The Cumberland County High School Theatre department will present Seussical Jr., the first full musical production to take the stage in the newly constructed Jets Auditorium.
Cumberland County High School Theatre Director Angela Robbins said the school waited over 60 years for a dedicated stage. The upcoming performances will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original Broadway opening of the show.
“Finally getting to do a full-on musical after several years of doing musical theatre concerts in other venues is just, it’s kind of like the pinnacle,” Robbins said. “It’s, it’s the one thing we haven’t yet done and being able to have our students experience that for the first time is just a, a rare and wonderful treat.”
Robbins said the junior version of the musical combines characters from various Dr. Seuss books, including the “Cat in the Hat” and “Horton Hears A Who.” The students are handling all of the acting while also designing the sets and lighting for the production.
“I chose this show because it was the perfect vehicle for the students that we have,” Robbins said. “They are, are perfectly matched for their roles and it just made sense and the messaging felt more timely than ever with all that happens in the world right now.”
Senior Lighting Designer McKenzie Rutherford said she has been designing the light cues and working on color theory for the show since February. The lighting creates a background story that runs alongside the presentation from the actors.
“I think it’s important for students to be involved in extracurriculars because it allows them to form a community and get leadership roles they wouldn’t be able to have otherwise and be able to just express themselves in a way that they wouldn’t be able to academically in school,” Rutherford said.
Robbins said she graduated from the high school and has taught in the building for two and a half decades. The theatre department previously performed a student-written show and a fall production in the new building last year before launching this full musical.
“We, we hope and we really feel that if you walk into our auditorium to watch the show and you stay for that 70 minutes, you are going to leave with a smile on your face and your heart being three times bigger,” Robbins said.
The public opening takes place on Thursday, April 9, with performances continuing through Sunday, April 12.