By creating a welcoming environment where all the members of the cast feel free to be themselves and have fun, the spring musical gets ready for its performance of “Seussical the Musical” March 28-30.
Last year, due to a large number of seniors participating, the musical was “Les Misérables”.
“Seussical” is cosidered a much less serious musical
According to senior Lindsey Yanacek, who plays Gertrude McFuzz, the transition from the “deathly” Les Mis to the more “silly” Seussical was originally a shock but changed as the cast progressed.
“I feel like now, personally, I’m very excited to do this show and I feel good about it,” Yanacek said.
Senior Drew Bedeaux who plays a warmongering general named Genghis Kahn Schmitz agrees.
“Everything is being run a lot more whimsically and I think that’s the biggest adjustment,” Bedeaux said. “There’s a lot more holly, jolly, gaiety and joy being thrown around compared to the sad poor people of Les Mis.”
According to Yanacek the loss of the large senior class was something that the musical had to recover from, but allowed for some more opportunities for the non-seniors
“I feel like not having that many seniors this year has given a lot of juniors the chance to step up and be role models and leaders for the underclassmen,” Yanacek said.
Junior Gabe Simrak, who plays the Cat in the Hat, also acknowledged the loss of so many great performers.
“They were so talented and such good people and it has been a challenge to try and replicate that,” Simrak said.
According to junior Eli Bleazard who plays one of the two Hortons, the success and overall fun experience of the musical can be attributed to the group dynamic of the cast.
“ Everybody’s so kind, everybody’s trying to do their best and we’re trying to put on this wonderful show together,” Bleazard said. “We’re willing to work hard, have fun and learn this music together.”
Yanacek agreed that the whole cast has one goal in mind to make the musical “look good, sound good and feel good.”
“Everyone’s being really patient and working super well together and honestly I couldn’t ask for a better group to do his show with,” Yanacek said.
Even with this being most of their first times as leads in musicals many of the leads feel confident heading into opening night.
According to Bleazard, all the preparation beforehand allows him to “just be Horton the Elephant when the time comes.”
Bedeaux shares in this confidence, and thinks they have a strong cast of members who will find success in the musical.
“ Opening night, I’m going to be the most confident man this side of the Mississippi,” Bedeaux said. “ We have a great cast, a great crew, and I feel like I can rely on everybody else, and everybody else can rely on me, and that’s all I can ever ask for.”