Southmoreland High School Music Theatre with fill the high school auditorium in Alverton with singing and dancing from “Seussical the Musical,” a family-friendly show based on the words of Dr. Seuss.

“They selected ‘Seussical the Musical’ because it is family friendly and has familiar characters, and it weaves a lot of the familiar (Dr. Seuss) stories together,” says Shawn Conway, the director and vocal coach for “Seussical.”

“Seussical” is a sung-through musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, based on the many children’s stories of Dr. Seuss. While it incorporates a host of stories, most of the plot — played out in front of very colorful scenery — is based on “Horton Hears a Who!” Among the songs are student favorites such as “Horton Hears a Who!,” “Horton Hatches the Egg” and “Miss Gertrude McFuzz.”

About 50 students, counting cast and stage crew, are in the musical playing March 5-8.

“Seussical” gives the students “lots of different opportunities for the kids to shine,” Conway says. “The students get to play multiple parts.”

Conway says the cast has been practicing since November.

“The kids have slowly got into it. They are doing great and I am really proud of them,” he says.

“Seussical is such a fun show,” says Chloe Gillott, a junior who has been doing the musical since her freshman year. After playing the role of Ursula in last year’s production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” she is excited to play a carefree and fun-loving individual.

“Getting to play unique characters is what makes being on stage so great. I am looking forward to performing for the community and I hope everyone comes out to see this incredible cast,” Gillot says.

For Jake VanArsdale, being cast as the Cat in the Hat “has been phenomenal.”

“This is my first time being a principal character in a musical, and I don’t think there is a better part. The Cat is crazy, unpredictable, a troublemaker and so much more,” VanArsdale says. “The Cat is a representation of what goes on inside every young kid’s mind and being a part of the “Seussical” cast is a great break from the rest of the world.”

Revived program

This is the third year for the Southmoreland High School Music Theatre, after the program had been dormant for several years, Conway says.

Conway, a Greater Latrobe graduate who worked with that school’s high school plays for 10 years, says he had worked with stage manager Jessie Glover and choreographer Kaylee Hansberry for several years in Scottdale’s community theater.

The producer and orchestra director for “Seussical” is Jamie Gore, instrumental music instructor at Southmoreland High School.

Opening night is 7 p.m. March 5 at the high school, followed by performances at 7 p.m. March 6-7 and 2 p.m. March 8.

Tickets will be sold 4-5 p.m. March 2 and 4-6 p.m. March 3 in the high school lobby; 6-8 p.m. Feb. 28 at Southmoreland Primary Center’s “Read With Me at SPC” Night; and at southmorelandmusical.net.

Tickets are $10, or $8 for ages 3 to 18.