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Arts in the Middle

The arts bring us joy in every aspect of our lives. Crane River Theater wishes to be an outlet for that artistic expression. Our mission is to serve the communities of Central Nebraska as a professional theater production company providing a home for the presentation, education and promotion of the arts. Crane River Theater produces a mainstream musical, children’s production and contemporary play each summer at various venues throughout the area. We are excited to bring professional artists from across the country, thus allowing Central Nebraska to become a destination for theater, music and dance.

Crane River Theater’s “Arts in the Middle” program is designed to give middle school students the tools and skills necessary to produce full theatrical productions, and incorporate theatre, music, and dance into their school curriculum. These are year-long instructional events, where Crane River Theater works directly in the classroom at Sunrise Middle School, Horizon Middle School, and Kearney Catholic.  By providing access to professional artistic directors and choreographers, students will be given the knowledge to grow and enhance their abilities to collaborate, communicate, and create.

Seussical the Musical

Crane River Theater is excited to partner with students and teachers from Sunrise Middle School, Horizon Middle School, and Kearney Catholic for our first “Arts in the Middle” production, Seussical the Musical!

Each school will perform two public performances in April 2019, along with a matinee performance for area elementary students.

Merryman Performing Arts Center
225 West 22nd Street, Kearney, NE

April 25 – 7pm – Kearney Catholic performance
April 26 – 7pm – Sunrise M.S. performance
April 27 – 2pm – Horizon M.S. performance
                       5pm – Kearney Catholic performance
April 28 – 2pm – Sunrise M.S. performance
                       5pm – Horizon M.S. performance

Adults: $10
Students (Age 3-18): $5
Tickets available online or by calling 308-627-5796.

Seussical is a fantastical, magical, musical extravaganza that lovingly brings together all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters including Horton the Elephant, The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and a little boy with a big imagination. Tony Award winners, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, have created a colorful world that transports us from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to the invisible world of the Whos.

The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing Whos. He faces a double challenge–not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left to his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping, 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.

FEATURING

Horizon Middle School

Cat in the Hat: Eli Traver

JoJo: Huston Cochran

Horton: Karson Walters

Gertrude McFuzz: Eliza Chaffin

Mayzie LaBird: Emma Jahn

Sour Kangaroo: Shelby Prascher

Wickersham Brothers: Jacob Larson, Mahel Orozco Hernandez, Luke Wegner

Bird Girls: Sophia Zelazny, Brooke Mathews, Kaitlyn Bengston, Elexa Padilla, Sarah Cumpston, Shyann Hollingsworth

Mr. Mayor: Jackson Lavene

Mrs. Mayor: Gloria Littrell

Grinch: Bleys Witt

Yertle the Turtle: Gage Long

Vlad Vladikoff: Tristan Christopherson

Citizens of Who/Jungle Citizens/Ensemble:Bleys Witt, Gage Long, Tristan Christopherson, Brodie Peterson, Prisila Avitia Alvarado, Brynn Grassmeyer, Emily Jeffs, Mataya Flodman, Nina Erickson, Alexis Long, Mara Falke, Dakota Zapata, Nathan Dubrow, Emily Bachman and Sophie Redfield

Stage Manager: Aubrey Becker

Kearney Catholic

Cat in the Hat: Zebediah Black

JoJo and LuLu: Trevor Frerichs, Isabelle Kathol

Horton: Tate Shoemaker

Gertrude McFuzz: Maddie Haskett

Mayzie LaBird: Mia Homan

Sour Kangaroo: Ava Lindstrom

Wickersham Brothers: Nick Homan, Caleb O’Brien, Jake Homan, Riley Pierzina, Sam Luther, Amir Saadi

Bird Girls: Sofia Hayes, Jenna Kruse, Luaren Marker

Mr. Mayor: Micah Feddersen

Mrs. Mayor: Kyleigh Seim

Grinch: Grant Drumheller

Yertle the Turtle: Dylan Seitz

Vlad Vladikoff: Quinten Hogeland

Citizens of Who/Jungle Citizens/Ensemble:Grant Drumheller, Dylan Seitz, Quinten Hogeland, Taylor Lamothes, Regan Potter, Makenzie Schroeder, Ella Amato, Jolene Butner, Xander Victoria, Hayden Krohn, Alex Abels, Stuart Machard, Breck Luedke, Ava Brummer and Tyson Redinger

Stage Manager: Jacob Isaacson

Sunrise Middle School

Cat in the Hat: Owen Biggs

JoJo: Noah Hawney

Horton: Henry Stelling

Gertrude McFuzz: Mavis Ziwoya

Mayzie LaBird: Alma Barrera

Sour Kangaroo: Jasper May

Wickersham Crew: Landon Clark, Mason Schwarting, Kelli Hoff, Jayda Potter

Bird Girls: McKenna Baer, Trinity Cross, Megan Janicek, Addison Harris

Mr. Mayor: Nate Evans

Mrs. Mayor: Bre Judd

Grinch: Winston Chu

Yertle the Turtle: Sarah Hartman

Vlad Vladikoff: Olivia McArthur

Citizens of Who/Jungle Citizens/Ensemble: Keenan Bruce, Hayley Kidd, Emma Turner, Zoe Williamson, Laura Corzo, Erin Parker, Lakisha Locklin, Josie Steele, Abi Lee, Annaelyse Donovan and Chase Krone