HOW TO GO
What: “Seussical Jr.”
Where: Turner Pavilion, Veterans’ Park, Springfield
When: 5 and 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 8
Admission: Free; donations are accepted
More info: Call 937-324-2712 or go to www.SpringfieldArtsCouncil.org.
Summer Arts Festival attractions
The 49th annual Summer Arts Festival continues, as we’re in Week 4 of the six-week event. Here’s a look at the upcoming schedule.
Thursday, July 2: 8 p.m., Fourth Avenue
Friday, July 3: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Live on the Terrace, Johnny Lytle Tribute Band
Friday, July 3: 8 p.m., Shout! The Legends of Soul
Saturday, July 4: No show due to Independence Day
Sunday, July 5: 8 p.m., "Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet"
Wednesday, July 8: 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., "Seussical Jr."
Oh, the places you’ll go and the things you’ll see with the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant and a bird named Mayzie.
The colorful world of legendary children’s author Dr. Seuss as will animate its way onto the Turner Pavilion stage in Veteran’s Park with family musical “Seussical Jr.,” on Wednesday, July 8, for two performances.
This Summer Arts Festival show is presented by the Springfield Arts Council in partnership with its Youth Arts Ambassadors.
True to its source, “Seussical Jr.” will have plenty of youthful energy, with a cast of 52 area children ages 5-18, as well as a young crew, most in their 20s, led by director Krissy Hartman.
Wittenberg University graduate Hartman has plenty of stage experience with roles in recent Summer Arts Festival productions of “Hairspray,” “Footloose” and “Grease.” She also performed in “Seussical” in high school.
After directing a high school production of “Mary Poppins” earlier this year, “Seussical Jr.” is another learning experience.
“It’s completely different working outdoors, not knowing what the weather will do. The sight lines on an outdoor stage are different, you have to make adjustments with sound,” she said.
What hasn’t been as challenging is working with so many youngsters. With nine siblings in her family, Hartman said she feels right at home: “I like working with the kids. I have people ask me how do you deal with it? I’ve done theater since I was 4 and applied what I know. It’s an educational experience for everybody, and everybody respects everybody else.”
She said all of the high school performers and a few younger ones have stage experience. Many of those ages 5-11 playing Whos are first-time performers.
The show’s message is also important as well as fun, Hartman said. The phrase “a person is a person no matter how small” is repeated throughout.
“That can relate to theater, too. No matter how small your role is, it’s important,” she said.
The Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who has to make tough choices to save the Whos, tiny people living on a dust speck.
One of the show’s young discoveries is 11-year-old Catholic Central student Claire LeMelle, who portrays Jojo, a Who child in trouble for “thinking too many thinks.”
This is only her second show, but acting is in her family’s blood, with her sister and mom being veterans of Summer Arts Festival stage shows.
“It’s exciting,” said Claire. “I like being able to be somebody else.”
Hartman said from the moment Claire steps onstage you can’t take your eyes off her.
Claire said one of the attractions of doing theater is being able to step out of your comfort zone and making mistakes is OK. That is similar to what’s stressed in Dr. Seuss stories.
She especially wants people to know it’s a really energetic and fun show.
The 8 p.m. show will be American sign language interpreted for the hearing impaired courtesy of The Springfield Foundation.
About the Author