"A Person's a Person, No Matter How Small"

ICSB's Gym transformed into the magical kaleidoscope of Dr. Seuss's anthology, taking us to the Jungle of Nool, Whoville, and beyond, with The Cat in the Hat and Jojo of Whoville as our tour guide.

Our talented Middle Grades students brought the beloved books of Horton Hears a Who, Horton Hatches an Egg, and Gertrude McFuzz to life, along with "cameos" from characters of other Dr. Seuss stories.

 

 

The cast lit up the stage with energy, heart, and unforgettable performances. Catalina S. charmed audiences as the imaginative Boy/JoJo, while Daniel D. brought wit and whimsy to The Cat in the Hat. Van C. gave a heartwarming performance as Horton the Elephant, and Titus L. and Sophie K. were a delightful duo as Mr. and Mrs. Mayor. Emma C. captured hearts as the sweet and determined Gertrude McFuzz, and Hannah N. dazzled as the fabulous Mayzie La Bird. 

 

 

Emma P. delivered a powerhouse performance as the Sour Kangaroo. Eva K. made a memorable appearance as Yertle the Turtle, while Arnold L. had a dramatic one as Vlad Vladikoff. To ring in the holidays a little early, even The Grinch made a delightfully grouchy surprise appearance, played by Mr. Lorn Apel.

 

 

The mischievous Wickersham Brothers did not "Monkey Around," well, except for when they did, bringing humor and high energy to their scenes, thanks to an impeccable performance by Kai D., Yegor K., and Hyeonwoo J. The elegant Bird Girls, played by Charlotte L., Veronika A., Michelle L., and Sadie S., added flair and fun to the skies of Seuss. The Whos of Whoville were brilliantly portrayed by who? None other than Döme C., Arnold L., and Ágoston W., Karis S., and Jiwoo H. The latter two also played the Nurses. It was also thanks to these Whos of Whoville, and the Hunters, Eva K., Döme C., Ágoston W., and Arnold L., that the Jungle Citizens and Circus Animals came to life, adding a wonderful touch of wild to this magical adventure. What a truly A-Mayzing cast!

 

 

Seussical Jr., much like the author whose work it celebrates, is full of positive life lessons, like encouraging children to go for their dreams in "It's Possible," and to use their imagination in the song "Oh, the Thinks You Can Think" with lyrics like:

Think and wonder and dream far and wide as you dare! When your thinks have run dry, in the blink of an eye, there's another think there!

 

 

Thank you to Mrs. Rebecca Lingenhoel for directing the musical and dedicating the time to bring out the best in our students, encouraging them to lean into their imagination and go for it. Thank you to Chaerin H. for stepping into the role of choreographer and creating beautiful dance numbers that brought the story to life. Special thanks to Zsuzsi M. and Joe D. for their leadership as stage managers, along with our amazing crew—Caleb S., Ryan B., Chaerin H., Allister K., Min K. L., Heily B., Laura W., Junhyeok H., Min K., and Sophia J.—for all their hard work behind the scenes. Thank you to Mr. Alex Konya for the sound and lighting design, and to Dániel L. for skillfully leading the AV team. Thank you all for using your skills and creativity to make this production possible!

 

 

Perhaps the most powerful and pertinent message of this story lies in these famous words:

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

This simple yet powerful message reminds those who have ears to hear the importance of seeing the overlooked, hearing the voiceless, and standing up for those who may not be able to do so for themselves.

 

 

Horton stood up for Whoville at all costs, despite grave opposition, while the Who's of Whoville cried "We are here!" as loud as they possibly could. This moment, so vividly depicted in our Middle Grades production, was a poignant reminder for us not to be so caught up in the noise around us that we fail to hear when those in need of our kindness and empathy cry out for help. What does it look like for us to remember "the least of these" in our lives and context? Well, what do you think?

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:5