Harry Hurst Middle Chorus Director Karl Harrod, Talented Theater Director Ashley Santos and Talented Art Teacher John Taube guided students as they worked together to create an outstanding performance of “Seussical the Musical Jr” funded through a grant by the River Region Arts and Humanities Council.

The show focuses on the Dr. Seuss book “Horton Hears a Who!,” centering on Horton the elephant’s efforts to protect the people of Who-ville, who live on a tiny speck of dust. It also features characters and scenarios from about 14 other Seuss favorites, including “The Cat in the Hat,” “McElligot’s Pool” and “Gertrude McFuzz.”

The cast and crew of 85 students learned how to work as a team to produce a musical.

“Being in “‘Seussical’ was the best experience of my eighth-grade year! I made so many different friends while working with all the students in choir, drama and art” Said Hurst eighth-grader Jenny Pahnka.

They learned about auditioning, researching their characters, stage terminology, dancing, making costumes, memorizing lines and budgeting time for rehearsals and doing homework.

“Seussical was an amazing experience and it encouraged me to go out and audition for more plays,” stated Hurst eighth-grader Alexa Romero who was recently accepted into the musical department at NOCCA.

“Even though I know this is not every student’s dream ‘to be a star,’ said Hurst Chorus Director Karl Harrod, “but Seussical gave them the opportunity to shine in another venue other than sports.”

Many of the students had performed in plays before but never a musical.