ADAMS TWP — Some Mars High School students will provide colorful, action-filled, musical fun for families this weekend.

A group of seniors will stage “Seussical the Musical” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the high school auditorium.

T.J. Pieffer will direct the extravaganza, which tells a story involving characters and situations in several Dr. Seuss' books.

The Cat in the Hat, played by Carl Stokes, will narrate the tale of Horton the Elephant, who discovers a speck of dust containing the Whos.

Jojo, played by Allison Wright, is a Who child sent to a butter battling military school for thinking too many “thinks.”

The $5 admission will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Lindsay Seipp, who plays the loud and attention-seeking Mayzie LaBird, played Ariel in the school's production of “Footloose” this spring.

She said “Seussical” is more colorful and animated than “Footloose” because it is geared toward children. She said the sets, lights and music will delight the young audience.

“Dr. Seuss on stage? I'm sure every kid would want to see that,” Lindsay said.

She said she grew up loving musical theater, and is thrilled to have an opportunity in addition to the school musical to perform with her classmates.

“The fact that I could do it with my friends was the icing on the cake,” she said.

T.J. said juniors and seniors started the ad hoc musical last year after realizing how well the group clicked during the school musical.

“We wanted to do one more show before the seniors left,” he said of last year's show.

As opposed to the official school musical, he said “Seussical” permits actors and stagehands to have input on costumes, sets, or other ancillary parts of the production.

“It's very open like that,” he added.

T.J. said the woodworking classes are carpenters for the set, and the art students built and decorated the sets and created costumes.

To fund the project, art classes created items that were sold at Barnes and Noble a few months ago. The Mars Planet Foundation also provided a grant.

“Seussical the Musical” has a cast of 35, and a total of 70 juniors and seniors is working on the production.

Darcy Silbaugh, an English teacher, is the adult in charge of the project.

“They're fantastic,” Silbaugh said. “They're probably the most motivated students I've ever worked with.”

She said the students are all involved in extracurricular activities, and demonstrate academic excellence, as well.

The musical raised $1,400 for Make-A-Wish last year in one performance, and Silbaugh said it will likely raise more this year over two nights.

“I'm just happy to have been a part of it,” Silbaugh said. “I'm going to miss these kids when they go.”

Tickets are available by calling the high school during school hours at 724-625-1581. They will also be available at the door.

<B>WHAT: </B>“Seussical the Musical”<B>WHEN: </B>7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday<B>WHERE: </B>Mars High School auditorium.<B>TICKETS: </B>$5 at the door. Proceeds will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Call 724-625-1581.