Wayne Shepherd said that if the secret of success in real estate is location, location, location, the theatrical equivalent is casting, casting, casting.
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More than 80 people auditioned for Seussical the Musical which Shepherd directed for Ickle Pickle Productions and which will open on Friday and Shepherd was pleased with the 35 cast members, aged from 11 to 60, who emerged from the process. They've been in rehearsal for more than five months.
Among them is Adam Salter who plays The Cat in the Hat, one of children's author Dr Seuss's most enduring creations, who narrates the show, introducing young JoJo (Kaitlin Nihill) to a wonderful world of imagination.
Salter had never read Seuss's books as a child but now as the father of a 16-month-old daughter has been discovering them with her. And then came the opportunity to perform in Seussical, a show in which she could watch him on stage.
He plays many other roles in the show with 12 costume changed and said, "It's like the usual two-and-a-half-hour show crammed into 75 minutes."
Shepherd said Seussical the Musical was the most often produced amateur musical show in the US and was becoming more popular in Australia, too. The enduring appeal of Seussian characters like Horton the Elephant was one factor, but there were other reasons, too, he said.
"It is beautifully tuneful with a universal message: all of us want one thing in life, to be recognised for who we are and loved for who we are and not what we pretend to be."
Seussical the Musical is on at Belconnen Theatre from January 10 to 25. Tickets $26/$22.50. For more information and bookings: canberraticketing.com.au or 62752700.
