Seuss Puts Community Skills to Good Use

This display within Liztech shows the pins of the Seussical Collection, as well as their prices. Photo Credit / Jamie Reese
This display within Liztech shows the pins of the Seussical Collection, as well as their prices. Photo Credit / Jamie Reese
This display within Liztech shows the pins of the Seussical Collection, as well as their prices.
Photo Credit / Jamie Reese

By Jamie Reese
Editor-in-Chief

It might not be Whoville, but East Stroudsburg is home to many whimsical and charitable characters.

In recognition of the ESU theatre department’s upcoming production of “Seussical the Musical,” businesses on Crystal Street are working to fundraise for the department and promote the production.

After the spring production of “The Wizard of Oz,” Liztech Jewelry, Trackside Station Grill & Bar, and Dansbury Diner presented a $1,832.19 check to the ESU theatre department. This money was raised through various deals offered by the Crystal Street businesses.

Liztech gave 50 percent of “Wizard of Oz” pin sales made during the week of the show to the theatre department.

Vouchers were also passed out, and 10 percent of sales made at these locations with the vouchers went to ESU theatre.

This semester, they’re doing it all over again.

“Liztech has offered the same support that they did last time,” said Dr. Margaret Ball, director of “Seussical the Musical.”

Vouchers are also being circulated and will be valid from October 22 to October 26.

The money raised through these endeavors will aid in covering the costs of students to attend the next Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.

Still, local businesses have more to offer.

“The Pocono Community Theatre is going to broadcast our poster and pictures of the jewelry on their screens,” said Ball.

Liztech is advertising by showcasing a window display designed by Professor Yoshinori Tanokura. The display includes a replica hat from the “Cat in the Hat.” Tanokura and students installed the display last week.

“The Stroud Courier” staff is also chipping in by working to implement Seussian headlines in recognition of the production.

The theatre department is receiving a lot of support from the community, but they are also giving back.

“We have three shows during the week that students from NEPA schools will attend,” said Ball. “We always bring them in because we want them to have a real theatre experience: what it means to go to a real theatre as opposed to going to a gym.”

Ball continued, “We have many students that say this is their first experience going to a live show. I’ve heard university students say coming to ESU was their first experience. It’s exciting for us that we get to introduce live theatre to students.”

“Seussical the Musical” debuts at ESU next Wednesday, October 22, at 7:30 PM in the Smith-McFarland Theater of ESU’s Fine and Performing Arts Center.

Subsequent shows will occur every night at the same time through Saturday. There will be shows at 2:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday as well.

Two American Sign Language interpreters, Carol Silvoy and Robert Torres, will sign the final performance on Sunday at 2:00 PM.

Don’t flake; the Whos have that covered.

Email Jamie at:
jreese6@live.esu.edu