Brady D. Patsy considers himself lucky to have landed the role of General Genghis Khan Schmitz in “Seussical The Musical,” which is being put on regionally by the Pittsburgh Musical Theater as part of its 20th season.
Seussical The Musical is a sung-through musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. It is based on 15 famous books penned by Dr. Seuss and ties them all together. It debuted as a musical on Broadway in 2000.
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| BRADY D. PATSY AND CASTMEMBER
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“Seussical speaks to the hearts of all. The look on my grandson, Sam’s, face as the baby winged elephant emerged from an egg incubated for the wayward bird girl Mayzie told me he understood, in his innocent way, that the care one receives is as important as the person who made you,” said Dr. Ken Gargaro, founder of Pittsburgh Musical Theater.
After a successful run, “Seussical The Musical” spawned two U.S. National Tours and a United Kingdom Tour. It has become a favorite for school, community and regional theaters.
“My character is in love with war. I love character acting, but playing a lunatic is out of my initial character,” laughed Patsy who lives in East Brady, Pa., and works as a musical theater instructor for the Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s Richard E. Rauh Conservatory and the Butler Center for the Performing Arts. He is also a high school musical consultant for Karns City High School and Pine Richland High School.
“Being a character actor allows you to be something completely different from yourself. It’s like your stepping into a story book. I was addicted to Dr. Seuss books as a child. I loved the rhyming because I loved to sing.”
This production of Seussical, which is being directed by Colleen Petrucci, general manager and conservatory director of Pittsburgh Musical Theater, includes conservatory students, teachers and administrators in its cast.
“One of the nice things about being a teacher is being able to share the stage with the students that you teach. It’s a pleasure to see them turn into good singers and dancers and actors,” Patsy said.
At Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s Richard E. Rauh Conservatory, students are offered instruction in dance, music and theater. Everyone gets the chance to perform in Broadway musicals at the Byham Theater and the New Hazlett Theater.
In addition to “Seussical the Musical,” Patsy has been featured in Pittsburgh Musical Theater’s dazzling production of “Cats” as Bustopher Jones.
“Bustopher Jones was an aristocrat. He was very proper and everyone loved Bustopher Jones. Everyone hates the general and pulls their kids away from him. It’s two different roles entirely, but I enjoy the challenge,” Patsy said.
Patsy is excited to be bringing the unique “Seussical The Musical” to Pittsburgh’s Cultural District.
“Suessical has never been on a Pittsburgh stage in the Cultural District. Doing this production could either hurt us or help us. A lot of people never saw it because it never floated into the area,” Patsy said.
He hopes that peoples’ curiosity will be peaked enough to come out and see “Seussical The Musical.”
“The show will be enjoyed by all ages because the characters resonate with people. People can find their person in a Dr. Seuss character. This show has a lot of heart and it’s very happy and colorful,” Patsy said.
In addition to “Cats” and “Seussical The Musical,” he has also appeared in “The Ghost of Christmas Present,” “A Lyrical Christmas Carol,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Fiddler on The Roof” and “Beauty and The Beast.”
“Seussical The Musical” will run at the Byham Theater from March 24-April 3.
(For ticket information, call 412-456-6666 or visit the Pittsburgh Musical Theater web site at www.pittsburghmusicals.com.)
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