Lake Plains Players performing Seussical with an entertaining cast of characters

Photos by Tom Rivers

MIDDLEPORT – William Briggs stars as the Cat in the Hat, a mischief maker during Lake Plains Players production of Seussical.

The shows are Nov. 8 and Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 10 at 2 p.m. at Roy-Hart High School, 54 State St. in Middleport. Tickets are $12 for general admission, and $10 for students and senior citizens. Click here for ticket information.

Briggs, 24, of Lockport has been part of LPP productions for two years. The community theater program has 42 people in the cast, plus others in the production crew.

“Lake Plains is special,” Briggs said. “It’s very collaborative and inclusive.”

Briggs works in business development for the United Way of Greater Niagara. He welcomes the opportunities to be on stage with the LPP, which also performs plays and cabarets during the year.

Dan Zerpa plays the character Horton the Elephant, left, who hears a strange noise coming from a speck of dust and puts it on the clover he is holding. He says that little people are people too. He sings, “A person is a person no matter how small.”

He is in a jungle with the Sour Kangaroo played by Sarah Comfort. The mother kangaroo seeks to protect her jungle community from strange ideas like those from Horton.

She mocks Horton for caring about the tiny, unseen people. She sings, “Biggest Blame Fool.”

Noah Webster is Mr. Mayor of Whoville and Alana Huzair is Mrs. Mayor. The Seussical show is based on the plot of Horton Hears a Who!, Gertrude McFuzz, and Horton Hatches the Egg while incorporating many other stories by Dr. Seuss.

The Whos live on a microscopic planet and they are getting ready for their yearly Christmas pageant.

Scott Weber, the director and choreographer of the musical, works with the cast at the beginning of Wednesday night’s rehearsal.

This is Weber’s first time directing a musical for LPP. He has a theater degree from the University at Buffalo. He has been driving 45 minutes from North Tonawanda to lead rehearsals, which started at the end of August.

Weber works in data analytics for his full-time job. Being part of LPP offers a “creative escape,” he said.

He has been part of LPP for five years, first doing a vocal recital.

Weber said Seussical isn’t just “fluff.” Dr. Seuss promoted empathy and many powerful messages in his books, Weber said.

“There is such a heart to this story,” he said. “It’s about knowing who you are and not changing yourself for someone else. It’s about celebrating people’s differences.”

Other leaders of the production include Gary Simboli, vocal director; Jeanette Sheliga, conductor; Sue Glynn, stage manager; and Heather Rutherford, assistant choreographer; Dan Zerpa, scenic builder; and Robyn Watts, costume design.

Sarah Elizabeth Hill plays the role of Jojo, a boy with a big imagination. The Cat in the Hat tricks Jojo into thinking up the Seussical world. Jojo is the son of the mayor of Whoville and his wife. In this scene, The Cat in the Hat has Jojo think the tub is McElligot’s Pool. Jojo sings, “It’s possible.” Jojo gets into trouble when the tub overflows.

Gertude McFuzz (Rebecca Witty), center, is embarrassed about a tiny feather for a tail. She takes pills and the tail grows very long and cumbersome.  She falls in love with Horton, and admires his compassion for the tiny, unseen people. She sings, “Notice Me, Horton” and “Amazying Gertrude.”

Horton is in back sitting on nest, keeping an egg safe for Mayzie.

The Bird Girls are played by (from left) Madison Pratt, Myles Miller and Randi Sykes.

Pratt, 23, of Middleport has been in the LPP shows since she was 14, starting in the summer youth theater program. She is now a special education teacher at Lyndonville.

She is grateful for the opportunity to perform in high-caliber shows with the LPP.

“This is my release,” she said about the musical. “This is my fun place. Theater brings me joy.”

Tiffany Howell plays the role of The Grinch.