Thursday, April 26 was opening night for the Ventura High School Theater Department’s spring show, “Seussical the Musical.” The play is a compilation of different Dr. Seuss characters and story lines according to drama teacher and director of the musical, Stefoni Rossiter.  

“It’s completely magical!” exclaimed Rossiter, “It is possibly the best cast I’ve ever had.” She added, “There’s something in it for everyone. It’s not a little kid show.”

When asked about her characters, junior Hailey Elson who portrayed a Citizen of the Jungle, a fish, a circus performer and a hunch stated, “The jungle animals are supposed to be with the Sour Kangaroo [not believing in Whoville]. The fish are Jojo’s imagination so we are happy. And the hunches are scary at first and then the light’s come on and we help Jojo find his family.”

Elson describes her jungle costume as: “Purple leggings, blue pants with giraffe print in it and a flower shirt with giraffe print.”

Elson added that her favorite scenes are either “‘Scary’ or ‘Faithful.’ ‘Scary’ is where the hunches dance in the black light where Jojo finds his way back home and ‘Faithful’ is when we sing a slow song [Solla Sollew] that’s about your happy place.”

VHS alumni Kyle Harvey, also known as Super Duper Kyle, came to the performance on Friday, April 27 to show his support for the drama department and his former teachers. He also announced that he will be donating $10,000 to the drama department. This donation helps the VHS drama department exponentially. The money makes it so that Seussical is completely paid for, and pure profit is being made from the show itself. After the show, the Seussical cast took pictures with Kyle as well as with some of the audience.

Seussical is playing on April 27 and 28, May 3, 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. As well as two Sunday matinees on April 29 and May 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $7 for students and $9 for adults and are available to purchase a half hour before the show.

Photos by Samantha Franks

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