Seussical the Musical: Two more shows added
Conway Dinner Theater and Faulkner Academy of Arts have worked together on two dinner/theater productions a year for more than six years and have never completely sold out a show two weeks before opening night.
There has been such a demand for tickets for Seussical the Musical that the cast voted to add two more shows, but no dinner. The new shows are at 2 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. July 30.
This year’s production of Seussical the Musical, based on the children’s stories of Dr. Seuss, brings together a cast of 27 kids and kids-at-heart. It is the story of Horton, a young elephant, on a life-changing journey to protect a tiny dust-speck planet called Who-ville. He falls in love along the way. Horton is played by Johnny Passmore, a teacher in the Guy School District.
Karen Graham, graduate student at University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, plays the Master of Ceremonies role as The Cat in the Hat in a masterful and very funny way. Miss Gertrude McFuzz, a one tail-feather bird, is a rollicking part played by Shanna Cummings, vocal instructor at FAA and UACCM. Four bird girls with lots of feathers and sequins are led by Amayzing Maysie, played by Amber Addley.
The Sour Kangaroo, played by Kendra Thomas, University of Central Arkansas voice student, has to do a role reversal once she discovers there really are little tiny people called Whos who live in Who-ville, along with Mr. Grinch. Mr. and Mrs. Mayor, played by Mike Woodrum and Stacy Butler, also come to the show with much theater experience. Many of the jungle people and whos are from Greenbrier, Guy, and Conway school districts. JoJo, a tiny Who, is played by 12-year-old performer Marshall Bellando.
Jim Harris, a drama/theater instructor at UACCM, is the director. Joan Hannah, piano instructor at FAA and UACCM, is music director and has worked with Cummings on choreography and vocal coaching. The reaction from the communities has already been phenomenal for tickets for this Broadway show and promises to be the most exciting family event of the summer.
Oak Street Bistro is, once again, catering three of the dinner theater dates at 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, July 22, 23, and 29 with a special menu for the children. Prices are $24 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. A 2 p.m. show on July 30 is sold out. Two more shows are now added (with no dinner) at 2 p.m. July 23 and 7 p.m. July 30. Prices are $12 for Adults and $5 for children 12 and under.
A new performance stage has been built at the Faulkner County Natural Resource Center, 310 Amity Road (just south of Furniture Row). Seating for each performance is only 100 people. Tickets are still available. Call FAA at 501-339-7401, ask any cast member, or buy tickets at Oak Street Bistro or Kordsmeier Furniture.
