Seussical the Musical, JR. at Gaithersburg Arts Barn

Next Generation Arts Council is thrilled to announce its upcoming production of Seussical the Musical, JR., opening in early March at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn. This delightfully entertaining show by musical writing team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty features a lively and talented group of young performers ages 10-15.

Seussical the Musical, JR is a whimsical and fantastical musical based on the works of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss. The musical weaves together some of the stories and characters from his books into a vibrant, colorful production that brings the imaginative world of Dr. Seuss to life on stage. This show is sure to captivate audiences of all ages with its catchy songs, playful characters, and heartfelt story.
The show is directed by award-winning director Fred Zirm, who returns to Arts on the Green for his tenth collaboration with the Next Generation Arts creative team.  "I’m so proud to be bringing young performers back to the Arts Barn. These opportunities are so important to the next generation of artists, and I’m honored to be a part of their journeys. Seussical the Musical, JR. is the perfect project for these students. This show is wonderfully fun and whimsical, but deceptively technical and surprisingly difficult to perform. The musical moves quickly, and it can be tough for even professional, adult actors to keep up. I’m incredibly proud of the company for their hard work.”   

Seussical the Musical, JR. marks the second post-pandemic full-production for Next Generation Arts, following a brilliant production of She Loves Me by Next Generation’s senior performers in January. That show was entirely led by high school and early college students, many of whom are long-time Next Generation Arts alumni who are now actively pursuing careers in the arts. The company is very excited about the return of its Broadway JR. series. These one-act presentations of familiar favorites from the musical theatre library provide the perfect gateway to aspiring performers, as well as high-quality, pre-professional environments for seasoned young performers and creative crew members.

Seussical the Musical, JR. revolves around a curious child named JoJo and Horton the Elephant, a kind-hearted and loyal creature who hears a small speck of dust speaking to him. This speck of dust is actually the home of the Whos, a tiny civilization living on a clover.  Horton vows to protect the Whos, even though he is ridiculed and doubted by the other inhabitants of the Jungle of Nool, while JoJo learns about the power of friendship, collaboration and imagination.