"Seussical Jr." Opens Friday at Foothills Playhouse

The latest production from the Easley Foothills Playhouse opens Friday.

“Seussical Jr.” is based on the works of Dr. Seuss.

The show opens Friday night at 7:30pm and runs until April 28. Friday and Saturday shows begin at 7:30pm. Sunday matinees are at 3pm.

The story centers around Horton the Elephant, who finds himself faced with a double challenge–not only must he protect his tiny friend Jojo (and all the invisible Whos) from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him, the only one who recognizes “his kind and his powerful heart.”

The show is based on several famous stories from Dr. Seuss, director Owen Robertson said.

“The primary story thread is 'Horton Hears a Who' and 'Horton Hatches the Egg,'” he said. “It has some other stories interspersed throughout.”

The show features faces familiar to Dr. Seuss fans.

“There are characters from Dr. Seuss that pop up all over the place,” Robertson said. “Yertle the Turtle, the Cat in the Hat, the Sneetches, the Grinch, they're just popping up all throughout the show.”

The show is the junior version of “Seussical,” he said.

“That mandates that no one under 18 can be in it,” Robertson said. “It's a show for youth and child actors.”

His cast of 30 is made up of young actors from elementary school age through high school.

“Some of them have been in show after show after show at the theater,” Robertson said. “It's a lot of fun to see the kids who have been doing theater learn their craft even better, and it's wonderful to give people their first experience onstage.”

The show has been a challenge for both director and cast.

“It's an operetta,” Robertson said. “It's all music. Most musicals have a song, then a dramatic scene, then a song. Here, there's very little spoken dialogue. It's all songs.”

That was one of the things that appealed to Robertson when he decided to direct “Seussical, Jr.”

“The music in it is wonderful,” Robertson said.

He also loves the message the show delivers.

“It's about working together, pulling for the underdog, seeing that the person who is smaller than you or different than you is valuable,” Robertson said. “It's got so many great life lessons.

“People feel alone in the universe,” he continued. “A huge aspect of the show is for them to find out they're not alone. It's really good stuff.”

Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for seniors and students and $10 for children. Order tickets by calling the Easley Foothills box office at 864-855-1817.