Mission Statement
Brown Working Theatre's goal is to provide a home for any student who is interested in theatre. Whether performing on stage or working behind the scenes (lighting, sound, sets and other aspectos of stagecraft and production), students will have the opportunity to participate together in a creative collaboration to "tell the story".
Director's Note
Welcome to Brown Working Theatre’s production of Seussical, Jr. This year, over one-hundred students came together to bring you this colorful and joyful story, and we are so excited to share our hard work with all of you!
In Seussical, Jr., the Cat in the Hat narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust that is home to tiny people called the Whos, and must defend them from a world of bullies, including the Sour Kangaroo and the Wickersham Brothers. Along the way, he connects with the Mayor of Whoville's imaginative son Jojo and the overlooked Gertrude McFuzz. Although Horton faces ridicule and danger, he never gives up in his quest to protect the Whos—or to care for an abandoned egg left behind by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. In the end, this story teaches us the importance of staying true to yourself and standing up for the little guy (in this case, literally).
Dr. Seuss has a complicated legacy—his inventive stories have taught generations of children how to read, and how to appreciate the power of imagination. Yet, some of his books have been pulled from shelves for containing racially insensitive illustrations. In one of our first rehearsals, we discussed how to approach a work of art when the positive messages we take away don’t align with some of the creator’s views or actions. We agreed that this production is our work of art, and on the messages we want our audience to take away—about authenticity, advocacy, and the importance of being an upstander. As Horton sticks beside the Whos through thick and thin, he repeats the refrain: “A person’s a person, no matter how small.” Seussical, Jr. reminds us that all people deserve to be treated with dignity and to feel safe in their homes and communities; a message as important in our increasingly divided nation as it is in a middle school hallway.
Seussical, Jr. creates so many opportunities for our young theatre artists—from the lively ensemble cast of characters to the imaginative possibilities of the set, costumes, props, and more. It has been a joy to bring this musical to life, and we hope you have as much fun watching it as we had making it!
Lucy Kania
Special Thanks
We'd like to thank Kim Lysaght, Matt Bailey-Adams, Julian Turner, Samantha Bracy, Devon Kelley, Eva Hughes, Courtney Ross, Nandine Timperio, Rachenee Nelson, Sharon Ayres, Stephen Peruzzi, Mike Walsh, Anthony Pizano, Rick Gomez-Casillas, Mike Hines and the entire Brown Middle School staff for all their support.
Thank you to ALL the wonderful parents who supported our students throughout this process, helped build and paint sets, ran errands, provided refreshments, and much more. It takes a village!
