JMW to perform ‘Seussical: the Musical’

PAWTUCKET, R.I., April 16, 2018 – This May, students at the Jacqueline M. Walsh School for the Arts will take the stage to perform “Seussical: the Musical,” a show that incorporates Dr. Seuss literature, music and dance.

May 11 through May 13, students will perform at the school’s campus, located at 350 Division St., and for the second major musical production at JMW.

The cast, which includes more than 25 students, a tech crew and orchestra group, is directed by Miriam Scheff, an individual experienced in both musical theater and choreography, Patrick Dow, musical educator at Francis J. Varieur Elementary and Cassandra Menard, who serves as the student stage manager for the production.

Dow, Menard and Scheff previously led the production team for JMW’s first musical performance, “Beauty and the Beast.”

The student performance, which incorporates music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Aherns and a book by the two artists, includes “The Cat in the Hat” main character, played by Elimelec Aponte, “Horton” the elephant from “Horton Hears a Who,” played by Zachary Garcia, and characters Jojo, played by Sophia Lemoie, Mazie, played by Cassandra Cutelo and Gertrude, played by Alyssa Forget.

Ricardo Pimentel, director of JMW, said, “This is a perfect musical for theatergoers of all ages and for family entertainment ...These characters come to life right out the pages of Dr. Seuss that we all grew up to love.” He said, “Songs are catchy and will leave you humming the tunes for weeks.”

He said he aims to host an annual musical at the school, as well as create a musical pathway for students passionate about musical theater.

“What started as an after school extracurricular activity has blossomed into an artistic form that students were longing for,” Pimentel said.

“The focus of a project like this is that it is student-centered, and students learn through workshops and hands-on experiences,” he continued.

Scheff, along with Christopher Kane, visual arts teacher at JMW, Leigh Murphy, English Language Arts teacher at JMW and Adam Ramsey, lighting and audio technician with Advanced Production Design, have led workshops in set and prop design, costume plotting and audio and lighting.

The show on Friday, May 11, begins at 7 p.m., and the shows on Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13, begin at 1 p.m. Regular admission tickets are $10, and students and seniors can purchase tickets for $8. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://walsh.pawtucket.schooldesk.net/ or call 508-280-8840.