Submitted Photo ‘Thirty-four students make up the cast, and 16 make up the “regular” crew in “Seussical.”

Dunkirk Secondary School Musical Club will be performing “Seussical” rom March 3 to 5. This colorful cast of characters zooms in on Horton, the Planet of Who, and of course the Cat in The Hat!

“Seussical” has been a whirlwind for students and teachers alike, with over half of the students and all of the creative team brand new to the program. It won’t stop them from tackling the production in an intense eight weeks.

Director and Producer Elena Kemper is no stranger to musicals, holding awards and working professionally as an actor, lighting designer, and dramaturg. Music director and pit conductor Zachary Bills is a recent graduate of SUNY Fredonia along with Kemper. The pair have been working together in music since running the Fredonia Ukulele Club in 2017. Choreographer Jessie McKenna is a local dance teacher and Dunkirk High School graduate. This is her first time choreographing a musical, but that’s not new here! All 3 of them are brand new to their roles.

With a new team ready to go came a new wave of students, too. More than 70 students at Dunkirk Secondary auditioned for the show after a special “Musical Reveal Week” segment played on the announcements and got everyone buzzing. Thirty-four students make up the cast, and 16 make up the “regular” crew, with many more students popping in after school to help out just when they can. Teachers of all subjects came together to help with cleaning out the auditorium space to make room for the new props and sets. The size of the program has doubled in participants.

“Tempted by an impromptu deal made between me and a friend, I joined Seussical, regardless of having no prior experience,” writes Jonathan Rivera in his playbill biography. Johnathan is a Senior playing Horton the Elephant. “I managed the girls volleyball team this year already, so I might as well do another crazy thing. Now having experienced the positive and fun atmosphere of the cast and crew, and learning of the true charm of theatre, I look forward to performing with everyone, having found new reasons to be a part of this production, and ending off my senior year with a bang!”

Tickets are on sale now at https://dssmusicals.booktix.com/

There will also be a free dress rehearsal performance for community members over the age of 65 on Thursday, March 2, at 7 p.m. in the Secondary School auditorium.