Seussical Sans Sour

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 8:55pm

Here's a little academic/Broadway proposition for you all. My community theatre is thinking of doing Seussical, and everything's all fine and dandy and great in planning, and then we realize... we don't have any big, black, brassy women to play the Sour Kangaroo.

Of course, not saying a woman like that has to play the part. But none of our normal cast can sing it, and thus, big black woman stopping the show or not, we probably won't be able to get someone to be the role.

So, my question is... can this show really work without the Sour Kangaroo? I mean, the music would be difficult to remove some of her higher notes, but if we took her out of the show entirely, would that work? What would need to change?

I'd love to actually be doing this show, so any ideas from those who have done it or those who have seen it would be fantastic. :)

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 8:57pm

yes. my school had a very successful production last year with a just as brassy white kangaroo....you will be fine. (pics in profile)

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 9:04pm

Well, race doesn't matter. If we could get a skinny little white four year old to sing it, we would. But we've got very little talent that would really fit that part or be able to really pull it off as it should be done. Could the show work with no kangaroo whatsoever?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 9:06pm

You are most certainly not allowed to remove an entire character. This would be going against the terms of yor license agreement with MTI. Your company's entire production could be shut down if MTI got ahold of this.

[Broadway Baby4]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 9:26pm

I love Seussical- I was in it last May (bird girl!), and by no means could you get rid of the sour kangaroo. I'm sure there must be someone who could pull it off- I know a few 9 year olds who could do it. :)

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 9:46pm

Wow, adam. This is entirely true, and I can't believe I didn't even think about the rights and royalties. Good thinking.

What about just removing the character from the songs, though? I mean, not 'removing', but taking out only her part?

[Jon]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 9:55pm

Why don't you just cast someone who can "act" the role, and have them RAP the singing parts?

[Broadway Baby4]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 9:59pm

Which parts are too high? I can't think of any songs she sings that might be a problem...

[GirlforTartaglia]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 10:07pm

I played the Sour Kangaroo in 10th grade...I'm extremely white bread...and I think the highest she goes is an F? Possibly an A, but I forget..

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 10:28pm

Besides being illegal, she's pretty integral to the whole Horton hears a Who plot, so removing her could cause some confusion.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 11:47pm

I believe "Think of a kangaroo, sour as can be" in "Oh, The Thinks You Can Think!"

Thanks for all your input, guys. I guess we really can't fanagle a way around this character. Seussical is just NOT the right show for this theatre group! Thanks, though!

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 10/3/06 at 11:52pm

I kind of like Jon's idea, but couldn't you possibly put an audition notice in the paper and see who shows up? Maybe this is a good oppurtunity to integrate new people into your theatre group.