Table of Contents: About the Author- pg 1 STUDY GUIDE Character Traits-pg 2 Rhyming Story-pg 3 Designed and developed by: Dr. Seuss Book Marks-pg 5 Read Across America-pg 6 Lexi Barnett Questions to Consider-pg 7 Meet the Author: Theodor Geisel
Also known as Dr. Seuss! Geisel published over 46 children’s books in his lifetime. They all centered around quirky, imaginative characters, and most often utilized rhyme and anapestic meter. His most popular stories include: Green Eggs and Ham, The Cat in the Hat, The Lorax, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, Fox in Socks, The King's Stilts, Hop on Pop, Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose, Horton Hatches the Egg, Horton Hears a Who!, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Dr. Seuss said once that one day he left his office to go for a walk to clear his head and left the window open. When he came back, the wind had blown the drawings all around on his desk, and a doodle of an elephant wound up perched on top of a drawing of a tree- giving him the initial idea for his book Horton Hatches the Egg, which is a major storyline in pg.1 Character Traits- How would you describe each of the characters below? Come up with 3 words each that describe them Gertrude Mayzie
1- 1- 2- 2- Cat in the Hat 3- 3-
Horton
Sour Kangaroo
1- 2- 1- 3- 2- 3- 1- 2- 3- pg.2 Dr. Seuss writes his stories in rhyme- meaning that he uses a lot of words that sound the same- check out these sets of rhyming words below and write your own Seuss-sounding story on the next page!
pg.3 Dr. Seuss inspired rhyming story:
pg.4 Seussical Color the bookmarks below and then cut them out and use to hold your place Bookmarks! in the books you are reading!
Oh I do not like the Thinks you can A Person’s Think! a Person no matter Green Eggs & how small Ham
pg.5 HAPPY BIRTHDAY DR. SEUSS!!!
Did you know that in honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, March 2nd is Read Across America day? All over the United States, kids just like you will make a commitment to reading! If you want to stay smart and stay reading- read the oath below and sign your name- then list 6 books you want to read in the month of March! Check out your local library for good book ideas!
I promise to read each day and each night. I know it's the key to growing up right. I'll read to myself, I'll read to a crowd. It makes no difference if silent or loud. I'll read at my desk, at home and at school, On my bean bag or bed, by the fire or pool. Each book that I read puts smarts in my head, 'Cause brains grow more thoughts the more they are fed. So I take this oath to make reading my way Of feeding my brain what it needs every day.
Signed: ______Date: ______
6 Books I Want to Read in March: 1- 2- 3- 4- 5- 6- pg.6 Questions to Consider 1. What would you do if no one believed you about something like they didn’t believe Horton in the play? 2. Why did Gertrude want a bigger tail? Should she have kept her 1 feather tail? 3. Why is the Sour Kangaroo so sour? Does she ever decide to be sweet in the play? 4. Why are the Wickershams so mean to Horton? 5. Why does Jojo get into trouble? Why is thinking differently considered bad sometimes? 6. What does “A person is a person no matter how small” mean to you? 7. What do you think the word “Yopp!” means? 8. Is there a hero in this play? Who is it?
pg.7 Seussical is a sort of “mash-up” of several Dr. Seuss books. An adaptation is means that a story has been taken ADAPTATION from its original form and changed slightly or sometimes changed a lot in order to work as a play or a movie.
* How many Dr. Seuss stories did you recognize in Seussical? * How did the costumes help you know which character was which? * How did the sets help you understand the setting of each scene? * Did the actors portray the characters like how you imagined them in the books? * How did the music and dancing help tell the story? * How is reading a story in a book different than experiencing the story through a play on the stage? * What choices might you have made differently if you were putting on a play of Seussical? pg.8 WHO IS WHO IN THE THEATER Cast/Actors - the people who perform in a show Choreographer - the person who creates dances and arranges movements for a musical Costume Designer - the person in charge of the costumes for a show Director - the person who provides the vision of how a show should be presented, who works with the actors on their roles, develops the blocking, and is in charge of the rehearsals Playwright - a person who writes plays Composer- a person who writes the music in a musical Lighting Designer - the person who designs the lighting for a show and works with the director to get desired effects Musical Director - the person who works with the director, actors and orchestra to get the desired musical effects for a show Prop Mistress/Master - the person in charge of all the props and who usually works with them during a show Set Designer - the person who designs the sets for a show...in smaller theaters this person also builds the sets Sound Designer - the person who designs the sound direction for the show Stage Manager - the person who runs the show from opening curtain to closing curtain and is in charge of everything on the stage and in the back of the stage
What to expect when you come to the theater: You will enter into the lobby and go down the lobby to the theater doors. You will look to find your seat before the show begins. When the show begins you can laugh or clap if you enjoy something the actors do or think something is funny. Half way through there will be a short intermission so you can use the restroom, stretch your legs, or get a snack at the concessions booth. After the show, you can meet the cast in the lobby and say hello to your favorite characters! pg.9 Write the Seuss Cast a Letter The characters in Seussical love getting mail! Choose your favorite character from the play and write them a letter! Print this letter out and mail it to: C/O TMP Family Theater 7116 Sixth Avenue, Tacoma WA 98406