Diane Jones directs and choreographs both casts for this production, with Brian Hammond serving as musical director.  Jones has worked extensively in professional theaters including Starlight and Lyric Opera, as well as with young people, teaching drama at Mt Carmel High School.  She’s an ideal fit with ART’s mission to offer professional quality training to young performers.  Hammond’s performance credits include roles at the San Diego Rep, Sea World, Legoland and Starlight, as well as touring nationally and internationally with VEE Entertainment's Dragontales Live! He received the 2008 Aubrey Award for Best Musical Direction, has held teaching positions with the Coronado School of the Arts and Young Audiences of San Diego, and is currently a teaching artist for the La Jolla Playhouse.

The cast of over 30 is comprised of working professionals, experienced student actors and a few newcomers to stage.  ART management decided early in planning to double cast the show with an adult cast and a youth cast (ages 7 to 24), with the intent is to provide the student actors an opportunity to work side by side with the professionals in a teaching environment.  Each cast will perform 5 shows each; with the student actors appearing as ensemble actors in the adult show.

Seussical opens with The Cat in the Hat (Trevor Sanderson in the Adult Cast / Alexis Rogers in the youth cast), pulling a young “thinker” - Jojo (Emma Moore / Christian Carillo) into a familiar, yet off-kilter world filled with characters right out of Dr. Seuss’ books.  The story takes Jojo, and the audience into an imaginary world, where we encounter familiar Seuss characters. But the story is much more than that.  It’s about the romance between the clueless Horton the Elephant (Christopher T. Miller in the adult cast/Brandon Axtell in the youth cast) and his shy next-door-neighbor, Gertrude McFuzz (Kerianne Rice / Elizabeth Morse), and the friendship between Horton and Jojo and the Who’s.  There’s even a little drama as the hapless Whos cope with the things they have no control over, until Horton comes to their rescue. The irrepressible Mayzie La Bird, an incubating egg and a circus, sideline their rescue.  The message of the story – “A person’s a person, no matter how small,” will resonate with kids of all ages. 

Seussical is a tale about growing up and learning to count on others.  There is a sweet romance and sharp comedy that is sassy, but accessible to all.  Truly Broadway at its best!

Rounding out the cast is: Michelle Molbegott and Alexa Querin as the Sour Kangaroo, Dylan Gervais as The Mayor, Janelle Jorgensen and Anna Heil as Mrs. Mayor, Wendy Matsutani, Alyssa McClintick, Meagan Pticher, Kayla Schaffroth as the Bird Girls, Jordon Malbrough  as General Gengus Khan Schmitz, Erin Hunzeker, Garrett Slack and Alec Sobejana as the Wickershams, along with Sophia Delange, Ida Fariba, Kirsten Haden, Jazley Genovese, Santana Jimenez, Sarah Razo, Shelley Pasqueretta, Ed Smith, Jason Taylor, Jake Wascher. 

Memorable numbers include “Oh the Thinks”, “Horton Hears a Who”, “Alone in the Universe”, “Amayzing Mayzie”, “How Lucky You Are”, “Havin’ a Hunch”, “Solla, Sollew” and “Notice Me, Horton”. 

Performance dates:

Friday, July 17 07:30pm Adult Cast

Saturday, July 18 02:00pm ART Youth – with 1:30pm pre-show concert Broadway Magic

Saturday, July 18 07:30pm Adult Cast

Sunday, July 19 02:00pm ART Youth – with 1:30pm pre-show concert Broadway Magic

Sunday, July 19 06:00pm Adult Cast

Thursday, July 23 07:30pm Youth Cast

Friday, July 24 07:30pm Adult Cast

Saturday, July 25 02:00pm Youth Cast

Saturday, July 25 07:30pm Adult Cast

Sunday, July 26 01:00pm Youth Cast

Tickets, priced at $16 for general admission, $13 for students, seniors and active military and $12 for children, and $10 for groups of 20 or more, available by visiting the online box office at www.americanrosetheatre.com or at the box office at Theatre at the Mount on show dates. 

Tickets to the July 18 & 19 matinees include a 1:30pm sneak peek pre-show concert of Broadway Magic featuring young performers ages 5 to 24 – beginners to professionals – singing Broadway and Pop hits.