Montezuma-Cortez High Schools theater troupe, Stage Dweller Productions, and its new leader M-CHS English and theater teacher, Nicholaus Sandner, will present Seussical the Musical this weekend and next in the high school auditorium. The musical features students performing song, dance and aerial acrobatics inspired by the tales of Dr. Seuss.
Anyone who is a Dr. Seuss buff will really enjoy it, Sandner said.
The production is primarily based on the book Horton Hears a Who. Main characters include Horton the Elephant (Austan Koller), whose compassionate nature allows him to hear the Whos of Whoville, and Gertrude McFuzz (Mariah Kingery) plays the female lead who has a crush on Horton.
After being in it and seeing the characters, I think its really cool and very dynamic, said Kingery, 18. It will definitely be fun for little kids and older adults, too. Older adults will like it because we have some good puns.
Although not originally a part of the musical, Sandner has incorporated aerial dance into the production to feature students trained in the art. These acrobatics, along with the whimsical set and various song and dance numbers, could make this one of the most elaborate productions Cortez will have seen in years.
Its been really fun, and it will definitely be exciting, said Koller, 17.
Sandner has enlisted the help of M-CHS choir director, Marla Sitton, and Suzannes School of Dance choreographers, Rachel Robson and Kristin Dennison. And while about 30 middle and high school students have been rehearsing since auditions were held in September, others have been tallying countless hours creating the set, costumes and staging.
The musicals costumes are simple but clever. They are mostly made of sweat suits with adornments, such as floppy ears and tails. The character is what we want to bring across more than the costumes, Sandner says.
Its going to be a very bright show, Kingery said of the costumes and set.
The set, built by students in Sandners technical theater class, is made of painted flats, props and other components, including a moving platform with wheels that allows a nesting Horton to hatch an egg while traveling throughout the theater. Five- and 8-foot platforms and hanging fabric for aerial dancers will allow the Wickersham monkeys and other inhabitants of Dr. Seuss Jungle of Nool to come to life. And a scene to be performed under black lights with glow-in-the-dark puppets will feature a unique, underwater experience.
Stage Dweller Productions is offering sponsorships to local businesses, costing between $50 and $500, in exchange for advertising space and tickets to the shows. Call Nicholaus Sandner at 563.3722, ext. 198, for more information.
Im happy to accept any help; all the money goes right back into the productions. Sandner said.
Sandner hopes this is only the first of many successful student performances he can present to audiences in Cortez.
My main goal is to show that there are performing arts for kids in Cortez and to get the community involved, Sandner said.
Reach Nathalie Winch at nathaliew@cortezjournal.com.
