By KELCY DOLAN

“Horton Hears A Who,” “The Cat in the Hat,” “Green Eggs and Ham”…everyone loves a Dr. Seuss book, filled with fantastic characters small and large, human, animal and sometimes something new altogether. Beginning tonight, Hendricken will perform “Seussical,” a musical bringing together some of the author’s most famous books, following a young boy, JoJo, and the Cat in the Hat throughout various Suessian worlds.

“Seussical,” created in collaboration by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, first debuted on Broadway in 2000 and quickly rose in popularity, a now favorite for schools and colleges to put on.

Richard Sylvia, director of fine arts, said in the past few years the musicals Hendricken put on were heavy and more somber, so this year he wanted to put on a musical with a lot of “life and spirit behind it, fun and upbeat.”

The cast and crew have been rehearsing since September and have been running dress rehearsals all week.

Although last year Hendricken put on a Christmas Play, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” Sylvia wanted to put on a show that stuck with the holiday spirit, full of fun and joy. He also wanted the show to be a couple hours in which the audience could escape the “hustle and bustle” of the holidays. He pointed out everyone’s favorite Christmas grouch, the Grinch, is a part of the play.

This will be the first year in which the school does their musical in the fall instead of the spring, and Sylvia noted that was a transition for everyone, musicals having far more elements to coordinate than a traditional play. “Seussical” has 35 cast members, 20 students in the technical crew and 15 orchestra members.

“The students have really pulled together though,” Sylvia said. “They have been able to bring these iconic characters to life, being great storytellers.”

Storytelling is key to any Seuss book as well as “Seussical.” Sylvia said that Seuss wrote short stories, full of “fantastic characters and silliness”, but each of them leaves the reader with a message, and that is what he hopes Hendricken’s performance this weekend highlights.

The cast includes JoJo, played by Emily Feilding, Francis Brissette as the Cat in the Hat, Jordan Carvalhal as Horton the Elephant, Giancarlo Gentili as Mr. Mayor, Michaela Vieira as Mrs. Mayor, Bryn Martin as Gertrude McFuzz, Madelyn Dutilly as Mayzie La Bird, Madison Leon as Sour Kangaroo, Juliette Hoernle as Young Kangaroo, Matthew Beaune as General Ghengis Khan Schmitz, Brendan Lawrence as the Grinch, Stephen Lee as Yertle the Turtle, Ryan Farrel, Carlin Fournier, Joseph Iannucelli and Luke Stripe as the Wickersham Brothers, as well as Lily Brewster, Alisha Ciunci, Sophie Gregory and Madeline Morin as the Bird Girls.

Hendricken’s rendition of Seussical will run from Thursday, December 3 to Sunday, December 6. The Thursday, Friday and Saturday shows will begin at 7 p.m. with the Sunday matinee beginning at 2 p.m. at the Dr. Daniel S. Harrop Theatre at Bishop Hendricken, 2615 Warwick, Ave. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors.

For more information call 739-3450 or email arts@hendricken.com. To purchase tickets visit www.hendricken.com.