ShowKids Invitational Theatre Presents SEUSSICAL

Just months after their beloved director was inducted into the NJACT Hall of Fame, the award-winning ShowKids are ready to take us on an adventure in SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL! "Oh, the thinks you can think" when Dr. Seuss's best-loved characters collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper staged by ShowKids Invitational Theatre (SKIT).

The heartfelt story of SEUSSICAL springs to life today, January 23, through January 31, 2016 with performances presented on Saturday, January 23rd at 2:00pm and 7:30pm; Sunday, January 24th at 2:00pm; Saturday, January 30th at 2:00pm and 7:30pm; and Sunday, January 31st at 2:00pm. All six performances will take place at Voorhees High School, 256 Country Road 513, Glen Gardner, NJ 08826. Tickets are $20 or less, and can be purchased directly at www.showkids.org or by calling the SKIT ticket line at (908) 638-5959. Tickets are on sale now!

Now one of the most performed shows in America, Seussical is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! All of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie, and a little boy with a big imagination-Jojo, are all lovingly brought to life by Tony winners Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.

The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks." Horton faces a double challenge--not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping, and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family, and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.

SEUSSICAL CASTING

The Cat in the Hat comes to life thanks to Avery Stoker, age 17, of Clinton. Stoker was a clear audience favorite for his hilarious portrayals last season as both Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, and Willard in Footloose. The role of the empathetic elephant Horton is shared by George Kapetanakis, age 16, of Bethlehem Township and Justin Lopez, age 16, of Clinton Township. And three of SKIT's brightest young starlets are sharing the role of Jojo: Emma Nasto, age 9, of Mt. Laurel; Mia Parker, age 11, of Clinton Twp.; and Sana Sarker, age 13, of Clinton Twp.

The quirky bird-next-door Gertrude McFuzz is shared by Gianna Castaldo, age 17, of Flemington; Sydney Kozakis, age 16, of Lebanon; and Courtney Voorhees, age 17, of Clinton Twp. Mayzie La Bird is made amazing by Natalie Mehl, age 15, of Lebanon Twp; and Grace Postiglione, age 16, of Stewartsville. Three young ladies bring the soulful Sour Kangaroo to life: Sara Alicea, age 15, of Lebanon Twp.; Alyssa vanVeldhuisen, age 16, of Flemington; and Paige Whitmore, age 17, of Lebanon Twp. And Maddie Nasto, age 6, of Mt. Laurel, makes her SKIT debut as Young Kanagaroo.

The role of General Genghis Kahn Schmitz is commanded by both Jared Parker, age 16, of Clinton Twp.; and Peter Zezas, age 17, of Lebanon Twp. Falling in line as cadets are Andrew Ranallo, age 13, of Lebanon Twp. and Owen Tabor, age 12, of Lebanon Twp. (who also play Who's). Other cadets (who also play Wickersham brothers) are Sam Hostler, age 14, of Glen Gardner; Sean Kane, age 14, of Bloomsbury; Jonah Lione, age 14, of Clinton; David Reese, age 13, of Clinton Twp.; Sam Hostler also appears as the Grinch.

The singing Supremes of Seussical, the Bird Girls are Sera Bunca, age 14, of Asbury; Aliza Campbell, age 13, of Pohatcong; Kaylyn Feeley, age 14, of Clinton Twp.; Haley Marra, age 16, of Clinton Twp.; Marilena Parker, age 15, of Clinton Twp.; Amy Schroeder, age 15, of Bethlehem Twp.; Brooke Wachenheim, age 15, of Clinton; and Josie Whitmore, age 13, of Lebanon Twp. Thing 1 is Katie Gallagher, age 14, of Stewartsville; and Thing 2 is Allisa Conover, age 13, of East Amwell Twp. And the adorable Cindy-Lou Who is played by Maggie Dean, age 12, of Clinton Twp.; and Charlotte Ruffine, age 12, of Tewksbury Twp.

SKIT veteran John Kozakis, of Lebanon, is the Mayor of Whoville and Ashley Gallagher, age 17, of Stewartsville, plays the Mayor's Wife. The cast is completed by assorted Who's, Circus Members and other Seussical creatures played by Maddie Nasto, age 6, of Mt. Laurel; Jeff Mehl, adult, of Lebanon Twp.; Andrew Pedri, age 5, of Hazelton, PA; Sabrina Bunca, age 11, of Asubry; Dale Dabour; adult, of Stewartsville; Constantine Kapetanakis, age of 14, of Bethlehem Twp.; Madison McGourty, age 15, of Asbury; Jennifer Palermo, adult, of Phillipsburg; Lisa Postiglione, adult, of Stewartsville; and Pam Dean, of Clinton Twp., a Perry-award nominee for her hilarious rendition of Betty Blast in last season's Footloose.

SKIT is a non-profit, family community theatre group. Founded in 1986 to offer the children of Hunterdon County an opportunity to experience the joys of theatre and give the community professional quality children's theatre productions, SKIT has since blossomed into an organization that also provides families the opportunity to share quality time while providing an unending amount of wonderful memories. SKIT director and producer Carolyn B. Newman was inducted into the New Jersey Association of Community Theater's (NJACT) Perry Award Hall of Fame earlier this year. SKIT won the Perry for "Outstanding Production of a Musical" in 2014 for Shrek, out of over 200 productions reviewed throughout New Jersey. ShowKids Invitational Theatre programs are made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, through the funds administered by the Hunterdon County Cultural & Heritage Commission.

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