‘Seussical the Musical’ opens Aug. 6

TALKEETNA — What do you get when you cross beloved storybook characters such as The Cat in the Hat and Horton the Elephant with the Tony award-winning team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty? Why, “Seussical the Musical,” of course!

Denali Youth Theatre presents “Seussical the Musical” at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 6-8 at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar in Talkeetna.

Talkeetna Summer Stock is an annual eight-week musical theater camp for students ages 10 to 18, which culminates in three nights of performances. The camp focuses on acting, improvisation, and vocal training as well as set design, tech and stage management.

This year, high school-aged students have been given the opportunity to earn school credit through a cooperative effort between Denali Arts Council and Northern Susitna Institute.

The Summer Stock program was originally founded in 2000 by then-director Lacey Meredith, who over the course of eight years produced half a dozen youth plays and musicals at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar. Currently, Summer Stock is directed by Nick Condon of Denali Drama and Sandy Shoulders of Music Academy.

“The amount of young talent in Talkeetna is truly amazing,” Condon said.

As for this year’s show, Talkeetna’s young actors will portray your favorite Seuss characters in a vibrant display of color and lyrical fun, to the accompaniment of a live band.

To purchase tickets for “Seussical the Musical” and for more information on other programs offered by the Denali Arts Council, visit denaliartscoucil.org, or facebook.com/denali.artscouncil.

Musicians needed

The arts council is also looking for musicians to play in the Seussical band. Anyone who can read music and play one of the following instruments is encouraged to contact Sandy Shoulders at 355-3052: Electric bass (acoustic accepted), keyboard, trumpet, trombone, all saxes, clarinet, bass clarinet, guitar, flute, piccolo, oboe, bassoon, cello, violin.

Practices are July 21-23 and 27-29 at 7 p.m. Full rehearsals with cast are Aug. 3-5 at 5 p.m., and performances are Aug. 6 to 8, call time 6:30 p.m.