Try Rocket Money for free: https://www.rocketmoney.com/waitinthe…
#Seussical #RocketMoney #personalfinance
Everyone thought Seussical would be a hit. It had an award winning creative team, a charming presence, and was based on the most iconic characters in books.
But then, just as quickly as it promising rise…it all came crashing down.
This is the story of Seussical.
Special thanks to Kevin Chamberlin and Eddie Korbich for their insight into this production!
Thanks to the following standing room patrons! Join the WitW community at www.patreon.com/witw
A.E. Reinhart
Alice
Ann
Ann Marie Wilson
Anon!
Ayinde
Blythe Lavender
Brent Black
Bryant Gipull Garcia
Cameron Abaroa
Cindy Lindsay
Danniella
Deena Abdullat
Emily Ingram
Ethan
Frances McGinn
Holly K
jack walk
Katie McGuire
Kelseigh Ingram
Lawren Kinsey
Lucia Figueras
Marisa
Megan McCasland
Noel Dietrich
Orange
Phil Edwards
Rachel Goodman
Savannah Cash
stephen seale
Taekook
Timothy Murray
Tom Norris
Toryana Frazier
yamiangie
source
Help us continue making these deep dives and join our exclusive discord community for just $3 a month! https://www.patreon.com/witw
It's really interesting when you compare what happened to hear with what I feel happens in Hollywood films than even nowadays certain TV productions and video games. Where the big official thing needs to feel them make it official so they over complicated and everyone's ego is on display and it's full of money and talent and power and no one can relate to it. Then it's given to like people who have talent but are passionate and our fans of the actual thing and are willing to collaborate in order to make the thing they've always wanted to see and it works. See, for example a lot of the latest Blockbusters with films like Godzilla minus one and other smaller productions. Like Hollywood is also very familiar of making everything edgy and cool and pomps and then it wears the audience out. And then meanwhile here comes this 15 to 30 million film and it blows everything out of the water because everyone collaborated with their passions in order to make the thing that they and the audience have always wanted to see. I think that is a success story in a cautionary tale across a mediums that is old as time
I just did a production of Seussical
Thank god Garth Dabrinsky was caught and never caused any issues on Broadway again
Why in the world would anyone take on a Dr. Seuss musical and think, "We need to make this sexy for adults"? If you want to make a sexy show, Dr. Seuss ain't it, babe.
Seussical was how I was introduced to musical theatre. I was 8 years old and I saw a performance at the high school I later attended.
I think every theatre kid has been forced to do this show sometime between elementary and high school (I was Jojo in 4th grade) and all the stories I've heard are absolute fever dreams haha
I love Seussical, it’s one of my favorites; and not just because I was in a community production when I was in high school, playing Thing 2
Seussical was one of my favorite productions i took part of as an actor. I was in a local production i think in 2010 or so in Baldwin Park CA (i played the things) and its still a memory i look at fondly
This story is so crazy! I loved it lol
I’m so excited to watch this! I’m currently in Seussical as Mayzie and have been looking for a video on the history. 🙂
Imagine if NBC did a live musical telecast of Seussical. Who’d star in it?
What are critics' issues with spectacle?
Ah Seussical, it was the musical my high school was supposed to perform when COVID hit.
I feel like the real answer to who ruined the original broadway run is the whatever weirdo decided to make material for children sexy.
Interesting that you can see how Seussical served as an introduction to Broadway for Universal and Eric Idle who would then go on to produce Wicked and Spamalot in the years after.
I was in a high school production of Seussical (in 2006ish) , and for myself and pretty sure everyone involved it was the second most amazing musical the school ever did (later did Little Shop Of Horrors though) at least for the cast ridiculousness and theater kid shenanigans level and the content being so ridiculous and confusingly toned half the acting was not smirking through lines =P
That said, it wasn't til a Simpsons joke where someone said "this is worse than Seussical!" that I became aware maybe it wasn't well regarded- and now you've put the nail in the coffin
I played the bass Wickersham Brother in my community theatre production several years ago. Not gonna lie: for show this cheesy, it so much fun to be a part of
I feel like the 3 ones they picked to be the through line were bad choices
This is great! But one of the funniest things is to put the closed caption on, and watch it try to figure out and interpret the word “Seussical” 😂
Haven’t seen “Seussical,” but really enjoyed your video. I credit my love of reading to Dr Seuss.
The Broadway version of Seussical wasn’t as over the top as it could have been. There are still some aspects of the Broadway production I prefer over the revised tour version.
The cost of the entire project alone is a story into itself. I mean the fact that the company faced bankruptcy is surprising to see.
Seussical truly is such a fascinating story. The original production started out simple, and found magic in that simplicity, just like how the books are simple drawings telling simple stories. Then it had a grand biggering phase where the magic dried up and the parts that made it Seuss were lost. Nowadays, it's often licensed out for high school and local community productions. I saw one not long ago where they couldn't really go for more elaborate props or backgrounds. And that little production was pure childhood magic and wonder. Seussical found its way back to its roots by being something that an underfunded theater department puts on, where the next big star can bloom into their talents. And I find that bit really uplifting.
This was the 1st show I ever had a "major" part in. I was the grinch. 😂
Way back in middle school I would listen to the original Broadway recording of Seussical many nights to go to bed (I had a revolving list), and tbh… I really love the route they went with it? Like, the more "sexy" parts never felt uncomfortable for me, and I still felt the whole "life is chaotic and there's scary things you deal with every day, but be positive and it's all bearable and worth it and beautiful" message. I guess that goes to show how strong the score and general writing was for this show was, and just how disjointed the actual stage production was. Hearing that it was turned essentially into an Isekai kinda rubs me the wrong way, cuz it already felt like we, as an audience, was being pulled into the story by The Cat in the Hat himself, but maybe I'm just biased. Regardless, I'll always love this show. I had no idea it had such a rocky run. Thank you for the video!!
As a Seussical alumni (mayor of whoville in high school) this show will never cease to fascinate me
Wonder what Eric Idle cut would have been like.
Fun fact: The actor who plays Bertram from Jessie was in the original Broadway production Suessical and played Horton. U can see him clearly at 21:44
I did Seussical in 2012 and, from my experience and what you described, a definite improvement in story and character. I also met my husband, who was in the show with me. I was a bird girl, and he played Mr. Mayor.
This production has such a fascinating story and you told it so well! I'm waiting for the day they hopefully revive Seussical on Broadway!
never knew Eric Idle was connected to Seussical, what a wild version his would've been!
Your mustache is really cute
🎵"Two small tweaks to the musical… one small tweak to the musical… set the story free…" 🎵
i'm playing viola for this show in a little bit. i've never seen it and i'm… conflicted
This video confused me as I thought it was your old video
I saw a high school production of Suessical in kindergarten and it 100% sparked my love of theatre.
I have never seen Seussical, but years ago I had a dream I saw it starring Patrick Stewart
1. My family (on my father's side) has a history with Seussical, specifically the junior version for schools. Between us, we count a Who ensemble member (my cousin in middle school), a Young Kangaroo (myself at summer camp), another Who ensemble member (my brother at summer camp) and a Horton the Elephant (my other cousin in middle school). I don't particularly love the show but it was so much fun to do when I was younger and I think it's a great show for schools, summer camps, and community theaters to do. I think a stripped-down that really relies on the audience's imagination would be fascinating to see.
2. I kept getting distracted by the fact that Barry Weissler is just about a dead ringer for Brian Cox.
Thank you for remaking this video and showing how much you’ve grown. I liked the previous live concept, but this dives deeper and is much more polished. Bravo!
Wow, what a journey this little family show had to go though 😄😄😄💜
So wait. Rosie is the reason Chicago is still running? Werk.
Seussical SLAPS and deserved better. It's the epitome of campy musical theater. I will die on this hill.
Was that Leah Michele as a child in Ragtime?
I really like Seussical; I was the Grinch in our Who ensemble in my college's production of it. We definitely went all out regarding the set and costumes, but this really has me interested in seeing or being in the show again with minimal scenery and costumes lol
Seussical definitely deserves more love, and this is coming from someone who played a Jungle Citizen (and was the understudy for Mayzie La Bird) in my middle school production. It’s one of my favorite shows I’ve ever been in, if not my very favorite. 🙂
I'd never have known Ssuessical was a thing until I got to play one of the Wickersham brothers at Bakersfield College, Ssuesical will always be my top musicals for this.
Heavens, what a bizarre adventure this must have been.
My daughter who is 8 has been in a few Jr shows so far, and I have enjoyed them all… except for Seussical. I thought it was terrible. The songs are OK, especially the opening “Oh the Thinks you can Think” which is catchy and captures the feel of Dr Seuss. But the story is rambling and dumb, and I really hate the characters of Mayzie and Gertrude who seemed kind of offensive to me. I couldn’t understand why the writers focused on those characters… but if the original version was supposed to be “sexy” (by 2000 standards) then I guess that could explain it. And all the changes over multiple versions could have caused the chaos in the plot. Overall the show seems uneasy with itself – it doesn’t hang together with a cohesive story, unlike the books it’s based on. Instead of feeling whimsical it felt random and pointless to me. It does not compare favorably with the other shows my daughter has done, such as Annie and The Sound of Music. Thanks so much for this video, which has helped me understand why this show turned out the way it did.
I don’t know if there is enough story for this, but you should make a video on “Almost, Maine”!