FLASH FRIDAY: Celebrate Earth Day with Eddie Korbich and SEUSSICAL's 'The Lorax Song'

By the middle of the 20th Century, people as a whole were starting to realize just how much the earth was being damaged by pollution and other ecological deteriorations caused by modern technology.

The first Earth Day, promoting the importance of preserving the globe's natural environment, was held on April 22nd, 1970, when United States Senator from Wisconsin Gaylord Nelson organized a teach-in on environmental issues. Today, Earth Day is celebrated annually with awareness-raising events in both hemispheres.

One person who believed deeply in the importance of preserving the environment was Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as children's author Dr. Seuss. His 1971 book, "The Lorax," told of a tiny fellow who "speaks for the trees" in defending a forest against the enterprising Once-ler, who built a thriving business from the foliage of the rare Truffula trees.

The story of the Lorax, as told by the Once-ler, was featured in a lengthy musical scene during pre-Broadway tryouts of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's SEUSSICAL, before the musical opened on Broadway in 2000. Eddie Korbich was the Once-ler and the late Alice Playten played the Lorax.

It's sometimes the unfortunate case that a wonderful matching of music and lyrics can be the wrong song at the wrong time. "The Lorax Song," though greatly admired, halted the plot for too long. After attempts to shorten it, the song was dropped altogether.

So in celebration of Earth Day, and the important message of the Lorax, here is Eddie Korbich recreating his Boston tryouts performance of "The Lorax Song," as part of the award-winning concert series "If It Only Even Runs A Minute."

Eddie Korbich is currently appearing as Truman Capote in Jay Presson Allen's one-man play TRU at Pittsburgh Public Theater. Visit ppt.org.