Seussical

[Swiftynifty15]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 11:36am

Did anyone see Seussical On Broadway few years ago? A theatre in my town performed it and it was very good. I was wondering why it didn't last long and how it was

[Amneris]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 11:38am

I thought it was adorable. It was a family show.

[Swiftynifty15]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 11:40am

It really was great. Anyone else see the Broadway?

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 11:42am

i saw it..it was ok

[Swiftynifty15]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 11:44am

It was awesome with this theatre. Why is it that alot of the cartoony shows don't last long such as Charlie Brown and Seussical?

[Mythus]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 11:45am

Because the majority doesn't really like "cartoony", I guess.

[lensman55]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 11:46am

I think because they were "family" shows in a media that's so expensive you can't afford to take families to them. "Charlie Brown" worked much better off-Broadway where it wasn't so expensive.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 11:47am

The Original B'way production was very flawed.
And the Original Cat in the Hat was pretty awful.
(And the show really went to Hell when Aaron Carter came in to play Jojo)

They really cleaned it up for the First National Tour, though.

It really is a great show.

[Swiftynifty15]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 11:52am

Aron Carter JoJo I don't like that to much. I thought he was JoJo on the national tour?

[OneBlazeOfGlory]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 12:09pm

So what exactly is the story line of this musical? Is there a cast recording? Is it any good?

[Swiftynifty15]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 12:32pm

Ya there is a cast recording. It is really entertaining. The show is great. It is the Seuss Charachters Stories into one show. Very creative.

[TheaterGeek91]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 12:47pm

I enjoy the cast recording very much, although I think overall the show is a little bit too long. It's supposed to be very Seussy, obviously, but it's a bit lengthy for some of the kids that the show primarily attracts.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 12:50pm

Well, in my opinion, they made it this big glitzy show that I thought didn't work. They would have done better i na smaller theatre with nice costumes but a minimum of sets, leave the audience to use their imagination. It was really an adorable show that a few weak spots that were never worked out in previews or out of town runs. Rob Marshall (the step in director) said it was because the producers forbade any more time than he had to work on the show. So all he really got to do was cut some songs and rework staging and sets. But, when it closed they edited the script for the tour and any other production of it. I think in all it's a much stronger script, but does manage to cut a few things out that should've been in there.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 12:55pm

The story is pretty much about Horton the elephant and he hears a "who". As in the planet of Who, inhabited by the Whos, who are on the brink of war (for ridiculous reasons). everyone thinks he's crazy because the planet of Who is the size of a speck and everyone thinks that's just what it is. So he guards the planet of Who and makes friends with Mayor's son Jojo who is punished all the time for having wild "thinks" (or in english, imaginations). And Horton's next door neighbor, Gertrude a bird, really likes him but she only has one tail and she thinks that won't impress him so she goes to get magical pills that will make her tail grow, and it becomes so huge she can't fly... and the Cat in the hat is the narrator who pops in and out of the story every now and again. It's a sopa opera with music and Seuss rhymes.

Updated On: 11/27/04 at 12:55 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 1:03pm

I think "Horton Hears a Who" is my favorite song from the recording. So cute! And fun to sing along with.

[MaTakeALookAtMe]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 1:08pm

Seussical is a big disppointment to me. Not nearly as fun as a Dr. Seuss musical should be.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 1:14pm

I saw the Broadway Cast with Rosie O Donnell and again with Cathy Rigby.

I also saw the National Tour with Cathy Rigby and the non-equity tour as well.


The show is BEAUTIFUL. Flawed on Broadway, but they cut a song, trimmed the storyline, and restaged it for the Tour. The tour was MUCH better - and if THAT was what was on Broadway, I wouldn't be surprised if the show were still running today.

They cut "A Day For The Cat In The Hat" and I believe trimmed other songs. The score itself (as opposed to the songs) was touched up, too. I noticed this because they used more bells and chimes. Much more mystical and fun.

The Cast Recording is the Broadway cast with David Shiner. Its VERY fun and good and will give you the songs, but they were much better on tour. In addition, they didn't give the full overture for the CD - they cut it down some. And it does not include the smaller reprises (which are fun in the show, but standing alone on a CD wouldn't do anything).

In the tour, Cathy Rigby (of Peter Pan fame) flew as The Cat. But they didn't add it JUST because she is Cathy - it made sense. She (and Jojo (Drake English, former Michael Darling in Peter Pan)) flew in "It's Possible" which is sung in a bathtub that overflows with water and becomes an ocean. The flying made sense and added to the number greatly. You can see a video of the flying at:

http://www.paultheflyguy.com

The non-equity national tour was different. They cut the flying, the Cat was played by a male again, and again it was restaged. I believe it worked better than Broadway, but the sets and costumes were cheap.

I would love to see a revival of SEUSSICAL in the future. In fact, I believe this would be a great show to do a DVD of. Its being done in community and school theatres across the Nation. It's such a good show that is highly underrated. The Broadway run gave it a bad name.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 1:14pm

I just finished my high school production of Seussical and it really is a musical that grows on you. When looked at from one way it is a pointless show with no plot, but if you take time to enjoy it, it can be a really cute, whimsical show.

[OneBlazeOfGlory]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 2:19pm

Wow didn't expect such elaborate responses.. thanks you guys I might just ask for it for Hanukah...

[GaLiNdaFied]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 2:59pm

Wow CapnHook, that was great thanks

[Mythus]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 3:02pm

Wasn't Roger Bart in Seussical at some point? I rememeber reading something about Rosie taking over for him...or something. Updated On: 11/27/04 at 03:02 PM

[DoReMi]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 4:06pm

It's ok..saw the recent Networks tour and while the cast was great the show was average.

I love how this kid show has a kid get "blown up".

[whimsical]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 5:46pm

Seussical really touched me.

It's funny, but I think it works better in small regional theatres than on Broadway.

[geri loves wicked]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 9:26pm

wow im glad to hear those positive things. Im doing that show now with a local theatre, and thank god it grows on you. it seems lame so far...but it might be lame anyway because of all the little kids holding us back from actually DANCING. well anyway, that made me feel a little better.

[SeeIreallycouldn'tSING!!]

Posted: 11/27/04 at 9:43pm

I myself can't stand the show, i never liked Dr. Seuss so naturally the entire idea of the show annoys me. You have to like that kind of thing to enjoy the show i think. giltzy sets and stuff are not needed if you have good music and a good story.