Dr. Seuss stories and artwork featured at Liberty starting this week

Oh, the wonderful things to see this week at Liberty University, magical works of Dr. Seuss on display, including several drawings and a play.

The Liberty University Art Gallery will feature a show of limited-edition prints by Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, from Feb. 16-26, while the Department of Theatre Arts will bring “Seussical” to the Tower Theater stage for the first time, beginning Friday, Feb. 17. “Seussical” runs through Feb. 26 with eight performances. The art gallery will be open during each production, including intermission.

Most are familiar with Dr. Seuss’ children’s books or even political cartoons, but Seuss also had a personal art collection that was revealed after his death. The following pieces from this collection, including “secret” items, will be displayed in Liberty’s art gallery: “Green Cat in Uleåborg Finland,” “Worm Burning Bright in the Forest in the Night,” “That Winter Spring Came Late,” “Talk Talk Talk,” “Hop on Pop Diptych,” “Stars Upon Thars Diptych,” “These Things Are Good Things Diptych,” and “I Like Them, Sam I Am.”

“We’ve all grown up with Dr. Seuss in some form or fashion,” said Todd Smith, chair of Liberty’s Department of Studio & Digital Arts (SADA). “The artwork in the gallery shows another side to Theodore Giesel and includes elements of ideation, in other words, initial drawings, as well as work that we wouldn’t normally associate with his artistic style.”

Smith noted that SADA was in the process of scheduling the gallery when the theatre department announced it would be including the Seuss-inspired musical in its Main Stage season. He coordinated the timing so that the two would align.

The gallery, located in Green Hall, is free and open to the public. Visit Liberty.edu/Gallery for current hours and exhibition information.

“Seussical” compiles many storylines and famous characters from Dr. Seuss’ popular children’s books. Horton, the elephant, and the land of Whoville, from “Horton Hears a Who,” are prominent, and audiences can expect to see the Cat in the Hat, Thing 1 and Thing 2, Yertle the Turtle, Mayzie La Bird, and more of their favorite Seuss characters along the way. The story also pulls a young boy into the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss, where he assumes the role of a character called Jojo; this serves as a gateway for the audience.

“The whole story is built around the imagination,” said Associate Professor of Theatre Arts Chris Nelson, the musical’s director. “It is meant to allow the audience to fill in with their own ideas of Dr. Seuss’ world.”

He added that there is music from beginning to end, featuring the witty rhymes and playful words Seuss was known for. The show is recommended for all ages.

Liberty has chosen to tell the story with the theme of a 1939 traveling circus troupe. Costumes evoke aspects of the Seuss characters without explicitly depicting them. Horton, for example, is brought to life as a hobo clown with a very long tie as a visual homage to the book character’s trunk.

Nelson explained that Dr. Seuss’ stories, while silly, had a depth to them, teaching important lessons.

“We are hoping to add to that depth by the setting, in terms of where America was at that time,” he said. “There’s the context of a traveling circus troupe setting up on a hill in Lynchburg, and then a depression-era kid, who eventually becomes Jojo, watches the show and then comes on stage and gets sucked into the play.”

The set includes net bridges and zip lines, allowing for Liberty’s cast of 30 to tap into the playfulness of Dr. Seuss.

“Once the imagination of the boy is released, the lighting really picks up on his imagination and we really feel that freedom to go anywhere,” Nelson said. “The lighting does a really good job of bringing out a lot of those Seuss colors.”

Backstage, a crew of about 20 students contributes to the production.

Ultimately, Nelson hopes that the audience realizes the power of the imagination and its ability to do good.

“God inspires us to have good thoughts and to use our imagination for His glory,” he said. “That is the takeaway, to use our imagination in a way that serves others, in a way that solves problems, in a way that lifts people up. There are characters that use their imagination for both bad and good purposes. My aim was to highlight those moments when it was used in a good, positive way so that people understand that imagination is powerful and that you have to stay close to God in order to know if your use of it is appropriate.”

“That is the challenge of artists — when and how to use it — because imagination is powerful.”

Show times

Feb. 17, 18, 24, 25 – 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 18, 25 – 2 p.m.
Feb. 19, 26 – 3 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased online or by calling (434) 582-SEAT (7328). On the night of a performance, call the Tower Box Office at (434) 582-2085.