Cameron actors to debut Dr. Seuss themed musical

The Cameron Community Players Summer Workshop will debut its Dr. Seuss-themed musical “Seussical” July 8 following more than a month of preparation inside Goodrich Theater.

Last Saturday, the cast held its first dress rehearsal in preparation for next Thursday’s 7 p.m. opening night performance.

“It’s the only play I’ve ever done before. I’m nervous and excited,” said Atticus Anderson, who will play the lead role of JoJo. “I like having the lead (role), but it’s also really busy. I just practice a lot. [JoJo] is the boy who imagines the whole story.”

While the past two seasons of the Cameron Community Players Summer Workshop focused on Broadway Revue-style productions - a smattering of snippets and songs from other productions - next Thursday’s performance will be one flowing narrative weaving together various stories from the mind of Theodor Seuss Geisel. Although far more complicated than years past with precise choreography, dialogue, stage lighting and effects, veteran actor Wes Ford said it was not as massive an undertaking for him having previously performed the same role as the Cat in the Hat in another production.

“The kids are so awesome. They’re always really friendly and everyone here is helpful,” Ford said.

While JoJo and the Cat in the Hat lead the audience through the story, another focus is the character Horton from the Seuss classics, ‘Horton Hears a Who’ and ‘Horton Hatches an Egg’. Cameron High School student Eli Robinson will take on the role of Horton, which will be his second significant role this year after playing one of the leads the CHS production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” last spring. 

“It’s honestly been kind of crazy. This isn’t my first lead, but it’s the first lead where I’m on stage for the majority of the show. It’s a lot to memorize, especially because I already have trouble memorizing in the first place. It’s been busy,” Robinson said.

McKinnon also starred alongside Robinson in “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”, but credited Seussical’s directors from the high production value. She added she is nervous, but excited to debut the show before a live audience. 

“It’s been a lot of fun. This is my first actual community theater production … This is the first major role I’ve gotten outside of high school,” McKinnon said. “It’s fantastic for a community theater. The directors are amazing and go way beyond what they should and need to do.

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