Ashley Freeborn has no qualms when she speaks about the latest production she's directing at Gleneagle secondary.
"It's going to be our best show yet," she says while studying a dress rehearsal at the Coquitlam school last week for Seussical the Musical. "We've set the bar at the top for this one. There's no doubt."
The Musical Theatre 11/12 class of 33 students - plus another five from Theatre Production 11/12 (stagecraft, lighting, sound) - has been working since last September on the wacky cartoon play that covers most of Dr. Seuss' books in about two hours.
Freeborn, a drama teacher at Gleneagle for five years, picked the eccentric Ed Ross as the Cat in the Hat while fellow Grade 12er Danielle Melvin, also 18, will portray JoJo "who is so much fun to play because she's a kid and so bubbly," Melvin said.
Rounding out the lead roles are Myles St. John as Horton, Jennifer Gillis as Gertrude, Emily Black as Mayzie, Emily Harden as the Grinch and Delaney Harrison as Sour Kangaroo.
Freeborn said she had been waiting a while to put on the musical, having grown up with the Dr. Seuss books, and now "I think I have the perfect cast for it. They're such a talented group of students."
She's had a bit of help to make the production a success, borrowing costumes from Centennial secondary - which produced the show last February under the direction of Katie Everson - and employing Gleneagle student Lyndsey Britten as choreographer.
Still, it hasn't been an easy ride for some cast members.
Ross, who has played lead in a few Gleneagle shows, said he was a little nervous taking on the main character as he has never sung in public before.
As well, Gillis sustained a concussion during a rehearsal when a cast member dropped her on her head. "I know it was a crazy accident," she reflected, "but my relationship with him actually got much stronger after it happened. We're like a family here so it's all good."
At 15 and in Grade 10, Gillis is the youngest cast member in Seussical but likely has the biggest entertainment resume.
A Lindbjerg Academy of Performing Arts student for nine years, Gillis has performed in many of the Coquitlam company's productions in the Broadway Rising Stars Advanced Class such as Bye Bye Birdie, Peter Pan, Anne of Green Gables, Grease and Hairspray; in the latter musical, which ran last week at Port Coquitlam's Terry Fox Theatre, she was cast as Velma Von Tussle, played by Michelle Pfeiffer in the 2007 hit movie. And last fall, she was the Dorothy understudy - as well as a featured dancer and flying monkey - in the Wizard of Oz, a Footlight Theatre Company production directed by Lalainia Lindbjerg Strelau.
Gillis, who also does TV and radio work, plans to pursue a career in musical theatre after graduation. As for Seussical, "It's an amazing show and it's a lot of fun," Gillis said, beaming. "It's a big dream to be in it and I don't think anyone should miss it, no matter what age they are."
