SHOW DATES
Pittsford sutherland High school | 5 Sutherland St, Pittsford, NY 14534
Friday, April 25th, 2025 — 7:00PM
Saturday, April 26th, 2025 — 2:00PM & 7:00PM
Sunday, April 27th, 2025 — 2:00PM
AUDITION INFORMATION
Auditions are open to adults ages 18 and older.
For Youth Auditions, Please click on the Youth Auditions button for information on how to submit a video audition.
MEET OUR CREATIVE TEAM
MITCHELL CANFIELD (Artistic Director) has a diverse background spanning performance, directing, and choreography. Having tap danced across the country with the 2015-2016 tour of 42ND STREET AND more recently as the swing for Geva Theatre's production of CINDERELLA, Mitchell has also performed on regional stages like Highlands Playhouse, Mill Mountain Theatre, Little Theatre on the Square, and Jenny Wiley. Transitioning seamlessly into directing, Mitchell recently served as Associate Director/Choreographer for JCC Center Stage's THE PROM and spent five years directing productions for high school students through the National Student Leadership Conference at Yale and Fordham University.
EMILY DESOUSA (Vocal Director) is a collaborative pianist and vocalist originally from Syracuse, NY. Emily moved to Rochester in 2017 to pursue her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Nazareth University and the University of Rochester, respectively, She has played piano for over twenty years an has studied most recently under Dr. Kevin Nitsch. Emily also has studied voice for over ten years under Sabine Krantz, MM and most recently, Dr. Nicholas Kilkenny.
Since arriving in Rochester, Emily has had the opportunity to work with local groups such as Lyric Voices, Rochester Musical Theater Academy, The Genesee Valley Orchestra & Choir, JCC CenterStage and has been a part of many pit orchestras. During the day, Emily is a choral accompanist for Pittsford Central Schools. In her free time, she enjoys being a portrait photographer, exploring new restaurants around the city, and of course, spending lots of time with her dogs: Poppy and Kayla!
Emily began her journey with Pittsford Musicals in early 2024 as rehearsal accompanist for Legally Blonde. She is extremely excited to continue being a part of this incredible community!
PAUL MAGUDA (Music Director/Pit Conductor) is excited to return as conductor for Pittsford Musicals. Paul has been invited to guest conduct for Webster Theatre Guild, Eastman Community Music School's High School Honors Band, Livingston County's Junior High School All-County Band, and most recently for Erie County's Junior High School All-County Band. As a freelance trumpet player, Paul performs with the Penfield Big Band, Krazy Firemen, Eastman Community Music School's Music Educators Wind Ensemble, Celebration Brass, and in pit orchestras in both Rochester and Buffalo. He has spent 26 years teaching music in Pittsford Schools and is currently the Band Director and Music Department Leader at Mendon High School.
With our creative team in place, we’ll be working on putting together audition information soon!
ABOUT THE SHOW
“Oh, the thinks you can think”
when Dr. seuss’ best-loved characters collide!
(From MTI) Now one of the most performed shows in America, Seussical is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza! Tony winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Lucky Stiff, My Favorite Year, Once on This Island, Ragtime), have lovingly brought to life all of our favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, lazy Mayzie and a little boy with a big imagination – Jojo. The colorful characters transport us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.
The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks." Horton faces a double challenge: not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.
Seussical is fun for the whole family! Performers of all ages will be excited to portray the characters from the familiar Dr. Seuss fables. This musical provides wonderful creative opportunities for set, lighting and costume design. An alternate orchestration is available in keys more appropriate for a female Cat in the Hat.
Character Breakdown
The Cat in the Hat: Our story’s omniscent narrator, he is fun-loving and enjoys rhyming. Pops up throughout the story to guide the audience. Wise and attentive.
Jojo: The Mayor’s son. He is a Who that is always finding trouble. Bright, creative, and inadvertently mischievous. Possesses a widly expansive imagination and finds solace in his friendship with Horton.
Horton the Elephant: Our story’s main character, he is a compassionate and gentle elephant. Commonly misunderstood because of his larger size. He is protective and loving of all creatures in the jungle.
Gertrude McFuzz: Horton’s one-feathered-tail bird neighbor. Gertrude is sweet and timid. Though kind and loyal, she is also self-conscious of her shortfalls.
Mayzie Labird: The most beautiful bird in all of the jungle. Oblivious to her self-centered ways, she relies on her talent of manipulation and intoxicating beauty to navigate her way through life.
Sour Kangaroo: The ‘leader’ of the jungle. She is loud, brassy, and stubbornly set in her ways. A caring mother but unabashedly sassy and soulful.
Ensemble: Jungle Creatures (The Wickersham Brothers, Yertle the Turtle, Bird Girls); The Whos (Mr. Mayor, Mrs. Mayor, General Genghis Khan Schmitz)
Inspiration
Seussical is an amalgamation of stories by Theodore Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss). His 46 children’s books are staples in the world of American children’s literature, and the cultural impact of these stories has been profound since he began writing in the 1930s. Prior to Seussical, Dr. Seuss’ works have been adapted for both television and film, in some cases by Geisel himself. Seussical is primarily based on Horton Hears a Who, Horton Hatches an Egg, and The One-Feathered Tail of Gertrude McFuzz, although it incorporates many references to other Dr. Seuss stories.