About the work
Seussical is a musical by Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics), who together wrote the book, premiered on Broadway in 2000. It weaves the characters and stories of numerous Dr. Seuss books into a single imaginative plot.
Plot
The Cat in the Hat guides us through a colourful world where the stories of Dr. Seuss flow together. At its centre is the good-natured elephant Horton, who protects a tiny speck of dust on which the microscopic town of Whoville lives—"A person's a person, no matter how small." Horton also faithfully hatches the egg of a bird who has flown off. Accompanied by the dreamy Jojo and Gertrude, who is in love with Horton, a story unfolds about loyalty, imagination, and the power to believe in the unseen.
Cultural significance
After a mixed Broadway start, Seussical became one of the most frequently performed musicals at schools and family theatres worldwide. Flaherty and Ahrens captured the playful rhyming rhythm and humane message of Dr. Seuss congenially. Its message of tolerance, imagination, and the dignity of every individual makes the work a beloved family musical with heart.