SEUSSICAL Opens 1/30 at Gallery Players

Gallery Players continues its 49th season with the Seussical, the fantastic family musical based on the books of Dr. Seuss. Tony winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Once On The Island and Ragtime) have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite characters, with a rich and dazzling score to create an almost entirely sung-through show that transforms the theatre into the Jungle of Nool, the Circus McGurkus, the invisible world of the Whos, and beyond. Seussical will be helmed by Barrie Gelles, with musical direction by Trevor M. Pierce. Opening night will be January 30th at 7:30PM.

In this re-envisioned Seussical, a small boy with a big imagination wanders into a theatre where a troupe of actors create a show inspired by the Dr. Seuss books. Blending favorite Seuss characters, the production embraces the simple magic of theatre in order to reveal the essential beauty of imagination. Seussical features many stories: Horton is determined to save the Whos though he faces ridicule, bullying and danger; Jojo, a unique and often misunderstood child, is sent off to military school for thinking to many "thinks", Gertrude McFuzz struggles with the pressure to conform to physical ideals before she discovers her own beauty, bravery, and heroism. The Cat in the Hat emerges as a narrator, instigator, and mentor as the players reveal Seussical's true message - whether saving an entire world, or a single lonely individual, true magic comes from love, bravery, compassion, loyalty, and community. After all, "a person's a person, no matter how small."

As a special treat for our younger audience members, Gallery Players will be providing pre-show events before every matinee, "Theatre Thinks." At each of these sessions, the director of the show will welcome younger audience members and their families into the theatre to reveal some behind-the-scenes action, discuss the process of making the show, and introduce some "thinks" about theatre-making. Many of the performers willl be present at the "Theatre Thinks" and audience members will get a sneak peak at what will be revealed during the show.

Seussical opens Saturday, January 30th at 7:30PM with previews on January 29th at 7:30pm and January 30th at 2:00PM. Seussical will run for 16 performances through Sunday, February 21st, 2016. Performances will be held Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30PM, Saturday matinees at 2:00PM and Sunday afternoons at 3:00PM. .

Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors and children 12 and under. Preview tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for seniors and children. Tickets can be purchased 24/7 online at www.gallleryplayers.com or by calling Ovationtix at 212 352 3101 (phone hours 9-9 weekdays, 10-6 weekends).

Bringing Seussical to the Gallery stage is Producer, Justine McLaughlin; Director, Barrie Gelles; Music Director, Trevor M. Pierce; Choreographer, Emily Clark; Production Stage Manager, Kathleen Parker; Costume Designer, Joey Haws; Sound Designer, Jorge Olivo; Props Designer, Roxanne Goodby; Scenic Designer, Paul M. Radassao; Lighting Designer, Dan Jobbins and an outstanding acting ensemble including: Samantha Cooper, David Cronin, Veronica Decker, Stephen Foster Harris, Carley Frankel, Paula Galloway, Ashley Harris, Kyle Jack, Jesse Manocherian*, Oliver Mayes, Micah Mims, Jason Phillips*, Adrian Rifat, Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld*, Samantha Schiffman*, Marc Winski and Nikki Yarnell. (*member of Actors' Equity Association)

ABOUT THE GALLERY PLAYERS

A New York institution since 1967-nearly 50 years-The Gallery Players' season comprises three plays and three musicals from both the classic and contemporary repertoire; the season finale is the annual Black Box New Play Festival, which workshops and presents world premier productions of works by emerging playwrights. Gallery has received the Off-Off Broadway Review's 2000 Award for Lifetime Achievement, as well as New York Innovative Theater (IT) awards for outstanding musical for Urinetown, Yank, and Like You Like It, and has earned the reputation of "New York's Best Kept Secret."

The Gallery Players is located at 199 14th Street, between 4th and 5th Avenues, in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Take the F or G Train to 4th Avenue or the R train to 9th Street. By car: the BQE to Hamilton Avenue, to 14th Street. Website: http://galleryplayers.com.

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