Review: 'Seussical The Musical' by Warner Stage Company

Photos by Mandi Martini.©2016 The Warner Theatre

“If you open your mind, Oh, the thinks you will find, Lining up to get loose…”

The Warner Theatre Stage Company invited 700 audience members to look “at life through the wrong end of a telescope” for opening night of their splashy summer production of ‘Seussical: The Musical.’ These are the words that Dr. Seuss himself used to describe how fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living and director Richard McKenna, in his main stage directorial debut, has brought fantasy to life in a big way with this whimsical, joyful and very colorful production.

Mr. McKenna got involved with the Warner Theatre when he was “just a kid,” and he never left. In fact, he considers the Warner to be a second home and the people there as a second family. Dressed in a tuxedo, this “much older kid” was bursting with pride for his cast members following the opening night performance.
The first-time director showed a knack for perfectly casting the right person for each role as he filled the large stage with local community theatre talent. He was lucky to have TJ Thompson as musical director/conductor and the pit that played one of my favorite scores included Meric Martin on guitar, Scott Friend on trumpet, Dan Ringuette on keyboard and James Allen on drums. WSC Production Manager Sharon A. Wilcox was responsible for the adorable choreography, and after she and Mr. McKenna did the curtain speech in rhyme, she served as a member of the running crew dressed as Thing 1.

CLICK HERE TO READ MY ENTIRE REVIEW ON ONSTAGE

I recommend that you put this on your list of “not to be missed.” ‘Seussical: The Musical’ runs at the Warner through August 7.