Gianna Borer, playing Gertrude McFuzz, and Jake Nilles as Horton the Elephant, rehearse a scene in “Seussical the Musical” at Webster City Community Theatre.

The cast and crew say, “Thank you, Dr. Seuss.” And after audiences see “Seussical the Musical” at Webster City Community Theatre, they will too.

Many of Theodore Geisel’s, phantasmagoric array of absurd characters, animals, places, and catchy rhymes come alive on the stage July 6 to 8 and 11 to 15.

The cast is an exuberant blend of young and young-at-heart connected by their individual relationships with Seuss’ stories. Under the direction of Wil Groves, assisted by Angela Rottering, the cast auditioned in March and started rehearsals in May.

Cast members are: The Cat in the Hat — Matthew Johnson; JoJo — Caroline Ehn; Horton the Elephant — Jake Nilles; Mr. Mayor — Peter Ohlert; Mrs. Mayor — Karin Yungclas; Gertrude McFuzz — Gianna Borer; Mayzie LaBird — Sylvia Vust; Bird Girls — Alyssa Gamble, Kylee Hayek, and Mykah Kennedy.

Also featured are, General Genghis Khan Schmitz — Alan Yungclas; The Sour Kangaroo — Stephanie Hill; Wickersham Brothers — Daniel Blankenship, Brian Borkowski, and Kyle Chieng; The Grinch — Don Zompa; Yertle the Turtle-Dane Barner (understudy Austin Hayek); Ensemble — Jack Barner, Hank Christeson, Austin Hayek, Avenlee Hayek, Lillian Jorth, Cynthia Claude Rawson, Luke Royster and Levi Odor-Westrum.

Music Director Andrew Wotherspoon has worked with the cast and is directing the pit band. Accompaniment is provided by Wotherspoon on piano, Josi Greenley on keyboard, Eric Hanson on percussion, Kirk Greenley on bass, and Barb Wollan on clarinet and reeds.

Officials with the show said kids, parents, and grandparents will enjoy the show and the fun, colorful scenic design artist Carol Zills has added to the set constructed by Lynn Leksell, Wil Groves, Fred Pauk, Al Yungclas, Quintin Rottering, and Wayne Fuhlbrugge.

Costuming by Karin Yungclas, Loween Getter, and JoAnn Robb and makeup/hair styles by Gina Nilles, Anne Blankenship, Kate Quimby and Linda Thomas are imaginative.

Providing support behind the scenes are choreographers Angela Rottering and Lauren Leman; stage manager Judy Johnson; production manager Loween Getter; and the tech team of Sam Ose, Wil Groves, Sally Evans, and Dennis Nilles.

Box office manager Doug Getter said tickets are now on sale. Adult tickets are $15; tickets for children 10 and under accompanied by an adult ae $8. Call 515-832-4456, order online at www.wcctonline.org, or stop by the box office at 1001 Willson Avenue in Webster City weeknights from 5-7 p.m., Saturday mornings from 10 a.m. to noon, and one hour before show time.

Seussical the Musical is based on the works of Dr. Seuss, with music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, book by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, and co-conceived by Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens and Eric Idle. The play is produced by special arrangement with MTI, Music Theatre International.