Seussical the Musical – Community Gallery Exhibition

Presented by Horsham Arts Council (HAC)

The Creative Journey

Inspiration for creativity in theatre design can come from an array of places, but when you’re working with children’s books, then the pages themselves are all you need! It was with this in mind that the vision for HAC’s production of Seussical the Musical started with director, Maddi Ostapiw, who wanted to make sure that HAC’s production looked like an open Dr. Seuss book for the audience to fall into.

When the incredible team – consisting of Emily Friedrichsen (set and prop design), Stacey Brennan (makeup design), Natasha Kuchel (costume design), Jodie Saunders (hair design) and Tom Miatke (graphic designer) – came together for the first time, it was clear to all that they would have a one-of-a-kind show on their hands. The team was lucky enough to share a strong visual concept from the beginning, and each member is to be commended for their ability to work within the constraints of a shared idea, while enhancing their own departments with creativity. The capacity for fun and colour that this show offered meant the design process was a mirror of the show itself – chaotic, colourful and full of laughter.

As Horton the Elephant reminds us, “a person is a person no matter how small”, and from the smallest to the tallest, the youngest to the oldest, everyone involved in the show was committed to creating a performance that was true to the spirit of Dr. Seuss and the joy his stories bring. The incredible end result is a testament to the enthusiasm, kindness and hard work of the HAC community.