Seussical
at Potomac Senior High School

Reviewed on May 7, 2016

Lily Habenstreit
Albert Einstein High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Prince William

Everybody remembers the stories of Dr. Seuss. Whether serving as a first read-aloud, an imagination inspiration, or a powerful message about justice and tolerance, the timeless books have charmed and impacted all who have encountered them. Recreating the magic of Dr. Seuss in the best way possible, the company at Potomac Senior High School brought these fun, wacky stories to life with their energetic production of Seussical.

Seussical, with music and lyrics by the well-respected team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, first appeared on Broadway in 2000, and has since become a popular choice for amateur theatres around the country. The story features a complex intertwining of various Dr. Seuss stories, with particular focus on Horton Hears a Who as the character of Horton the Elephant attempts to save the tiny planet of Who-ville from destruction. Narrated by the iconic Cat in the Hat, the musical includes fun, flashy numbers, an entertaining fusion of stories, and important thematic messages that make it perfect for audiences of all ages.

Anchoring the cast was Emmanuel Kikoni, as the fun, yet troublemaking, Cat in the Hat. Kikoni's presence and charisma was entrancing from his first moment on stage, and his persistent energy carried the cast through the complicated show. His movement was excellent, developing the Cat's cartoonish, exciting, and sneaky nature, and he stood out as a superb dancer in large ensemble numbers. Joining the separate worlds of the show were Joseph Gregg as kind Horton the Elephant, and Emma Jenni as Jojo, a creative boy from Who-ville. Both used physicality and vocal choices well to embody their characters, with Gregg's lumbering movement and gravelly tones fitting Horton's sweet, yet out-of-place character, and Jenni's energetic gestures and high, excited voice capturing Jojo's childlike nature.

The principles were supported by a cast of cute, diverse characters. As Gertrude, an insecure bird who yearns for Horton's attention, Taylor Aragon used endearingly bumbling physicality to develop her adorable character. Angela Gyane showed off strong vocal pipes and smooth moves in her portrayal of seductive and glitzy Mayzie la Bird. The ensembles were especially strong, with the devilish Wickersham Brothers, led by stand-out singer Johnny Do, bringing great energy to the stage, and the quartet of Bird Girls creating good harmonies and executing choreography cleanly throughout the show. As a whole, the cast displayed great unity and spirit, with each member embracing the truly fun energy of the show.

The technical elements helped to develop the crazy, colorful world of Seuss. The choreography, designed by the show's star, Emmanuel Kikoni, was exceptional, perfectly fitting the show's energy and thrill. The lighting helped to develop the constantly shifting moods and settings with its bright colors and creative arrangement.

With animated character development, enthusiastic dance numbers, and lively energy, the company at Potomac Senior High School brought the magic and fantasy of every child's dreams to the stage with their production of Seussical.

Jacob Lamb
W.T. Woodson High School
Submitted for publication to Washington Post - Prince William

"A person's a person, no matter how small."

This is the moral the audience takes away from Potomac Senior High School's fun filled and heartwarming production of "Seussical the Musical." Throughout this musical that originally debuted on Broadway in 2000, the audience is taken on a journey through a countless number of Dr. Seuss's tales that all intertwine to create the hectic and heroic journey of Horton the Elephant. Helmed by directors Esther Tennyson and Nicole Kardaras, the show promises a fun night from beginning to end thanks to its vibrancy and infectiously energetic cast.

Leading this cast in the role of The Cat in the Hat was Emmanuel Kikoni who gave an outstanding performance as the show's narrator. Kikoni captured the character splendidly with smooth transitions from a good-natured cat to a wickedly mischievous feline. Not only did his gestures and movements fit the character of the sly cat perfectly, but also his dancing ability was a large standout among the cast. However, his contributions to the production go beyond just his fantastic performance as he actually choreographed the entire show. His creative and entertaining choreography, which was well executed by the entire cast, proved most impressive in the large ensemble numbers, specifically songs such as "Oh the Thinks You Can Think" and "Havin' a Hunch."

Another excellent performance came from Phillip Gregg in the intimidating role of General Genghis Khan Schmidtz who "scares children out of their wits." Gregg used his loud and demanding voice as well as his stiff posture to capture the essence of the large-and-in-charge general quite successfully. Due to his physicality of the role and the ridiculous nature of his lines, he quickly became an element of comedic relief for the show. Also adding to the comedic aspect of the performance was Johnny Do as Wickersham #1. Although his role was mainly featured in a trio of characters throughout the show, Do was able to make his performance stand out by making the audience consistently laugh out loud. However, as a unit, the three Wickersham brothers did have fantastic energy as a unit, which fit perfectly into their characters as rambunctious monkeys.

While the element of comedy was present throughout the show, there were quite a few touching and heartfelt moments as well. One of these moments occurred toward the end of the show when love interests Horton (Joseph Gregg) and Gertrude (Taylor Aragon) finally professed their affection for each other. Gregg not only had chemistry with Aragon but also with Emma Jenni as JoJo. These two were able to make their unlikely friendship extremely believable even though they never actually see each other for the entire show.

In addition, the performances from the actors, the colorful lighting also succeeded in creating the atmosphere of the whimsical production. It was also impressive how the lighting could represent different settings on stage at once, such as when the lighting split into different colors when Horton was in the Jungle of Noel while talking to JoJo who is in Whoville. While there were a few sound issues here and there, the tech was definitely an important and well-produced aspect of the show.

In a show where we learn that no person deserves to be treated badly because they are different, the cast does a fantastic job of coming together to spread this important message through the auditorium while they make magic onstage. Potomac Senior High School's production of Seussical the Musical was an impressive and successful feat that had the audience jumping to their feet in roaring applause at the end, and deservedly so.

Zoe Ades
Albert Einstein High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com - PWC/FQ

With a show that will warm every Seuss fan's heart, Potomac Senior High School put on a performance that truly proved anything's possible.

An amalgamation of nearly twenty Dr. Seuss books, Seussical the Musical had a rocky opening on Broadway in 2000. However, this musical has gone on to become a favorite among high school and children's theatre groups. Narrated by the devious Cat in the Hat, Seussical is the story of the lovable elephant Horton and his quest to save the tiny town of Whoville. Horton faithfully rescues the town and his friend Jojo, because a person's a person no matter how small. Complete with an elephant sitting on an egg, a bird with a one-feathered tail, and a wild cast of characters to fill the Jungle of Nool, Seussical is fun for the whole family.

The glue holding the show together was Emmanuel Kikoni as the Cat in the Hat. Functioning as both a narrator and an incredibly entertaining character, Kikoni made a point to connect with every actor on stage, allowing for a sense of unity between the disparate stories that make up the show. His poise, charisma, and enthusiasm was infectious and he led the cast to a truly successful night. As Horton the Elephant, Joseph Gregg, was infinitely likable and the details he put into crafting and developing his character made him even more endearing to the audience. As young JoJo, Emma Jenni, developed a quirky, fun character and epitomized the youthful spirit of the show. Taylor Aragon who played Horton's love interest, Gertrude, gave a delightfully awkward performance and worked well with Gregg to develop Gertrude and Horton's chemistry. As Mayzie, Angela Gyane brought spunk and attitude to a performance that showed off her movement and vocal skills.

In the world of high school theatre, it isn't common to see every actor on stage giving 100%, but Potomac Senior High School's production of Seussical refuted this stereotype. The ensemble seemed to own the stage, and their enthusiasm was crucial, especially for a show designed for children. The choreography, done by Emmanuel Kikoni, showed off the talents of the the cast perfectly. In numbers such as "Havin' a Hunch", the cast showed off their practice and dedication through clean movements and precise timing. The smaller ensembles, the Bird Girls and the Wickersham Brothers, were as impressive as the leads. The Bird Girl's harmonies were tight and the Wickersham's energy and humor made them audience favorites.

The show's technical elements were excellent in keeping to the Seussian style. The set seemed to be right out of a page of a Dr. Seuss book and the costumes were fun and colorful. The lighting played with colors to create relationships on stage to great effect. The stage crew was efficient and deliberate in their movements and their Thing 1 and Thing 2 shirts tied them in with the rest of the cast.

In a show aimed for kids but with messages that resonate with people of all ages, Potomac Senior High School embodied the theme that a person's a person no matter how small.

Jordan Hill
Albert Einstein High School
Submitted for publication to Prince William Times

Imagination, creativity, love, and acceptance were all key themes to the Drama Club at Potomac Senior High School's production of "Seussical."

"Seussical" is a musical combination of many of the stories that the infamous poet Dr. Seuss created and wrote about. "Seussical" was written by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty in 2000 and played on Broadway for fewer than 200 performances. The show combines the stories of books like "The Cat in the Hat," "Horton Hears a Who," "The Butter Battle Book," "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," and many more in order to tell the parallel stories of Horton and Jojo as they try to figure out their place in the world while sustaining their principles of love, acceptance, peace, and kindness.

The commanding force of the show was the spectacular Emmanuel Kikoni in the role of The Cat in the Hat. Kikoni had an immensely powerful stage presence that made every single scene he was in a little brighter and more exciting. Kikoni was an impeccable dancer who showed his talent throughout the entire show, while also astounding the audience with his creative, thought out, and genius choreography. Another exciting performer onstage was Joseph Gregg in the role of Horton. Gregg had a beautiful and pure voice that matched his character development of a loving and kind soul yearning for acceptance and help. Gregg's relationship with Emma Jenni, who played Jojo, grew as the show progressed in a loving and natural manner that was appropriate for the show.

Assisting the principal performers was a small but powerful ensemble of jungle creatures and Whos. Both ensembles worked together beautifully in order to create a nurturing and suitable backup to the principal singers. All ensemble members were engaged in the plot and danced Kikoni's visionary choreography with vivacity and excitement. The WIckersham Brothers, who play the evil and mean bullies of Horton, had so much energy and fun onstage that it made the audience excited for them to come back again and again.

Overall, Potomac Senior High School's production of "Seussical" was built on a foundation of immense energy, loving support, and acceptance of all persons, which is the beautiful message that the show itself so beautifully tells.