Author Archives: robbucher

Show Info: Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life onstage in Seussical JR., a fantastical musical extravaganza from Tony-winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, the Cat in the Hat 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 he must also guard an abandoned egg that’s been left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird.  Although Horton 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!

What to prepare and bring:
Song: Be prepared to perform 32 measures (no longer than 1 minute) of any song that highlights your voice. This should be a Broadway-type song. You should sing with karaoke-type music (no vocals) downloaded on your phone, iPod, or CD. There will not be an accompanist. (Please note, no WiFi is available in our building and cell service is spotty, so please have any music pre-downloaded.)
Monologue: You should perform a monologue no longer than 1 minute that demonstrates your acting ability (you may be cut off).
Dress to dance. A short piece of choreography will be taught and performed as part of the audition process.
Audition Form: Found on our database at ActingUpdb.com.  Please create an account and enter all your information, including conflicts.  If you already have an account, DO NOT create a new one, but make sure to update your information before printing. Bring a printed copy of the audition form, including your conflicts list, with you to your audition. Please make sure that ALL of your CONFLICTS are listed in the database and printed with your form.  ALL conflicts must be reported at auditions.
Photo: Bring a recent photo that looks like you, that you do not need returned. No need at all for professional photos, a selfie is fine. It is merely to help the casting board recall who is who.
Schedule: Rehearsals will begin the week of August 23, and are expected to be Monday-Thursday 6:30-9:00pm and Sundays 2:00-5:00pm. Not all actors will be called to every rehearsal.

Performances will be Nov. 5-7 at the Mason High School Theater.

Who’s Directing?: Acting Up’s Fall Musical will be directed by Brent Peebles, with assistant director Rachelle Penilla. Music Direction by Jeanne Bilyeu.

Acting Up COVID protocols: If you are fully vaccinated (two weeks since final dose of vaccine), masks are optional.  If you have not been vaccinated, masks are required. Current protocols do allow for masks to be removed when actively performing (not during rehearsal). We will continue to watch the recommendations of the Warren County Department of Health as well as Mason City Schools throughout rehearsals and will adjust protocols accordingly. If any changes are made, we will notify parents.

For auditions – The above protocols are in place. During the monologue and song portion of the audition, we will ask that actors remove their mask. The actors will be in small groups and will be socially distanced. Everyone on the casting team has been vaccinated.

Performances of Seussical Jr. will be Nov. 5-7, at Mason High School.