Nearly two decades ago Lori Carmine directed “Seussical” for Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park & Theatre’s summer camp. Now her daughter Elana Carmine of Joliet directs the musical.
“Seussical” began June 14 with performances at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays in Joliet. Final performances are at 7 p.m. June 21 and 22 and 2 p.m. June 23.
“I remember seeing (the show) when I was little. I was like 5 then. I’ve enjoyed the music since,” said Elana Carmine, whose mother is the city of Joliet’s cultural affairs manager and Bicentennial Park’s manager.
“Seussical” features book by Lynn Aherns and Stephen Flaherty (who together received a Tony Award for best original score for the Broadway production of “Ragtime”), music by Flaherty and lyrics by Ahrens.
Co-conceived by Eric Idle, “Seussical” has characters including The Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz and Mayzie LaBird and worlds including Circus McGurkus, the Jungle of Nool and the Whos.
“Everybody on every level has been having fun from directors to designers to actors,” said Elana Carmine, who also is among the show’s costume designers.
“It’s as if all of Dr. Seuss’ works were taking place in one world and almost all of them are happening at the same time and how they would connect to each other.
“There are some stories that are referenced as having already happened but you’ve got ‘Horton Hears a Who!’ and several other short stories coming in.”
The “Seussical” crew includes music director Mark Epling of Plainfield; choreographer Lori Bowen; technical director, set designer and light board operator Eric Moniger; production assistant Jan Novotny, Elana Carmine’s grandmother; and light designer Christopher Tinoco, Elana Carmine’s fiancé.
A live pit orchestra of 17 musicians performs numbers including “Alone in the Universe,” “It’s Possible (McElligot’s Pool)” and “Solla Sollew.”
“We’re following Horton around and how he’s navigating his newfound responsibility as guardian of the Whos while in the tiny world we have JoJo navigating being an imaginative young boy,” said Elana Carmine, who went from being in Bicentennial Park’s Summertime On-Stage Drama Camp to directing it.
“His little planet is at war. His parents are trying to figure out how to raise him. He’s just trying to live as somebody who’s different. That’s another big thing. Horton and JoJo are both trying to live as people who are different in their different worlds.
“That connects them because they can talk to each other through the clover. They’re connected by the fact ‘We’re both in these worlds. We’re different but we’re the same to each other.’”
The more than 30 actors in “Seussical” range from ages 16 to 60s and include Braidwood, Channahon, Joliet, Lockport and Plainfield residents.
“They’re all talented, energetic and, most important, enthusiastic and happy to be here,” said Elana Carmine, whose cast includes her brother Jayce Carmine, sister Jazlyn Carmine and cousins Taitum Lee, Piper Novotny and Hallie Sieben, with the latter three also doing costume design.
“(What) is important is you have a lot of passion and excitement for what you’re doing. If you’re not excited about what you’re doing, the audience can tell and they won’t like it.”
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
‘Seussical’
When: June 14-23
Where: Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park & Theatre, 201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet
Tickets: $15 adults; $10 students and seniors
Information: 815-724-3761; bicentennialpark.org