Forty talented performers and the magic of Dr. Seuss fill the Colony Theatre stage as it’s never been filled before in Seussical The Musical, a song-and-dance-packed treat for kids and adults of all ages.

Theodor Seuss Geisel probably never imagined the day that so many of his creations—including an elephant who hatches an egg, a boy with a head full of “thinks,” and a cat (in a hat)—would end up on stage together, but these are just some of the Dr. Seuss icons brought to fantastical life in Seussical.

Taking most of its multiple plot threads and distinctively rhyming dialog from a trio of classic Dr. Seuss tales, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s book adds to them over two dozen of lyricist Ahrens and composer Flattery’s catchiest confections to make for the family-friendliest musical this side of Disney.

Ahrens and Flaherty’s show-stopping “Oh The Thinks You Can Think” sets the stage for the 2000 Broadway musical’s lead characters, introduced to us by Master Of Ceremonies The Cat In The Hat (Carlos Cameron).

They are a) “an elephant up in a tree” (Ryver Townsend as Horton), b) “a person too tiny to see” (Paige McKibben as JoJo Who), c) “a bird with a one-feather tail” (Kate Clarke as Gertrude McFuzz), d) “a bird who flies off on a spree” (Alexandra Ackerman as Mayzie La Bird), e) “a kangaroo sour as can be” (Jalana Phillips as Sour Kangaroo), and f) “a general crazy for war” (Jeff Gritton as General Genghis Khan Schmitz).

In a mashup of two of Dr. Seuss’s favorite storybook tales, Horton not only hears a Who (and promises to protect the inhabitants of the smallest planet in the universe), he does his jilted bird friend Mayzie the favor of hatching her egg as she off for some Palm Beach R&R.

As for JoJo, the boy whose “thinks” have aroused the ire of his parents and teachers, the spunky young lad gets sent off to military school and eventually to a war fought between those who eat their bread butter-side-up and those who eat it butter-side-down.

Gertrude, meanwhile, fearing that her single pathetic tail feather is the reason that Horton has never noticed her, seeks medical help from a doctor who looks just like The Cat In The Hat.

And the show is just getting started.

Not just a proven crowd-pleaser, Seussical is also that rarity among musicals, i.e., one that works equally well with a Broadway-caliber cast as in community theater setting, which makes Seussical and Conundrum Theatre Company a perfect fit.

Director Bryan Snodgrass knows how to bring out the best in performers who may not have professional goals or lengthy resumes but know how to deliver the entertainment goods to an audience of family and friends and folks like this reviewer who happen to think that this combination of Dr. Seuss and two of Broadway’s best songwriters is as tuneful and fun as it gets.

Cameron makes Cat It The Hat an irresistible, scene-stealing charmer from the get-go, morphing into multiple guises while delivering a pair of bona fide show-stoppers, “How Lucky You Are” and “Havin’ A Hunch.”

And speaking of irresistible, I defy anyone not to fall for Townsend’s absolutely endearing Horton, or child actor McKibben’s feisty turn as Jojo, whose “It’s Possible” and “Alone In The Universe” reveal a star in the making.

Clarke’s adorable one-feathered Gertrude had me from hello, Ackerman plays it’s-all-about-me Mayzie to the fabulous hilt, Phillips gives Aretha a run for her money whenever Sour Kangaroo belts to the rafters, and Gritton is a war-crazy delight as General Genghis Khan Schmitz.

Wayne Remington and Jordan Kaiser’s Mr. and Mrs. Mayor; Carolyn Ellis, Angelique Fustukjian, Shawn Rios, and Luke Steinborn as the Wickershams; Bird Girls Blossom Chandler, Megan Falcone, Kylie Buckles-Hall, and Rachel Zambetti; and Allie Shapland’s Yertle The Turtle each merit their own applause.

Last but not least, Sadie Brenneman (the Grinch), Victoria Camacho, Coco Carter, Darby Shea Del Broccolo, Bernard Gomes, Kristy Gutierrez, Bryan Ha, Ava Heintz (Young Kangaroo), Crista Henderson, Doroteja “Dori” Jurican, Lillian Kautz, Avalon Kerr, Joony Kim, Morgan Moessinger, Miranda Miller, Kealoha Nakamura, Claire Perales-Duckworth, Angel Pierce, Wynn Tutt, Maya Viloria, Taylor Wesselman, and Mallory Wynne fill the stage (and I do mean fill) with abundant energy and glee as assorted Whos, Jungle Creatures, and Cadets.

Choreographer Buckles-Hall and music director Lisa Sedares have the entire cast singing and dancing quite astonishingly well for non-pros.

Katie Iannitello’s set evokes memories of Dr. Seuss’s signature illustrations while giving the cast plenty of room to perform in one fabulous, fanciful outfit after another courtesy of costume designer Nia Heinrich as well as manipulate Jack Filsinger’s equally Seussical props, all of the above expertly lit by Gregory Crafts.

Finally, sound designer Julien Renaud aces the major task of mixing James Winsley’s sound effects, dozens of miked performers and a terrific live orchestra made up of Magnus Bjorgum, Amanda Campos, Ben Ede, Dan Gonda, Adam Hall, Paula Hu, Tiffany Ostubo, J. Sperling Reich, and Tyler Stell.

Matthew Namik is assistant director. Rachel Hogentogler is stage manager. Mike Bowers is production manager. Diana Gomez is assistant costume designer and wardrobe
mistress.

With so much time, work, and energy having gone into bringing Seussical to effervescent life on the Colony stage, it’s a shame the show runs just one weekend. There’s no better entertainment value today and tomorrow for kids, parents, and grandparents to share than Conundrum’s Seussical.

Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street, Burbank.
www.conundrumtheatreco.com

–Steven Stanley
March 31, 2023
Photos: Jess Jani

Tags: Colony Theatre, Conundrum Theatre Company, Dr. Seuss, Los Angeles Theater Review, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty