Local Production of ‘Seussical’ Features Young ‘Old Pros’ at Yorktown Stage
“Seussical” the musical, adapted from the works of Dr. Seuss, will debut its two-weekend run at the Yorktown Stage on Commerce Street in Yorktown Heights on July 21.
John Fanelli, director of the Family Theater Company, has been bringing musicals to the stage with his troupe since 2007. The cast consists of actors, singers, and dancers ages 8 to 30 with experience from amateur to professional.
“It [the company] was created to provide entertainment for families, and we really love it,” said Fanelli.
The musical features characters from some of the most beloved Seuss stories including “Horton Hears a Who,” “The Cat in the Hat” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” The musical debuted on Broadway in 2000, and features music and lyrics by Tony Award-nominated composers Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens.
Fanelli also runs the Lighthouse Youth Arts Center in Thornwood, which offers professional arts coaching for children as young as 5 from Westchester, Connecticut and New York City. The talent among these young professionals has been cultivated in the Lighthouse Youth Arts Center with most capable hands from when they were young children.
“They have grown up in the program,” said Fanelli. “Can’t get rid of ’em, nor would I want to!”
This will be the third staging of Seussical by the Fanelli’s theater company. It previously staged the show at the Westchester Broadway Theater for seven weeks during the summer 2011 season, and at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, Conn. in November 2011. Although most of the cast is quite familiar with the production, Fanelli said there is still plenty of new work to be done.
The company meets at its studio space in Thornwood, where during rehearsals the voices resonate off the warehouse walls, even coming from the smallest of “whos.” The restaging and choreography are taught to the cast at lightning speed. The level of professionalism among the mostly young cast is astounding, as they take direction with precision.
The company is always trying to improve, even with a week of rehearsing left. Suggestions and collaborations are being worked out by Fanelli and Joey Sanzaro, 21, of Pleasantville. Sanzaro plays Horton, the lumbering elephant that hears a “who.” As they discussed props and stage marks, the two explained that previous stagings of “Seussical” they had done were more direct; now they are trying to bring more humor to their adaptation.
Shannon Stout, 14, from Dobbs Ferry, has been in the youth program for eight years, taking voice lessons and participating in camp sessions as well as the professional performances.
“The hardest part is the restaging,” said Shannon, referring to the switch from the Westchester Broadway Theater, which plays to three sides of the audience instead of just one. This difficulty would never be noticed during rehearsal. The entire company’s stage-smarts are present for the eyes to see.
“Oh the thinks you can think!” shouts the Cat in the Hat, and “Seussical” will show you just that. Tickets are available for the July 21-22 and 28-29 weekends, with the Saturday evening shows at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m. For more information and tickets, go to yorktownstage.org/upcomingshows.htm.
By Kristen Mutarelli
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
