The wonderful, whimsical world of Dr. Seuss has taken over The Box Theatre in downtown Riverside, where Act Out Enrichment is bringing some of literature's most beloved characters to life in two youth productions of Seussical. With the final weekend approaching, Riverside audiences have one last opportunity to step into a world where elephants hatch eggs, tiny people live on specks of dust, and a mischievous cat reminds everyone that imagination has no limits.

Featuring music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Seussical brings together characters and stories from several Dr. Seuss classics, including Horton Hears a Who!, Horton Hatches the Egg and The Cat in the Hat. At the center of the story is Horton the Elephant, whose determination to protect the tiny residents of Whoville challenges a world that refuses to believe they exist. Along the way, audiences encounter Gertrude McFuzz, Mayzie La Bird and a colorful collection of characters whose adventures explore friendship, loyalty, individuality and the importance of standing up for those whose voices might otherwise go unheard.

Those themes make Seussical a particularly fitting production for Act Out Enrichment, a Riverside youth theater organization that has spent the past several years giving young performers opportunities to discover their voices and develop their talents onstage. Founded in 2020 by Bethany Schultz, the company has established itself as a familiar presence in Riverside's performing arts community, producing ambitious musicals that challenge young actors while giving local audiences an opportunity to experience the next generation of theatrical talent.

The Riverside Scene has followed Act Out's productions for several seasons, and the company has repeatedly demonstrated that youth theater can deliver considerably more than an entertaining afternoon for proud parents. From the spirited ensemble work of Newsies and the vocal performances of Annie Jr. to the character-driven comedy of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and the ambitious staging of The Miscast Show, Act Out has developed a reputation for productions that combine youthful enthusiasm with thoughtful direction and a genuine commitment to the craft of theater.

Much of that consistency comes from Schultz, who once again directs and choreographs this production. Her work has regularly demonstrated an ability to bring large casts of young performers together while still allowing individual personalities to emerge. Musical direction for Seussical is credited to Brittany Paige Kalama, another familiar creative presence whose work has helped shape several of the company's previous productions. Together, their experience provides plenty of reason to be excited about what Act Out's young performers are bringing to the stage this time around.

For this production, Act Out is presenting both Seussical Kids and Seussical Jr., offering different versions of the musical suited to younger and more experienced performers. It's an approach that reflects one of the company's greatest strengths: creating opportunities for children and teenagers to grow as performers while participating in fully staged theatrical productions.

There is something especially appropriate about introducing young actors to theater through the world of Dr. Seuss. Beneath the playful rhymes, outrageous characters and seemingly impossible situations are stories about empathy, belonging and the courage to be different. Horton's insistence that "a person's a person, no matter how small" is as much a celebration of being heard as it is a lesson in compassion, a message that feels right at home in a theater dedicated to helping young people find their voices.

While we haven't attended this particular production, Act Out Enrichment's track record gives Riverside theatergoers plenty of reasons to spend part of their weekend at The Box. Supporting youth theater means more than buying a ticket to a show. It means giving young performers an audience, recognizing the work they have invested in their craft, and helping sustain a local arts community where imagination and creativity have room to flourish.

Seussical concludes its run this weekend at The Box Theatre, 3635 Market St. in downtown Riverside. Seussical Kids performs Friday, Oct. 9, at 5:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 10, at noon. Seussical Jr. has its final performance Sunday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. Tickets for the Kids production are $15 in advance or $18 at the door, while tickets for the Jr. production are $22 in advance or $25 at the door. For tickets and additional information, visit www.ActOutEnrichment.com.