FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

For more information, contact:

Scooter MacMillan, marketing director

Springer Opera House

706-256-0955

smacmillan@springeroperahouse.org

 

 

‘Cat in the Hat’ Just Wants to Have Fun at the Springer

 

“The Cat in the Hat” comes to the Springer.

“The Cat in the Hat” comes and there’s no time to linger.

 You should get tickets right away

Because “The Cat in the Hat” opens in just a few days.

 

 “The Cat in the Hat” is not only one of the most popular children’s books ever, it is also one of the most influential. The Springer Children’s Theatre production of the famous Dr. Seuss book opens with public performances at 7 p.m. Friday.

 Dr. Seuss’ (Theodore Geisel’s) book was an immediate success and sparked a change in books for beginning readers. “The Cat in the Hat” was published in 1957 and sold almost a million copies in three years. The success inspired Dr. Seuss, his wife and Phyllis Cerf, the wife of Bennett Cerf, to found Beginner Books. Beginner Books, a division of Random House, published such books as “Go, Dog. Go!” and “The Big Honey Hunt,” the first of the Berenstain Bears books.

"He showed the world that easy readers don't have to be sterile," said Terry Doherty, executive director of The Reading Tub, an advocate for youth literacy. "For me, the Dr. Seuss books walk the talk in showing us that engaging kids with books and helping them learn to read can be fun not just for children, but for adults, too.”

 Later in 1957, Seuss published “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” These two books made Dr. Seuss a celebrity and made Random House the biggest publisher of children’s books.

 “The Cat in the Hat” tells the well-known story of how a mischievous cat shows on a rainy day to entertain two children who are stuck inside while the mother is away. Despite the apparent havoc that the feline in the red-and-white hat wreaks, their home ends up tidy again before their mother returns.

 And the children have learned that, as the Cat in the Hat tells them, “It’s fun to have fun.”

 The Springer’s production echoes the look of the book but adds lots of live action and sound effects, about 600. And fun.

 “The Cat in the Hat” will have lots of school performances but it opens for the public Friday night. Shows are 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday and next Friday and Saturday (March 18 and 19) and at 2 p.m. this Sunday and next (March 20). This show is in the McClure Theatre, the Springer’s second theatre which is right behind the Mainstage Theatre on 1st Avenue.

 For tickets or more information call 706-327-3688 or visit springeroperahouse.org. For info or to book a school group call 706-324-1100.

 There will be a special needs performance of “The Cat in the Hat” 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 19.

 “The Springer Theatre Academy is excited to build our relationship with families of special needs students with this performance,” said Sally Baker, director of the Springer Theatre Academy.

 For more information about this performance, please call the Springer Theatre Academy at 706-324-1100.

 

 

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