The Cast Photo by Mikki Schaffner

Watching the current production at the Carnegie in Covington, Kentucky, would make you wonder why it missed the mark back in 2000. Staged by Rachel Stevens, who teaches musical theatre at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, with a cast of spirited CCM student performers and tech support, it's an appealing, high-energy show that can be enjoyed by children and adults. With a dazzling rainbow of colorful, festive costumes by Charlotte Campbell, jazzy musical accompaniment provided by Julie Spangler, and nonstop choreography by Jessica Harris, Stevens's production might remind musical theatre fans of Stephen Schwartz's picaresque show Pippin, which traces the adventures of an idealistic young man. Others might detect a whiff of Kander and Ebb's Chicago in a few sardonic numbers, especially the tongue-in-cheek "How Lucky You Are."

This production is built on the firm foundation of a dozen or so CCM student performers who jump into the zany stories and funny messages with all their dancing feet. At the top of that list is Joey Baciocco as the Cat in the Hat, the mischief-making major domo who oversees the action. Lanky, fluid and physically expressive, he completely captures his character's disruptive but propulsive forward motion and keeps this collection of madcap stories spinning. Baciocco's manic magic act following intermission is an astonishing example of exhaustive tomfoolery.

Baciocco's character is conjured at the show's opening by Jojo (Carter Minor), whose parents are concerned that he does too much thinking. Of course, the Cat has another opinion: "Oh, The Thinks You Can Think!" Next we meet the earnest, solemn Horton the Elephant (Matthew Danforth), who discovers a world on a tiny speck of dust and decides to become its protector because "A person's a person, no matter how small."

Horton is mocked by Sour Kangaroo (Essence Bell) and a trio of monkeys, the Wickersham Brothers (Josh Devine, Dominic Carroll and Nick Gundrum). But sprightly birdlike Gertrude McFuzz (Monique Churchill) supports him while fretting about her inadequate tail feathers. Three Bird Girls (Ry Dever, Arden Allmon and Indya Lincicome) show Gertrude how to compensate–with spectacular results. In the meantime, Mayzie LaBird (Sydney Short) lays a big egg that she quickly wearies of tending and convinces Horton to take over while she goes on a neverending vacation.

There's a lot more of Dr. Seuss's funny stories–the Grinch, General Genghis Khan Schmitz, and Yertle the Turtle make appearances–but everything is neatly unified by the steady stream of tuneful music and inventive dance. Sometimes it's the entire ensemble spinning and cartwheeling around the clever set designed by Tyler Gabbard. Drapes and curtains are pulled across for occasional backlit shadow images; Julie Cowger designed the lighting. Other moments feature the Wickersham Brothers (who jump into several other comic characters) or the Bird Girls in rambunctious action.

Seussical's delightful score was composed by CCM grad Stephen Flaherty. In an interview about what went wrong with the show's 2000 production, he said that "a big Broadway musical" was not what he and lyricist (and co-bookwriter) Lynn Ahrens initially envisioned. They were aiming for a show that would celebrate "the more humble aspects of storytelling." That's precisely the approach that director Stevens and her energetic cast have used on the Carnegie's small stage, and it works beautifully.

Seussical, a co-production with University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, runs through February 16, 2025, at The Carnegie, 1028 Scott Street, Covington KY. For tickets and information, please visit TheCarnegie.com or call 859-957-1940.