Editor’s Note: So, a few weeks ago, I’m grabbing lunch with Mandy and her 2 daughters, Julia and McKenzie, and they ask me if I am going to see them at Saratoga Children’s Theatre’s presentation of Seussical JR, which is this weekend. Of course I was – I go to all their theater performances. But something put me in a Playful mood and I said “Why should I?”
They decided to write their answers out and make a case why we ALL should attend. Performances are this Friday, May 11 at 7 pm; and Saturday, May 12 at 1 and 7 pm at the Saratoga City Music Hall. General admission is $10 (children 10 and younger are FREE). Based on the rehearsal I was able to attend (thank you Leigh and Alyssa,) as well as the thoughts both young ladies shared below (including the fact that I had to edit them less than their mom!) I’d say a compelling case was made. But now it is up to them to convince you. Take it away – Journalist JR’s! – AG
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ACT ONE: A SEUSSICAL SYNOPSIS!
Julia and McKenzie Mittler
In which we learn: “A person’s a person – no matter how small”
Our host, the Cat In the Hat takes Jojo on an adventure through the Jungle of Nool. This is where they are introduced to Horton who hears a small voice calling for help. That small voice belongs to Mr. Mayor, the mayor of who a tiny world on a dust speck, who tells Horton their town is in grave danger.
Horton promises to protect them and puts them on a safe clover. Then, Jojo enters the story when his parents (Mr. Mayor and Mrs. Mayor) talk to Jojo about his ‘wild thinks,’ but his imagination still runs wild. Jojo befriends Horton the Elephant (who has thinks just like him) so they feel as if they are all alone in the universe.
Gertrude (who has feelings for Horton) asked Mayzie for advice on how to make her tail longer to get Horton’s attention. The Wickersham brothers steal the clover from Horton and drop it in a huge patch of clovers leaving the Who’s lost. Mayzie asked Horton to sit on her egg up in a tree. Horton agreed, but had to sit through wind, rain, and snow, when he later gets sold to the circus. Gertrude then shows up at the circus and confesses her love for Horton, and spent 7 weeks finding the who’s as well. Just as thing start to look up, the Sour Kangaroo (the villain of our show) brings Horton back to the jungle of Nool, and plans to boil the Who’s tiny plant. Horton warns the Whos, and Jojo saves all of Who with a ‘great think’.
Everyone sees that a person’s a person no matter how small. Gertrude and Horton decide to raise the creature in the egg together and peace is restored in both worlds.
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Rehearsal Gallery One:
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A VIEW FROM THE STAGE
Julia Mittler
Hi, my name is Julia Mittler and I play Horton the Elephant, I am 12 years old and love theatre. There are so many things I love about putting together our production of Seussical JR – including that we have a cast of only 20 kids, all girls. So, being a small cast we are all really close, rehearsals have been incredibly fun, and it feels like playing with your friends. Every girl there has been in shows before – since we are all experienced we can all enjoy the fun parts of musical theatre. When we are blocking, singing solos or dancing no one is uncomfortable because everyone in the cast is friends.
Although it might sound like all fun and games we are working very hard to create the best story to share with all of you, there are long hours and lots of waiting involved. As I am writing this we are half way done with our show. I just got back from rehearsal and today we did our first read through without our scripts, because the cast is so close, whoever you were singing with or talking to, you can just look each other in the eye without feeling uncomfortable. We rehearse 3 times a week, on Mondays and Wednesdays for 2 hours and on Sunday for 4 hours. I hope you can come see for yourself that all of our hard work will come together perfectly as all 20 of us step into character and put on the best story for you at the Saratoga Music Hall!
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Rehearsal Gallery Two:
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MY SARATOGA CHILDREN’S THEATRE
McKenzie Mittler
I’ve been working with SCT for about 6 years and they always manage to put together fabulous shows and musicals. I love to make friends, sing, and watch as the magic of theater comes to life. SCT has summer theater programs for ages 4-18 years, with all different shows for all the different age groups that include rising stars, kids, juniors, and teens. A few of the shows I have been in are Aladdin, Jedi Academy, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, and Shrek. They also manage to put together great shows in the spring like this weekend’s Seussical.
One thing I knew when I was little was all I wanted to do was be on stage, but I couldn’t express that until I found SCT. They welcome all to audition and be a part of their amazing shows all year round. Parents: you should be ready to cry as you give a standing ovation to your child as they put one of their first shows. I hope to see you at an SCT production.
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CURTAIN CALL: THE CAST OF SCT’s SEUSSICAL
Cat in the Hat: Riley Hite
Jojo: Abby DeGregory
Horton: Julia Mittler
Gertrude: Ainsley Martell
Mayzie: Sofia Blitz
Mayor Who: Mckenzie Mittler
Mrs. Who: Lillian Letzring
Sour Kangaroo: Aidai Sevigny
Baby Kangaroo: Lauryn Duell
Bird Girl #1: Cecilia Sasko
Bird Girl #2: Abby Tellstone
Bird Girl #3: Stella Delgado
Bird Girl #4: Elliana Callender
Wickersham #1: Mallory Bourgault
Wickersham #2: Talia Hodgson
Wickersham #3: Molly Tracey
Yertle the Turtle: Sadie Loeber
The Grinch: Samantha Corrigan
Who: Juliet Letzring
Director: Alyssa Jones
Photos: Arthur Gonick
May 7, 2018
