A joyful noise is not only emanating from a small speck of dust, but also from Fremont Centre Theatre as Young Stars Theatre Academy opens their delightful production of “Seussical Jr” that runs another two weekends.
Grab those tickets now to be whisked away to the magical world that Seuss creates in one of YSTA’s most popular shows full of the enthusiasm, silliness and heart that this youth company is known for.
There is something for everyone in the family as Seuss’ beloved and mischievous Cat in the Hat (four of them in this show) guides us on an adventure in the Land of Nool where Horton the elephant has heard the cries for help from the tiny, imperceptible citizens of Whoville. The other jungle creatures in Nool think Horton has lost the plot, with only his sweet neighbor, Gertrude, holding not only a candle for him but also a belief in him.
Horton is played with kind-hearted optimism and sweetness by Elsa Rose Barbouth and Alex Galor-McPherson (Earth and Sky Cast respectively). Both Josephine Barbouth and Lexi Callan are effervescent in their wide-eyed innocence and wonder as JoJo, the tiniest Who with the biggest imagination. Inez Brennan and Caighsi Currie play the besotted Gertrude, with Brennan bringing a nice vulnerability to the tiny-tailed bird and Currie radiating the awkward joy and frustration of being in love.
Merit Honore and Rowan Farley have the best time as the sassy, catty and self-involved Mayzie, the bird who convinces Horton to sit on her egg “for a day” as she flies off to vacation for months! Serving as a bird Greek chorus are Bird Girls, Caighsi Currie, Sarah Ferris, Marley Mazon (Earth) and Elsa Rose Barbouth, Sarah Ferris and Merit Honore (Sky) who bring strong vocals and cheeky commentary to all the scenes.
Gray Edwards and Riley Barone are having a ball as the soul singing Sour Kangaroo and together with their little adorable sidekick Young Kangaroos, Abigail Finn and Marley Mazon, get some of the biggest laughs.
The rest of the cast of Whoville, Cats in Hats and jungle creatures are delightfully rounded out by Grayson Rosen, Elizabeth Sands, Faryn Girt, Jacob Rasmussen, Morgan Rothenberg, Calla Howard, Isabel Edwards, Lucas Zaks, Ben Heuer, Lyra Winer, Rosie Tadmor, Gloria O’Connor, Alice Ingersoll, Luca Oppenhuizen, Charlie Orren, Rosie Orren, Ruby Berger, and Clio Orren.
The entire cast emanates the joy and whimsy of a world according to Seuss and will make you believe that “a person’s a person, no matter how small”.
Seussical Jr. is on stage at Fremont Centre Theatre through October 20. Tickets available at www.youngstarstheatre.org. 1000 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena. Young Stars Theatre Academy offers theatre workshops for kids during the school year and theatre camps for kids in the spring, summer, and winter. Kids between the ages of 6 and 18 get the chance to build confidence, make friends, and perform in front of live audiences! YSTA occasionally offers community theatre productions for adults, often including kids who have graduated from our youth programs.
Next up at YSTA will be ELF Jr. December 6 – 15, 2024. Visit their website to find out more about their upcoming shows, auditions and winter/summer camps.
