Seussical the Musical Performs on ISM’s Leila C. Saad Performing Art Center Stage April 7-10

Get ready to get an education in all things Dr. Seuss as the International School of Minnesota brings Seussical to the stage April 7-10. This is ISM’s first musical in more than two years, as COVID shuttered in-person gatherings. 

Seussical is a musical comedy by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty and Eric idle, based on the many children's stories of Dr. Seuss, including children’s favorites Horton Hears a Who!, Gertrude McFuzz, and Horton Hatches the Egg.  Tickets, $15 for adults and $10 for students, may be purchased online or at the door with performances at 7:00pm April 7, 8 and 9 and 2:00 April 10 in the school’s state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center. ISM is also offering VIP packages Fri-Sun as well as free tickets to First Responders on Thursday, April 7.  

Seussical features a cast of 17 students ranging from a single first grader to students in grades 3-12, a 5-student crew, one orchestral student and a very special mystery guest.

“We’re trying to keep it a secret,” said James Lekatz, head of performing arts at ISM. He wouldn’t provide any hints other than to say the guest is a member of the faculty.

This musical marks Mr. Lekatz’s first year leading ISM’s exceptional and award-winning performing arts program. He has a professional theater background having led productions at The Guthrie’s Dowling Studio in Minneapolis, Interact Theater in St. Paul and Stages Theater in Hopkins.

He feels Seussical is very fitting for the times in which we’re living. “Seussical features many themes, including ‘anything is possible,’ which resonates since we really weren’t sure if theater was coming back any time soon during COVID.”

ISM Senior Celine Bertomeu plays Mayzie La Bird. Seussical marks her last and very first performance.

“I am truly having a full circle theater experience at The International School of Minnesota. My first role as a kindergartner was in Seussical where I played the role of a clover. This year I have taken on one of the main roles of Mayzie La Bird. Throughout my years at ISM, I have also performed in Oklahoma, Shrek, Ariel, Servant of Two Masters, Wizard of Oz, Our Town, Bye Bye Birdy, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” said Celine. “Depending on the production we have had students as young as kindergarteners perform on stage. This creates a wonderful friendship and connection between younger and older students. Because we are a close-knit family, participating in a musical does not go unnoticed by the students and staff. We look out for one another, and support and celebrate each other’s accomplishments.”

Pulling off Seussical does indeed take a village, with the entire performing arts team coming together, including musical director Ariel Wilburg, instrumental director Jackson Lee and Rob Casey, who is in charge of technology.

The visual art department, led by Upper School art teacher PJ Mack, is also joining in on the fun. The department’s art show “Seuss Illustrations and Collages” debuts during opening weekend, highlighting approximately 100 student-interpreted works of Theodore Seuss Geisel, both as a book illustrator and in the world of advertising before he penned his books as Dr. Seuss. 

ISM’s Upper School students will be tackling his style of pen, ink, and watercolor to create work while Lower School students will build paper collages with Dr. Seuss imagery and markers based on his illustrations. Works will be on display outside the Performing Arts Center.

Get tickets to this Seussical experience before they sell out.