This year, students at Patrick M. Villano School are performing the play Seussical, Jr. This play – a musical – is about Dr. Seuss’s many characters and stories and will include the famous Cat in the Hat and Horton the Elephant. The main character is Jojo, a Who child who gets in trouble for thinking too much.
“I am auditioning for Jojo. I’m auditioning for Jojo because I strive for a main role,” Carter Ostroff, a sixth grader, said.
Auditions were on Tuesday, November 12, and Thursday, November 14. Forty-two students auditioned and everyone will get a role. The roles will be announced on Friday, November 22. Amanda Binetti, a school social worker, Allison Beckley, the choral director, and Joseph Gibbs, the band instructor, are in charge of the play. They say are closely watching each audition for certain qualities they’d like in each character.
“In each role, we look for a LOT of different things. It’s hard to put to words exactly what we look for when we cast for a show because there are so many factors and qualities that a student needs to possess to portray a part that fits our creative vision,” Gibbs explained. “A few qualities that come to mind are: correct pitch, correct rhythm, appropriate and supported volume, a noticeable inflection in the voice, and movement in terms of ‘feeling’ the song and character. For the Cat, we looked for someone who is mischievous, fun, and quirky. For Horton, we needed someone a tad aloof with a spark of innocent and hopefulness.”
The musical will be on April 9 and April 10, 2025. In between, the show’s directions expect a whole lot of hard work and dedication put into rehearsals.
