June 21, 2025 • 13 mins
When was the last time you visited the world of Dr. Seuss? This brilliant author has been bringing magic to children for almost a century, with over 60 published works featuring some of the most iconic characters in existence. From The Cat in the Hat to the Grinch, and every Who down in Whoville in between, there's no denying the impact Dr. Seuss and his creativity had on our childhood. While the author himself may no longer be with us, the legacy of his works continues, both in print and other forms of media and entertainment. OnOurOwn Productions is bringing to Fraser, Michigan, the musical that brings the world of Dr. Seuss to the stage, Seussical, and we recently spoke with one of the stars of the show, Cora Steiger!
In this Box Seat Babes exclusive interview, Steiger talks about what it's like to step into the world of Dr. Seuss and play a character such as JoJo to life. She talks about what challenged her in this production and how one of the most rewarding aspects of this show is getting to work with her father. What is her favorite song to perform? What drew her to wanting to be in Seussical? What's her current dream role? There's so much to explore in this fun interview!
Find the video of this podcast on YouTube
For more Broadway coverage, visit Box Seat Babes
Follow us on social media @boxseatbabes or check out our Linktree!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
We're so excited to have you here.
(00:01):
Thank you so much for joining us.
So you're currently in the rehearsal process for Seussical the Musical.
How's that been going so far?
It's going really well.
Obviously, it's pretty laid back since we have Jerry with us.
It's so much fun to be able to work with everyone, be able to work with all my friends,and be able to mess around a bit and just be able to have fun with this family-friendly,
(00:22):
super fun show.
I was gonna say, seems like that's kind of on our own productions, like, Trademark is likea very family-friendly show that everybody can come to and just enjoy.
it's really family friendly.
Obviously, we do a lot of really fun shows that any kids can come to, and we also havereally low prices.
So that definitely helps.
Absolutely.
(00:42):
uh So what is the story of Seussical the musical?
Basically, it's kind of based on the book in the movie of Horton, Hears a Who.
But it's basically where Jojo, the marathon, it's about him and his, how he lives throughhis thinking and how he gets sent off to military school and like all this chaos is
(01:07):
happening in the Whos.
And then we have the Jungle of Null where the main character Horton finds a clover.
and he's hearing things, but no one else is listening.
And basically they somehow meet and they kind of become like best friends along the way.
That sounds super awesome and you're playing JoJo, correct?
I am.
So who, so you kind of said who Jojo is in the story, but like who is Jojo to you and whatdo you feel like is like your journey with this character?
(01:34):
think JoJo is just such a fun, energetic character who obviously loves to think, but hegets in trouble a lot because he has flooded his house multiple times and he has made his
teacher get mad at him.
But I think he's just such a fun character, enthusiastic, who does what he wants to do.
(01:56):
And he also just wants to have fun and live his life, you know?
And so how does he kind of meet Horton?
mean, don't want to spoil the show too much, but what kind of brings them together?
Basically, when he's in military school, of, um Horton is like, I'm all alone, and JoJofeels like he's also alone.
And they kind of meet through a song, and they talk about how they can both, they boththink, and how JoJo's like, are you real?
(02:23):
And Horton's like, yes, I am.
And I, I think too, and that's okay.
And you're allowed to think.
So basically, it's, they meet through like, feeling each other and like, knowing that
Not everyone's the same, but they kind of have a connection that way.
So they're kind of both outcasts to different degrees.
(02:43):
I love that.
then they, so it's kind of like a buddy show.
Like the two of them kind of finding each other.
Yeah, for sure!
love that.
uh So what drew you to wanting to be in the show?
Oh, well, I just, I've actually, this is my first time being in a And I think when I firstheard that Jerry was like, we're doing a musical, I was so excited because I really wanted
(03:10):
to be JoJo.
Cause I love the songs in this show.
And I also love like the characterization.
I really wanted to be like a funny character who gets to like go on their own journey.
And I also,
Jerry, who plays the cat in the hat, he and I get to mess around a lot in the show.
(03:31):
So that's really nice to be able to be on stage with him.
I was going to say the only other show I've seen you in so far has been Fun Home, which islike completely different tonally than this show.
It sounds like this show is just a lot of fun, kind of capturing the energy of the Dr.
Seuss world in those books that we grew up reading.
So you knew you wanted JoJo when you kind of auditioned for this process.
(03:54):
Okay.
So what is it like then to step into this childlike world?
of Dr.
Seuss because there has to be such an incredible kind of feeling to revisit it in adifferent way.
Mm-hmm Yeah, I used to I used to like love all the doctors use books and I still have alot of them in my bedroom cyber little sister so I feel like being able to step into this
(04:14):
world and my theme to like relive this Amazing like fun show.
It's just it's so incredible to me that that's what theater does You can just step intosomething you're not and you get to like if you know the show you get to relive it I was
like
They're a bit older and I just think it's so cool.
I do love that.
(04:35):
I actually, I want to talk to you for a second about, cause you have been acting quite abit lately and you are doing more shows.
uh You, Soft Target is currently you're in that show, right?
uh And you're getting ready for Beetlejuice 2 as well.
So you're kind of juggling a few, a few different shows.
What's that like for you juggling all of
(04:55):
For me, it can definitely be hard at times, like during like school year and everything,but I'm actually getting out of school this week.
So I think that would be really nice to be able to be able to be on my own time withtheater.
And I do, I love doing shows.
So like, I think being able to get used to doing multiple shows at a time really helps meget ready for if I do get into the big theater world, going on tours and stuff like that.
(05:23):
This will definitely help me be able to prepare for that.
And I think just when I'm doing shows I like, I don't really think about, I'm doing somany shows right now.
I kind of just, I like go to rehearsal to rehearsal the rehearsal.
And since I have shows for self target, I'm also going from like show from self target tolike be to rehearsal or show for self target to a physical rehearsal.
(05:49):
And I think it just.
I'm bouncing back and forth from the things that I love doing.
That doesn't really cross my mind sometimes.
So you're able to kind of keep it all level in your head because you're visiting thesedifferent worlds and everything is so unique to what it is.
Yes.
So I have to know, you talked about going, you know, kind of Broadway world, going on tourand stuff like that.
(06:11):
What is your dream role?
What do you want?
What's the one role that you're just like, I always wanted to have?
That's really hard, because I like a lot of shows right now.
But I would say right now, Stagecrafters in Royal Oak is going to be doing TuckerRelasting.
And for a long time, of my dream roles has been Winnie Foster.
So right now, Winnie Foster is definitely my dream role that I would love to play one day.
(06:39):
You know, I grew up, Tuck Overlasting was one of my favorite books growing up.
And so when they announced that one, I've never seen the musical.
And I said, that sounds like such a cool show.
And I think that you would be perfect for it.
No, because when I found out I got the book and I read it and I watched the movie, I waslike, oh, this is so good.
It's so good.
It's such a timeless tale.
(06:59):
uh Much like like Seussical and uh the world of Dr.
Seuss, but uh speaking of this production, going back to it, what's maybe like a favoritesong or number you like performing in Seussical
Oh.
Do you have a favorite?
Oh, there are so many good ones, but I think, um, right.
(07:21):
I think the opening number is definitely so much fun to do because it's like everyone'sinvolved in it and it's all the things you can think.
So you're just talking about thinking and obviously Jojo isn't Jojo yet.
He's just a boy, but it's so much fun because you get to interact with all these peopleand like just do like such fun dance moves.
(07:41):
And the song it's also so fun to do.
So.
sure.
I think that's probably my favorite.
It's either that or having a hunch.
And we're just having a hunch come.
Is that like in the second act?
after JoJo basically like pushes off the military leaders.
He's like, I'm leaving.
(08:01):
And he gets lost.
So the cat in the hat comes along and is like, hey, we're going to scare you.
And it's just a whole day of somewhere about how JoJo gets scared and then finds his wayhome.
I love that.
It sounds like the show is just truly so much fun, like to perform.
How has this role maybe challenged you as an actor?
(08:26):
I think I haven't done like many roles that are like super like having to be um
Like I've played funny roles before a lot, but I don't think I've ever done like a rolethat has to involve like a lot of characterization to it.
(08:47):
Cause a lot of, I've done a lot of musicals before and stuff like that.
And most of the time I know the show very well before I do it.
And I actually didn't know musical that well first.
When I first.
I didn't know it very well, so I think that definitely challenged me.
Like, I knew some of the songs.
But also JoJo has a lot of characterization to him.
(09:08):
Like, he has a lot of parts where he's happy, and then he goes straight to sad, and stufflike that.
So I think that's been kind of difficult at times to play around with.
But at the same time, I do love playing around with characters.
Do you like, so when it comes to approaching a project, cause you mentioned you didn'treally know Seussical that well, do you like knowing a project a little bit deeper or do
(09:28):
you, would you rather not know it and have any like preconceived notions to kind of gointo it fresh?
I think I've done so many shows like I've known the show that I think I really like beingable to know the show really well before doing it.
So I have a good like meaning to it and like what the character is feeling in that directmoment and stuff like that.
(09:54):
So I think that definitely helps me in my conditions and stuff.
But at the same time, I do like going in fresh for certain shows.
That makes sense.
uh So for JoJo, do you have a process on how you get into character?
Is there anything specific you have to do to kind of channel JoJo as you're in therehearsal process and you're getting ready for the shows later this month?
(10:14):
I think I just, I just gotta be happy really.
Cause yesterday we had rehearsal and I think just joking around with a lot of peoplebefore rehearsal definitely helped.
Cause in the first scene I'm like super happy and upbeat.
I'm like, whoa, what a cool hat.
So I think just being able to like channel my inner JoJo like just be happy.
(10:36):
Like be happy, you're living your life.
You get to think like.
love that.
uh Is there a specific theme from Suzical, the musical that stands out to you?
Oh, I don't know.
There's so many good ones it sounds like.
so many good themes in this.
I don't know.
I don't know if I can pick one.
That's totally fine.
Well, do you have a standout moment then from this production so far?
(10:57):
I think being able to work with my dad on stage, because my dad is General Genghis KhanSchmidt, that's definitely been so fun to be able to mess around with him on stage and
everything.
So I haven't been able to do that, because a lot of the time we're very separatecharacters in shows.
And this is one of my maybe third show that I've actually done with my dad fully.
(11:21):
Because usually he's the director, or just a part of the production team.
But being able to work with him on stage and stuff and being able to work with him athome, working about Seussical, I think that's definitely been one of my favorite moments
to do.
He is a hardworking man in the world of theater and he does a lot of directing too.
(11:45):
So this is cool to see him on stage.
year he's trying to get more on stage and I think that that's great because he hasn't beenon stage in a while.
He really just, he's just been directing, directing, directing.
Cause he's also the president of Ridgedale right now.
So he's working on all that stuff.
But I think it's really amazing that he's going to try to do a lot more shows this year.
(12:06):
And if correct me if I'm wrong, he's also the director of Beetlejuice at Stagecrafters,correct?
he is.
So he just never stops.
But that's cool though, because it's a cool thing to be able to do with your family.
But also in this moment, you get to be on stage with him in such a, like you said, afamily friendly show that really adds, that adds to the excitement of it.
(12:27):
it does.
So final question for you is just what are you hoping audiences take away from thisproduction of Seussical the Musical?
oh I think they just they walk back with like a smile I really hope they like the showbecause it really is just a fun family friendly show that like honestly It's gonna be so
amazing Like bring your kids just come see it like a family night and I really hope theyjust walk away Be like all those really for the show.
(12:57):
I'm we went to go see that
Absolutely.
mean, with you as the lead and this wonderful energy you've already brought to it, I thinkthat everybody's going to be in for a pleasant surprise about what's happening with
Seussical the Musical.
So thank you so much for your time, Cora.
It's been a pleasure talking with you.
On our own production, Seussical the Musical arrives at the Fraser Performing Arts CenterJune 20th and runs through the 28th.
(13:20):
So get your tickets now and we will see you there.
Bye, thank you!
We're so excited to have you here.
(00:01):
Thank you so much for joining us.
So you're currently in the rehearsal process for Seussical the Musical.
How's that been going so far?
It's going really well.
Obviously, it's pretty laid back since we have Jerry with us.
It's so much fun to be able to work with everyone, be able to work with all my friends,and be able to mess around a bit and just be able to have fun with this family-friendly,
(00:22):
super fun show.
I was gonna say, seems like that's kind of on our own productions, like, Trademark is likea very family-friendly show that everybody can come to and just enjoy.
it's really family friendly.
Obviously, we do a lot of really fun shows that any kids can come to, and we also havereally low prices.
So that definitely helps.
Absolutely.
(00:42):
uh So what is the story of Seussical the musical?
Basically, it's kind of based on the book in the movie of Horton, Hears a Who.
But it's basically where Jojo, the marathon, it's about him and his, how he lives throughhis thinking and how he gets sent off to military school and like all this chaos is
(01:07):
happening in the Whos.
And then we have the Jungle of Null where the main character Horton finds a clover.
and he's hearing things, but no one else is listening.
And basically they somehow meet and they kind of become like best friends along the way.
That sounds super awesome and you're playing JoJo, correct?
I am.
So who, so you kind of said who Jojo is in the story, but like who is Jojo to you and whatdo you feel like is like your journey with this character?
(01:34):
think JoJo is just such a fun, energetic character who obviously loves to think, but hegets in trouble a lot because he has flooded his house multiple times and he has made his
teacher get mad at him.
But I think he's just such a fun character, enthusiastic, who does what he wants to do.
(01:56):
And he also just wants to have fun and live his life, you know?
And so how does he kind of meet Horton?
mean, don't want to spoil the show too much, but what kind of brings them together?
Basically, when he's in military school, of, um Horton is like, I'm all alone, and JoJofeels like he's also alone.
And they kind of meet through a song, and they talk about how they can both, they boththink, and how JoJo's like, are you real?
(02:23):
And Horton's like, yes, I am.
And I, I think too, and that's okay.
And you're allowed to think.
So basically, it's, they meet through like, feeling each other and like, knowing that
Not everyone's the same, but they kind of have a connection that way.
So they're kind of both outcasts to different degrees.
(02:43):
I love that.
then they, so it's kind of like a buddy show.
Like the two of them kind of finding each other.
Yeah, for sure!
love that.
uh So what drew you to wanting to be in the show?
Oh, well, I just, I've actually, this is my first time being in a And I think when I firstheard that Jerry was like, we're doing a musical, I was so excited because I really wanted
(03:10):
to be JoJo.
Cause I love the songs in this show.
And I also love like the characterization.
I really wanted to be like a funny character who gets to like go on their own journey.
And I also,
Jerry, who plays the cat in the hat, he and I get to mess around a lot in the show.
(03:31):
So that's really nice to be able to be on stage with him.
I was going to say the only other show I've seen you in so far has been Fun Home, which islike completely different tonally than this show.
It sounds like this show is just a lot of fun, kind of capturing the energy of the Dr.
Seuss world in those books that we grew up reading.
So you knew you wanted JoJo when you kind of auditioned for this process.
(03:54):
Okay.
So what is it like then to step into this childlike world?
of Dr.
Seuss because there has to be such an incredible kind of feeling to revisit it in adifferent way.
Mm-hmm Yeah, I used to I used to like love all the doctors use books and I still have alot of them in my bedroom cyber little sister so I feel like being able to step into this
(04:14):
world and my theme to like relive this Amazing like fun show.
It's just it's so incredible to me that that's what theater does You can just step intosomething you're not and you get to like if you know the show you get to relive it I was
like
They're a bit older and I just think it's so cool.
I do love that.
(04:35):
I actually, I want to talk to you for a second about, cause you have been acting quite abit lately and you are doing more shows.
uh You, Soft Target is currently you're in that show, right?
uh And you're getting ready for Beetlejuice 2 as well.
So you're kind of juggling a few, a few different shows.
What's that like for you juggling all of
(04:55):
For me, it can definitely be hard at times, like during like school year and everything,but I'm actually getting out of school this week.
So I think that would be really nice to be able to be able to be on my own time withtheater.
And I do, I love doing shows.
So like, I think being able to get used to doing multiple shows at a time really helps meget ready for if I do get into the big theater world, going on tours and stuff like that.
(05:23):
This will definitely help me be able to prepare for that.
And I think just when I'm doing shows I like, I don't really think about, I'm doing somany shows right now.
I kind of just, I like go to rehearsal to rehearsal the rehearsal.
And since I have shows for self target, I'm also going from like show from self target tolike be to rehearsal or show for self target to a physical rehearsal.
(05:49):
And I think it just.
I'm bouncing back and forth from the things that I love doing.
That doesn't really cross my mind sometimes.
So you're able to kind of keep it all level in your head because you're visiting thesedifferent worlds and everything is so unique to what it is.
Yes.
So I have to know, you talked about going, you know, kind of Broadway world, going on tourand stuff like that.
(06:11):
What is your dream role?
What do you want?
What's the one role that you're just like, I always wanted to have?
That's really hard, because I like a lot of shows right now.
But I would say right now, Stagecrafters in Royal Oak is going to be doing TuckerRelasting.
And for a long time, of my dream roles has been Winnie Foster.
So right now, Winnie Foster is definitely my dream role that I would love to play one day.
(06:39):
You know, I grew up, Tuck Overlasting was one of my favorite books growing up.
And so when they announced that one, I've never seen the musical.
And I said, that sounds like such a cool show.
And I think that you would be perfect for it.
No, because when I found out I got the book and I read it and I watched the movie, I waslike, oh, this is so good.
It's so good.
It's such a timeless tale.
(06:59):
uh Much like like Seussical and uh the world of Dr.
Seuss, but uh speaking of this production, going back to it, what's maybe like a favoritesong or number you like performing in Seussical
Oh.
Do you have a favorite?
Oh, there are so many good ones, but I think, um, right.
(07:21):
I think the opening number is definitely so much fun to do because it's like everyone'sinvolved in it and it's all the things you can think.
So you're just talking about thinking and obviously Jojo isn't Jojo yet.
He's just a boy, but it's so much fun because you get to interact with all these peopleand like just do like such fun dance moves.
(07:41):
And the song it's also so fun to do.
So.
sure.
I think that's probably my favorite.
It's either that or having a hunch.
And we're just having a hunch come.
Is that like in the second act?
after JoJo basically like pushes off the military leaders.
He's like, I'm leaving.
(08:01):
And he gets lost.
So the cat in the hat comes along and is like, hey, we're going to scare you.
And it's just a whole day of somewhere about how JoJo gets scared and then finds his wayhome.
I love that.
It sounds like the show is just truly so much fun, like to perform.
How has this role maybe challenged you as an actor?
(08:26):
I think I haven't done like many roles that are like super like having to be um
Like I've played funny roles before a lot, but I don't think I've ever done like a rolethat has to involve like a lot of characterization to it.
(08:47):
Cause a lot of, I've done a lot of musicals before and stuff like that.
And most of the time I know the show very well before I do it.
And I actually didn't know musical that well first.
When I first.
I didn't know it very well, so I think that definitely challenged me.
Like, I knew some of the songs.
But also JoJo has a lot of characterization to him.
(09:08):
Like, he has a lot of parts where he's happy, and then he goes straight to sad, and stufflike that.
So I think that's been kind of difficult at times to play around with.
But at the same time, I do love playing around with characters.
Do you like, so when it comes to approaching a project, cause you mentioned you didn'treally know Seussical that well, do you like knowing a project a little bit deeper or do
(09:28):
you, would you rather not know it and have any like preconceived notions to kind of gointo it fresh?
I think I've done so many shows like I've known the show that I think I really like beingable to know the show really well before doing it.
So I have a good like meaning to it and like what the character is feeling in that directmoment and stuff like that.
(09:54):
So I think that definitely helps me in my conditions and stuff.
But at the same time, I do like going in fresh for certain shows.
That makes sense.
uh So for JoJo, do you have a process on how you get into character?
Is there anything specific you have to do to kind of channel JoJo as you're in therehearsal process and you're getting ready for the shows later this month?
(10:14):
I think I just, I just gotta be happy really.
Cause yesterday we had rehearsal and I think just joking around with a lot of peoplebefore rehearsal definitely helped.
Cause in the first scene I'm like super happy and upbeat.
I'm like, whoa, what a cool hat.
So I think just being able to like channel my inner JoJo like just be happy.
(10:36):
Like be happy, you're living your life.
You get to think like.
love that.
uh Is there a specific theme from Suzical, the musical that stands out to you?
Oh, I don't know.
There's so many good ones it sounds like.
so many good themes in this.
I don't know.
I don't know if I can pick one.
That's totally fine.
Well, do you have a standout moment then from this production so far?
(10:57):
I think being able to work with my dad on stage, because my dad is General Genghis KhanSchmidt, that's definitely been so fun to be able to mess around with him on stage and
everything.
So I haven't been able to do that, because a lot of the time we're very separatecharacters in shows.
And this is one of my maybe third show that I've actually done with my dad fully.
(11:21):
Because usually he's the director, or just a part of the production team.
But being able to work with him on stage and stuff and being able to work with him athome, working about Seussical, I think that's definitely been one of my favorite moments
to do.
He is a hardworking man in the world of theater and he does a lot of directing too.
(11:45):
So this is cool to see him on stage.
year he's trying to get more on stage and I think that that's great because he hasn't beenon stage in a while.
He really just, he's just been directing, directing, directing.
Cause he's also the president of Ridgedale right now.
So he's working on all that stuff.
But I think it's really amazing that he's going to try to do a lot more shows this year.
(12:06):
And if correct me if I'm wrong, he's also the director of Beetlejuice at Stagecrafters,correct?
he is.
So he just never stops.
But that's cool though, because it's a cool thing to be able to do with your family.
But also in this moment, you get to be on stage with him in such a, like you said, afamily friendly show that really adds, that adds to the excitement of it.
(12:27):
it does.
So final question for you is just what are you hoping audiences take away from thisproduction of Seussical the Musical?
oh I think they just they walk back with like a smile I really hope they like the showbecause it really is just a fun family friendly show that like honestly It's gonna be so
amazing Like bring your kids just come see it like a family night and I really hope theyjust walk away Be like all those really for the show.
(12:57):
I'm we went to go see that
Absolutely.
mean, with you as the lead and this wonderful energy you've already brought to it, I thinkthat everybody's going to be in for a pleasant surprise about what's happening with
Seussical the Musical.
So thank you so much for your time, Cora.
It's been a pleasure talking with you.
On our own production, Seussical the Musical arrives at the Fraser Performing Arts CenterJune 20th and runs through the 28th.
(13:20):
So get your tickets now and we will see you there.
Bye, thank you!
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.