The Old Rochester Regional High School drama club will proudly perform The Seussical this week at the high school auditorium. Shows will open April 3, 4, and 5 at 7:30 pm and April 6 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $12 for seniors and students and $15 for general admission.
Directed by Paul Sardinha, this fun and musical play is bound to be entertaining for all ages. The top cast includes Troy Rood as Horton the Elephant, Makenzie Despres as the Cat in the Hat, Kaeli Peters as JoJo, Sara Achorn as the Sour Kangaroo, Michael Amato as General Genghis Khan Schmitz, Nicole Enos as Mayzie, Emily Faulkner as Gertrude, and Sam Resendes and Lexi Melloni as Mr. and Mrs. Mayor Who.
“I think the audience should be looking forward to the interaction and the bright colors,” said Lizzie Machado, a senior in drama club. This being her sixth show at ORR, Machado knows the ropes of drama club well. For The Seussical, she’s looking forward to the amusing, childlike aspects of the play.
“Not many shows we do here are kid-orientated,” Machado commented, “[the kids] get to watch their childhood come to life, and that’s awesome for me.”
Machado looks forward to hearing the kids’ reactions to seeing their favorite Dr. Seuss characters on stage, but she knows the play will be entertaining for the adults as well. “They get to relive their childhood, just like the kids on stage and back stage are doing,” she said.
After three months of intensive rehearsals – some of which Machado referred to as “a bumpy roller coaster” – the drama club cast feels prepared for opening night. “The snow days and stuff kind of put us behind,” said Machado, “but we’re coming through, and I’m really happy with the way it turned out.”
Helen Blake, the drama club costume designer, says the play is “a lot of fun, very colorful.” This goes for all aspects of The Seussical – the set, the music, the costumes, etc. – the entire show is full of live and color.
After about 45 shows at ORR, Blake has sewn her fair share of costumes. Not all costumes are made from scratch though; some are purchased, others rented. “It’s kind of from all over,” Blake said. For The Seussical, most of the chorus members are bringing in their own costumes.
When it’s all said and done, Blake said it’s the director, Paul Sardinha, who makes ORR’s drama club create a spectacular show. “Paul is the one that really puts all of his vision into everything,” said Blake sincerely, “He thinks of things to do that a lot of other schools and directors don’t think of. He thinks outside the box.”
The drama club welcomes anyone in the community to come and enjoy their show. Tickets are for sale at the Marion General Store, Plumb Corner Market, and Pen & Pendulum. Tickets are also available for purchase at the door if not previously sold out. For more information and ticket reservations, call 508-951-5302.
In other news, the junior class is wrapping up their fundraiser this week. The class of 2015 has been selling Alex & Ani style bracelets with an ORR bulldog charm. They make great gifts for graduation and Mother’s Day. Order forms can be found at the Joseph H. Plumb Memorial Library in Rochester and at the high school. Final orders are due by Friday, April 4.
As this fundraiser ends, another project begins. ORR’s Community Service Learning club will be starting a sports ball collection at the high school and junior high school. All new and gently used sports balls will be donated to Gifts to Give.
By Renae Reints
