing in Horton and goes to great lengths to recover the clover on which the Whos live as she knows that it is important to Horton, though even she herself could not hear them. She demonstrates the importance of having “one true friend in the universe who believes in you.”
My favorite aspect of The Lexington Children’s Theatre is their dedication to family oriented stories that encompass every type of family. Their performances invite deep conversation and provides a space to feel accepted and included all the while staying entertaining. As always, several of the cast members in addition to the crew members are related, reinforcing The Children’s Theatre’s dedication to providing experiences for families on and off the stage.
The musical runs for 90 minutes including a 15 minute intermission.
-Reviewed by Lex Fun 4 Kids contributor Candice, 2023