Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of THE CAT IN THE HAT at the Rose

When a tall, lanky cat wearing a red-and-white-striped hat steps through the door, one thing is certain: wild, wacky fun is about to ensue. The Cat in the Hat brings Dr. Seuss' classic tale vividly to life at The Rose Theater, today, Oct. 3-19. This energetic adaptation of the iconic children's book weaves all the silliness and charm of the original story into a playful production that will delight the entire family. Scroll down for a look at the cast!

Bringing a beloved classic story like The Cat in the Hat to life involves juggling quite a few theatrical balls (and a fish, and a cake, and a rake) in the air - a job that director Kevin Ehrhart accomplishes with ease. Ehrhart acknowledges that The Cat in the Hat has inspired generations of young readers, many of whom can recite the story from memory. Ehrhart wanted to build on Dr. Seuss' story, illustrations and hijinks to create a dynamic world of imagination where anything can happen.

The Cat in the Hat begins with what would seem to be an ordinary day. The curtain rises on two children, Conrad and Sally, watching the rain fall outside their window, expecting yet another average day. When The Cat in the Hat enters, the crazy creature transforms the children's world from drab and dreary to wacky, wild and wonderful.

One of the key challenges of The Cat in the Hat was how to transform a book that takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to read into a 45-minute show. To help tell the story on stage, Ehrhart has worked closely with choreographer Sue Gillespie Booton to create energetic movement that closely resembles dance in a technique he calls "choreo-blocking."

Original musical compositions and sound effects by sound designer Kyle L. Toth add to the whimiscal feel of the show. Toth explains that many of his choices were influenced by Ehrhart.

The Cat presents a wide variety of interesting activities to Conrad and Sally, and eventually introduces them to some new friends: Thing 1 and Thing 2. The Things know no boundaries and quickly make a mess of Conrad and Sally's house, much to their dismay.

Ehrhart feels it is this sense of chaos that keeps generations of children interested in the story of The Cat in the Hat and keeps the book relevant to a modern audience. As a parent, he feels a deep connection to the story and views The Cat's spirit as a mechanism for helping children develop confidence when facing challenging situations.

The highlight of the show comes as Conrad and Sally stand amid the mess created by the Things and their mother can be heard approaching the house. As the children fear the incredible amount of trouble they will be in, The Cat appears once more to save the day.

In the end, The Cat restores Conrad and Sally's house to its original state just in time for the return of their mother, leaving the children (and the audience) to wonder about whether the story really happened, or was simply a figment of their imagination on a rainy afternoon.

The Cat in the Hat is recommended for families with children ages 3 and up, and is 45 minutes long without an intermission. The Cat in the Hat runs Oct. 3-19, 2014, with performances on Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Two additional shows are available Sunday, October 5 at 5 p.m. and Sunday, October 12 at 5 p.m. Interpretation for the hearing impaired will be offered at the 2 p.m. show on Saturday, October 11. A special "autism- friendly" show will be presented on Saturday, October 11 at 5 p.m. Tickets are $18 per person. Discount ticket vouchers are available at all area Hy-Vee stores for $14 each. Members of The Rose receive four free tickets to the production.

Photo Credit: MJB Photography

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