Dr. Seuss characters come alive with Yellow Door Theatre Project production

Fifty kids aged 8 to 17 are buzzing around Robertson Hall at the First Ontario PAC getting ready for two Yellow Door Theatre Project productions of Seussical Jr. on July 20.

It’s a record number of participants for YDTP’s summer program, being held at the downtown St. Catharines location for the second straight summer after being hosted at their Virgil studio previously. 

“We had close to 50 kids last year says founder and artistic producer Andorlie Hillstrom, who is directing the musical. “The word got out about the program and this location is great. Being back here at the PAC is fantastic. They share this building with us for two full weeks.”

The task of corralling 50 high-energy, enthusiastic arts-obsessed youngsters might sound daunting to some. But Hillstrom gives tons of credit to the team that she’s assembled around her. 

That includes YDTP ‘graduate’ Sydney Cornett, who recently completed her program in opera at Rochester, New York’s Eastman School of Music. Cornett is taking on the assistant music director role for Seussical Jr.

Theatre professionals include Alexa Fraser heading up the costumes department, Lisa Agnew designing, painting and assembling props, and, all the way from Regina, Saskatchewan, Monica Ventura as choreographer and assistant director. 

It’s not all Dr. Seuss all the time, adds Hillstrom. The summer camp program weaves in workshops on topics such as improvisation, acting techniques, character development, craft work and prop work. 

“A typical day begins with music, then they move into choreography rehearsal until lunch,” she says. “After lunch, we work small scenes and hold the workshops for the others to break out into. After our last break in the afternoon, everyone comes back and we run everything we’ve learned.”

It’s a bit like a trial by fire to put the whole thing together with only eight days to get it right.

“Next Thursday we start to do technical work, and Friday we move into the theatre (Partridge Hall) for dress rehearsal,” says Hillstrom. “It’s fast and furious, but it’s really exciting. It’s the only time we do this kind of work.”

Hillstrom insists that everything has been going well thus far, and gives credit to some of YDTP’s mainstay students such as Alex Bergshoeff and Avery Kaspar for providing leadership, freeing her up to work with the youngest participants and those kids new to the stage.

17-year-old Kaspar, who plays Horton in one of the two performances next week,  has relished the chance to work with younger kids. 

“It’s been such an incredible experience,” the Eden High School student tells The Local. “It’s taught me so much not only about being a better person but also about being a better performer. I’ve been able to engage kids and be a good role model when it comes to taking theatre seriously while also having fun. I try to keep the energy up and happy, that’s very Seuss-like if you will.”

Bergshoeff says growing up reading the Dr. Seuss books makes it exciting to be a part of the production for everyone involved. 

“When I talk to my parents, even they grew up with these books,” says the Laura Secord Secondary School student who plays the Cat in the Hat in one of the performances. “The characters and the colours are great, the music is so upbeat. And you can see the smiles on everyone’s faces as we are dancing and singing.”

Asked to sum up the the experience in one word, he turns to Seuss for inspiration. 

“It’s so extravaliciouspernocosis,” he enthuses, drawing loud laughs from Hillstrom and Kaspar.

Hillstrom adds, “The music is so infectious. It is so much fun. That’s what I’m hearing over and over again. It allows the creativity to run the whole gamut. It is a really good learning piece for young performers, with the poetry as dialogue.”  

Seussical Jr.moves from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, as the Cat in the Hat (Bergshoeff shares the role with  Aoivhan Davidson of NOTL) narrates the story of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos. Horton must protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers and guard an abandoned egg left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. 

Although Horton (Kaspar’s counterpart in the other production is Isaac Barnes) faces ridicule, danger 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.

“Horton is such a lovely character,” says Hillstrom. “Very well-constructed, well-written. He’s the one you’ll identify with, you’ll care so deeply for him. There’s also the theme about how important it is to have an imagination. It’s fun, buoyant and over the top.” 

And it’s important to Hillstrom that she keeps things fun and exciting for the entire 10-day camp, especially for those kids whose first time on the stage will be in the cavernous, 770-seat Partridge Hall.

“I am always watching for them,” Hillstrom says of the newbies. “I want to make sure this is an awesome experience. We want to turn them on to theatre, not have them feel it’s overwhelming.

There are two performances of Seussical Jr. on Saturday, July 20, with a matinee at 2:00 p.m. and an evening performance at 7:00 p.m, with some roles played by different summer camp participants in each presentation. Tickets, at only $15,  are available through the First Ontario PAC’s website.