Those who are familiar with Mr. Weingartner’s theatrical productions are well aware of his penchant for the strange, dark, and the mysterious. From Dave Sheppard in May 2007’s Returning Road, to Bobby Strong in November 2007’s Urinetown, Mr. Weingartner strives to surprise and entertain the audience with his characters’ mystery. Surprisingly, this year’s musical will be taking off in a different, less gloomy direction.

“When I choose a play, I need for it to be accessible,” said Mr. Weingartner when asked about his reasons for choosing Seussical The Musical. “Seussical is accessible, anyone can be in it. The only restriction is gender, but even that isn’t an issue with this show. Secondly, whatever show I choose needs to attract an audience. And not just an audience of high schoolers, but people of all ages. Thirdly, I have to ask myself what the seniors need to add to their experience in the theater in order to have participated in many genres… But really what it all comes down to in choosing a play is the voices required for whatever show I chose. I knew we had the voices for Seussical.”

Seussical The Musical incorporates several of Dr. Seuss’s most popular and memorable tales, including Green Eggs and Ham, Cat in the Hat, Yertle the Turtle, and Horton Hears a Who. These stories come together in the protagonist JoJo’s mind, and they create fascinating adventures focused on the ideas of friendship, finding oneself, and believing in an idea even when others cast that idea aside as stupid or silly.

Seussical The Musical will be performed on November 12-15 in the Little Theater.