Youth productions on display this weekend

School has been out for over a month or more in most areas around Northeast Ohio, which is more than enough time for our young thespians to whip up some youth theatrical productions.

We are now at the point of the summer where many of them are ready to share what they have been, quite literally, sweating over for the last few weeks. Read on to see the options you have to support them.

Rabbit Run Theater

On July 20, the familyfriendly musical “Seussical” opens at Rabbit Run Theater in Madison as their annual youth show.

With music by Tony Award winner Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, “Seussical” is based on the works of Dr. Seuss and his many familiar children’s books including “Horton Hears a Who” and “Cat in the Hat.”

Performances run through July 28 and are rated for general audiences suitable for family entertainment. All evening shows for “Seussical” begin at 7:30 p.m. On July 28, the run closes with a family-friendly matinee beginning at 2 p.m.

Tickets for all performances are available by calling the box office at 440-428-7092, Wednesdays through Sundays, 3 to 7 p.m. or online at www.rabbitrunonline.org. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for seniors and students and $11 for youth 12 and under. For group packages and rates, call 440-4285913.

Guests are welcome to bring a picnic meal to enjoy on the grounds of the theater prior to a show in the new picnic pavilion or courtyards. Rabbit Run Theater is located at 5648 W. Chapel Road in Madison.

Rabbit Run Theater is one of the few barn theaters still in operation and operates under the auspices of Rabbit Run Community Arts Association, a non-profit organization offering year-round instruction in all the major disciplines of the fine and performing arts.

If you haven’t seen this show yet in the many times it has been staged by various schools and groups, it tells the story of Horton the elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the world of Whos, including the young boy Jojo. Horton must not only protect the Whos from a world of dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces many perils, ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community emerge triumphant.

“Seussical” is directed by Paige Heidrich, a senior music education and vocal performance major at Baldwin Wallace University. Heidrich has performed in numerous productions at Rabbit Run Theater.

“Dr. Seuss discussed many timely political and moral issues in his children’s stories, hidden in fantastical plots, lovable characters and silly rhymes,” Heidrich said. “Writers Ahrens and Flaherty bring to life the style, heart, and comedy of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters through a show that is song and dance from start to finish. ‘Seussical’ is a witty, whimsical adventure story that presents to be the perfect challenge for youth actors.”

Musical direction is provided by Dorene Dundas with choreography by Hannah Green.

Playing the Cat in the Hat is Noah Pigza who performed in Rabbit Run Theater’s 2017 productions of “Guys and Dolls” and “Peter and the Starcatcher.” He is entering Western Michigan University this fall as a musical theater major.

The role of Jojo is performed by fourth-grader Madison Lawrie, and Horton the elephant is played by Nick Erholm, a freshman musical theater major at Temple University. Also appearing in this production are Danielle Duke as Mayzie, Gabrielle Perusek as Sour Kangaroo, Grace Perry as Gertrude and Abigail Truax as General Schmitz. Cameron Zona is performing the role of Mr. Mayor with Mrs. Mayor being performed by Gabrielle Palmer.

Catch them this week, and you may like them, Sam I Am!

Geauga Lyric Theater Guild

The Geauga Lyric Theater Guild is ready to present their own Teen Summer Workshop Musical, “Annie, Jr.” on July 19 and 20 at 7:30 p.m. and July 21 at 2 p.m.

All performances are at Cardinal Middle School in Middlefield. Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for students and seniors and can be purchased online at https://bit.ly/2uFN9bx.

Directed by Chloe Porter, this family classic with music by Charles Strouse, book by Thomas Meehan, and lyrics by Martin Charnin tells the story of little orphan Annie, the plucky upstart trying to get by in 1930s

We are now at the point of the summer where many of them are ready to share what they have been, quite literally, sweating over for the last few weeks. Read on to see the options you have this weekend to support them.

New York City. Annie is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of an orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan.

Annie eventually finds a new home and family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy.

Wildwood Theatre Camp

And for the second time this summer, Wildwood Theatre Camp for the City of Mentor is ready to share their production of “Villains for Hire.”

It will take place July 19 at 7 p.m. in A-Lecture “Little Theatre” at Mentor High School. This performance is free and open to the public.

This year marks my 24th summer directing at least one session of Wildwood Theatre Camp for the city. This performance will close the curtain on this particular program’s 29th year.

Originally conceived by Len Zito, the former longtime director of cultural activities for the city of Mentor, kids from grades two and up get to learn the basics of performance and enjoy the grounds of the Tudor-style mansion that is Wildwood Cultural Center on Little Mountain Road in Mentor.

This year’s production is a revival of a show I wrote in 2010. Our show features music by University

School faculty member and administrator and my longtime collaborating composer Joseph Hollings.

We already have had one successful performance of this show with about 35 campers participating in June, and we’ll do it a third time in August.

Wildwood Theatre Camp features both kids with no performance experience and those who have been on stage multiple times. Kids range from as young as 7 or 8 up to high school age.

The program is provided by Mentor and supports itself through its registration fees and the Parks and Recreation Department.

As a city program, it is not auditioned and takes all children who sign up, including those with special needs.

Hopefully we have one more good performance in store. Theater campers from all summer long are sure to appear in the audience.

If you have a kid who may enjoy this program next year, hopefully you will bring them along and be there, too. If you do, be sure to say hello.