‘Seussical the Musical’ at Pulaski High School

Pulaski High School’s 2025-2026 musical is underway. This year, they are performing Seussical the Musical.

Seussical the Musical, based on the beloved children’s books by Dr. Seuss, follows The Cat in the Hat and Jojo taking the audience through the storyline of Horton the Elephant protecting both Whoville and Mayzie’s abandoned egg. In doing that, he also learns about love and loyalty with Gertrude McFuzz.

Amy Tubbs, the musical director, said, “It also teaches about the importance of imagination, individuality, and standing up for one’s beliefs.”

This musical was chosen because of the fun music, characters, and creative ability.
“We hope the audience has as much fun as all the cast, crew, and pit members have in creating the show,” Tubbs said.

Riley Mommaerts, a senior, is playing Horton the Elephant. This is his fifth year of musicals. “I enjoy singing and hanging out with my friends,” he said. “It’s fun and nostalgic to go back to old Dr. Seuss books and get to see them on stage.”

Joining the musical for her fourth and final year as a senior, Leatrice Dyal is playing Gertrude. “I love being in musicals because I am very passionate about singing and performing,” she said, noting that she loves how the musical is able to show off the cast’s different talents. “I also love the positivity that this year’s musical portrays.”

Katherine Hurley is a senior and is joining the musical for her fourth year to play the Sour Kangaroo. She performs in musicals because she loves to act and sing, and believes that it is a great high school experience because of the friends and memories that are made. “I really like the whimsical and silly vibes of Seussical the Musical,” Hurley said. “It’s so fun to bring the adored characters to life and see the world come together during practice.”

Charlie Lasecki is a senior and has been a part of the stage crew since her sophomore year of high school. As a sophomore, she wanted to be involved with something over the winter months and decided that the musical was the perfect opportunity.

“I love to create things from scratch, learn new techniques in building, and even learn how productions really only grow from the effort the crew has to put in for the show to come to life,” she said.

Being a part of the musical this year, specifically as a senior, allows for her “to feel like a kid again,” and she is very happy that she gets to be a part of bringing her favorite Dr. Seuss stories to life.

According to Lasecki, one of the challenges of working on stage crew is measuring with the materials they are given.

They have to build a support called “compression legs”, which was not a part of the original set design. This meant that the team had to figure out exactly how to complete it.

“We measured at least five times, but every time after we cut the lumber, it was always a smidgen too long. So, we would tell our set director, (Ryan) Winn to cut off a smidgen, but it was always just a little too short for us to use,” Lasecki said. “Though after many trials and errors, we are always able to get the correct outcome.”

Joining the pit band for the first time, Delaney Niesen, a sophomore, is playing baritone saxophone. “I decided that I wanted to be a part of the pit band, because I have always loved being in and a part of musicals,” she said. In middle school, she was a part of the chorus for The Little Mermaid (22-23) and The Wizard of Oz (23-24) and wanted to see what it was like behind the scenes, which made the pit band the perfect choice.

“I enjoy band and this allows me to also see another side of performing music and the different styles of music used within the background music in musicals,” she said.

A challenge that Niesen faces is that this is her first time playing baritone saxophone and getting the timing and independent parts she plays correct.

“I really enjoy getting to try new things like this and to have the opportunity to be part of a musical again,” she said.

Performances of Seussical the Musical will take place Feb. 12, 13, 21 and 22.
Tickets are $8 and can be bought at pulaskihs.ludus.com.