Seussical JR: A Fanciful Musical Production at Cherry Avenue

After last year’s success with the Wizard of Oz, the Cherry Avenue PTA once again set the stage for another production. Seussical JR, a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, showcased the talented Cherry Avenue students singing, dancing, and acting in a comedic romp through popular Dr. Seuss stories set to music.

So many favorite and captivating Seuss characters came alive for Cherry audiences: The Cat in the Hat (Emma McMulkin), Things #1 (Kaitrin Dolan) and #2 (Chloe Norma), Horton (Zachary Sanges) hears Jojo (Brian Licitra), the Mr. Mayor (Hunter Peralsky) and Mrs. Mayor (Bridget Sprekels) from Whoville—even the Grinch made an appearance. There was also Gertrude McFuzz (Meadow Reichert), Mayzie LaBird  (Eliana Lee ), Sour Kangaroo (Katie Lynn Monahan), Young Kangaroo (Giuliana Bentivegn), Yertle the Turtle (Jayden Aurelio), The Lorax (Joey Donovan), and Fox in Socks (Rilee Maha) along with a host of supporting cast members (see program attached).

A production of this sort took enormous dedication and hard work both from the fifty-five elementary student-performers, the middle and high school drama volunteers, and all the supportive parents who drove the cast and crew to practices. Despite the winter break that interrupted Seussical rehearsals, the directors and producers were impressed by the players’ enthusiasm and commitment.

“I loved working on this production with the kids of Cherry. Seussical Jr is a challenging show to put on with this age group, but the cast and crew had shown so much passion and dedication to the show, which made my job easy.”- Jackie. The Director

“Building extracurricular music programs at the elementary-school level helps Sayville be a true music town. The Cherry PTA is so supportive of having these plays for the experience that the kids get, but also the confidence to succeed in the arts as they move into middle school and beyond.” - Jack Licitra, South Bay Arts

There are so many to thank for the year’s most successful Cherry Avenue PTA Fundraiser: Directors Miss Jackie and Miss Jess from The Production Over the Rainbow Theatre Company and Jack Licitra of South Bay Arts, along with the production staff who coordinated the cast and crew. Without the support of Principal Dr. Lisa Ihne, PTA parent producers Mary Dolan and Kelly Darling, along with the tireless assistance of PTA parent volunteers and student helpers, this second annual Cherry Avenue Musical would not have been possible.

As Dr. Seuss said: “I’m glad we had the times together just to laugh and sing a song, seems like we just got started and then before you know it, the times we had together were gone.”

Even so, they're not completely gone—there's always next year for another Cherry Avenue PTA musical.

After last year’s success with the Wizard of Oz, the Cherry Avenue PTA once again set the stage for another production. Seussical JR, a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, showcased the talented Cherry Avenue students singing, dancing, and acting in a comedic romp through popular Dr. Seuss stories set to music.

So many favorite and captivating Seuss characters came alive for Cherry audiences: The Cat in the Hat (Emma McMulkin), Things #1 (Kaitrin Dolan) and #2 (Chloe Norma), Horton (Zachary Sanges) hears Jojo (Brian Licitra), the Mr. Mayor (Hunter Peralsky) and Mrs. Mayor (Bridget Sprekels) from Whoville—even the Grinch made an appearance. There was also Gertrude McFuzz (Meadow Reichert), Mayzie LaBird  (Eliana Lee ), Sour Kangaroo (Katie Lynn Monahan), Young Kangaroo (Giuliana Bentivegn), Yertle the Turtle (Jayden Aurelio), The Lorax (Joey Donovan), and Fox in Socks (Rilee Maha) along with a host of supporting cast members (see program attached).

A production of this sort took enormous dedication and hard work both from the fifty-five elementary student-performers, the middle and high school drama volunteers, and all the supportive parents who drove the cast and crew to practices. Despite the winter break that interrupted Seussical rehearsals, the directors and producers were impressed by the players’ enthusiasm and commitment.

“I loved working on this production with the kids of Cherry. Seussical Jr is a challenging show to put on with this age group, but the cast and crew had shown so much passion and dedication to the show, which made my job easy.”- Jackie. The Director

“Building extracurricular music programs at the elementary-school level helps Sayville be a true music town. The Cherry PTA is so supportive of having these plays for the experience that the kids get, but also the confidence to succeed in the arts as they move into middle school and beyond.” - Jack Licitra, South Bay Arts

There are so many to thank for the year’s most successful Cherry Avenue PTA Fundraiser: Directors Miss Jackie and Miss Jess from The Production Over the Rainbow Theatre Company and Jack Licitra of South Bay Arts, along with the production staff who coordinated the cast and crew. Without the support of Principal Dr. Lisa Ihne, PTA parent producers Mary Dolan and Kelly Darling, along with the tireless assistance of PTA parent volunteers and student helpers, this second annual Cherry Avenue Musical would not have been possible.

As Dr. Seuss said: “I’m glad we had the times together just to laugh and sing a song, seems like we just got started and then before you know it, the times we had together were gone.”

Even so, they're not completely gone—there's always next year for another Cherry Avenue PTA musical.