By Comet Ziemer
The Benicia High School Spring Musical Seussical is underway in the PAB. This will be the first musical that is being directed by our new drama teacher, Ms. McAdams. As someone who is performing in the show, I got the inside scoop from the cast and crew to figure out what this show is all about, and what we can expect from diving into the world of Dr. Seuss.
First of all, what is Seussical about? On the surface, it is a collection of multiple iconic Dr. Seuss stories all put into one plot line. The Cat In The Hat acts as the host and storyteller of the show that takes the young kid JoJo and the audience through the story of Horton Hears A Who. Throughout the journey, we see cameos from other iconic stories, such as The Grinch, The Lorax, and The Butter Battle Book.
But at its core, Seussical is a story about self discovery, bullying, mental health, and creativity. It takes the audience through an emotional journey of remembering what it is like to be a kid, to imagine, and in simpler terms, to think!
With opening night for the musical being on April 19th, the cast and crew is well into practicing numbers, making our set, and costumes perfect. To look at a more technical aspect of the show, I talked to Malik Rahim (11), who is the stage manager, about what it is like working on such a crazy show, and his thoughts about what the show means to him.
“I love being a stage manager. The majority of a SMs job is to basically keep everyone organized, and write down everything. I love this kind of work!” Malik said. “Along with organization, I also get to oversee the production from all sides and perspectives, from the directors eyes, to the actors eyes, I get to see everything. Lastly, I love working as a stage manager at BHS, because I get to work alongside all my friends. The theater community here at Benicia High School is extremely kind, supportive, friendly, and loving. I am so lucky and honored to be a part of such a wonderful community.”
After talking about the technical side, I turned my attention towards the performers. I talked to Sophia Anaya (12), who plays Mayzie La Bird, about what it feels like to be singing for this show.
“Being in the musical is an amazing experience because I love the rehearsal process and working hard to have a good show in April,” Sophia said. I asked them how they feel about this being their last production at BHS since they are graduating. “It is bittersweet being a senior and knowing it’s my last show, but I’m glad I get to spend it with amazing cast mates.”
The cast and crew are kicking everything into overdrive to make sure the show is ready to present to all the lovely people in Benicia. If you are interested in watching it, the opening weekend is on April 19-21 and closing weekend is on April 26-28. Come on over to the Performing Arts Building to have a wacky time with the iconic characters of Dr. Seuss.
beniciapaw.com 