Horton the Elephant hears a whisper in his ear one day. "That's funny" thought Horton, "there's no one around". He soon discovers that the sound is coming from a speck of dust, which is home to a entire race of people, the Whos. And so begins Horton Hears a Who, one of the many classics from the pen of Dr Seuss. It's this story which forms the backbone of Seussical, a musical extravaganza which also borrows from many of the authors other works. The miserly Grinch makes an appearance, as does The Cat in the Hat, who presides over proceedings as a mischievous, fourth-wall breaking narrator.
Lynn Ahrens amd Stephen Flaherty's adaptation of Seuss' work first appeared on Broadway in 2000. Since then it's become a staple of musical theater, especially popular for school productions. Full of the charm and wit of the books, coupled with an irrepressibly catchy score, Seussical is a fantastical delight for children of all ages. It's an especially fitting work for the Pittsburgh Musical Theater, who aim to create affordable productions for children and families.