Students in the Martins Ferry High School Theatre Department are preparing to take the stage with “Seussical – The Musical.” Cast members include, in front, Emma McFarland; kneeling from left, Zoe Heath, Abygail Heath, Alexandra Gramatikos, Hudson Higgs and Rayanne Rose; second row from left, Premsinee Pisarnwiriyakul, Milo Dobresk, Emmy Buck, Sal Briggs, Abigail Carpino, Josh Vetanze, Tori Cognion and Alex Danehart; and in third row from left, Nick Nolan, Demitris Briggs, Hayden Tinnel and Mathew Bex. (Photos Provided)

MARTINS FERRY — Martins Ferry High School Theatre Department will present the colorful and quirky “Seussical — The Musical” at 7 p.m. today, Friday, April 12, and Saturday, April 13, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at the Martins Ferry High School Cafetorium.

Just like the Dr. Seuss books on which it’s based, “Seussical” takes the audience on a topsy-turvy adventure filled with magical creatures and moral lessons, all wrapped up in rhymes and nonsense. Oh, the thinks you can think! Oh, the places you’ll go!

Beloved Seuss characters come to life on an elaborate set created by the MFHS Set Design class and theatre students. Audiences will meet a boy named JoJo, the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, The Whos from Whoville, the Grinch, Mayzie La Bird, Gertrude McFuzz, the Sour Kangaroo and many more.

“Seussical is incredible,” Director Julia Wayne said. “The writers have taken the Dr. Seuss favorites that we have grown up with and transformed them into an incredible stage show. The music is energetic, exciting and emotional.”

Set in the Jungle of Nool, the story centers on Horton and combines plots from “Horton Hears a Who” and “Horton Hatches the Egg,” among snippets and smatterings of several other stories. The mischievous Wickersham Brothers and the Sour Kangaroo tease Horton because he is the only one who can hear the Whos, who reside on a speck of dust and are in danger of being destroyed.

Horton’s neighbor, Gertrude, the bird with only one long tail feather, stands up for Horton but is ignored.

Crew members in the “Seussical – The Musical” production at Martins Ferry High School include, from left, Danielle Helsel, Abygail Heath, Zoe Heath and Michael Fry. Not pictured is Nevaeh Loudin. (Photos Provided)

In the miniscule world of the Whos, JoJo is getting into trouble for all the “thinks” he is thinking, under the influence of the Cat. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mayor, send him to military school at the Cat’s suggestion. There’s a senseless war afoot, led by General Genghis Kahn Schmitz. JoJo and Horton discover they can hear each other, and they strike up a friendship.

Meanwhile, the selfish and lazy Mayzie La Bird preys on Horton’s good nature and convinces him to sit on her egg till it hatches, while she goes in search of a new adventure.

From the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus to Palm Beach, adventures abound and dangers are imminent. What will happen to the seemingly helpless Whos? Will JoJo survive the war? Will Horton ever notice Gertrude? How will Horton escape persecution and prosecution? Will the egg ever hatch?

The whirlwind show takes place on a whimsical set.

“Set Design teacher Rachel Shipley and many of her students have helped with the set this year, and it has been a huge asset to the program. The theatre class members have also done a lot of set painting. We are all excited about the color both on the set and in the characters,” Wayne said. “Bring your children and your friends. You will be moved by the messages. We look forward to performing this amazing show.”

Tickets are $10 at the door. Admission is $5 for students and free for ages 5 and under.