A musical called ‘Seussical’

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This article was published 09/11/2023 (907 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They’ve painted the set. They have sewn the costumes. They added a lot of colour. They have been singing and singing and singing. And they had to get a wheelchair. Vincent Massey students, staff and volunteers are presenting “Seussical” tonight through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium.

“Seussical” is “a super fun musical about all the characters of Dr. Seuss that come together in an original story that interweaves all the main ideas from the books into a really fun plot for everybody,” said Nancy Pitcairn, a drama teacher at Vincent Massey and longtime producer/director of Vincent Massey musicals and of this year’s “Seussical.”

The plot, Pitcairn said, “follows Horton the Elephant as he is tasked with saving the world, JoJo with creating peace and following Gertrude as she deals with self-image. Maisie (is) dealing with responsibility and the Cat in the Hat is our narrator. Thing One and Thing Two (are) causing trouble all the way through.”

Thirty-six students are performing, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg, Pitcairn said, as to who is involved to make a production like this happen.

She said more than 80 students are behind the scenes, doing everything from building and painting the props, makeup, sound and lights and more. Plus, she said, there are more than 15 teachers and Vincent Massey staff who volunteer and community members who donate their time and talents to the musical.

“We have a great group of kids that are working on sound and spotlight operating. And then a great group on stage. I’m fortunate that our school gets behind the production 100 per cent. We’ve got great teachers that volunteer to make it happen every year. I get to work with the best people at Vincent Massey,” Pitcairn said.

Pitcairn said she has great community support in Karen Rogowsky, who has had children go through Vincent Massey and graduate and still brings her costume design skills. Naomi Forman is the soloist director and Linda Kearns is the choreographer.

One unexpected challenge for Pitcairn and the “Seussical” crew came when Grade 11 student Manu Tarubal injured a knee playing football in the summer. Tarubal had already secured the role of Horton the Elephant, but a knee brace and pain kept him from doing the dance numbers.

Pitcairn said Brandon business Rolling Spokes came to the rescue and donated a wheelchair for Tarubal to use.

“I have had to learn some wheelchair choreography,” Tarubal said. “I can’t do the fancy dances other people can. I had to figure out how to move across the stage whilst acting and singing and using a wheelchair. It also makes (singing) a little bit more challenging … I have to sit up very straight.”

Tarubal said he was “so grateful that Mrs. Pitcairn didn’t give up on me” after he was injured. “The fact that Mrs. Pitcairn was able to get a wheelchair just for me and our choreographer making new moves for me specifically, I mean, it’s really heartwarming that they went through all the lengths to let me be on stage instead of replacing me.”

Tickets for “Seussical” are available through the WMCA. Tickets for adults are $20. Seniors and students are $15. Children 12 and under are $4.

» khenderson@brandonsun.com