Exclusive Interview: Leon Anderson Jr. of OnOurOwn Productions' 'Seussical The Musical'

When was the last time you stepped back into the world of a childhood favorite? A story or a film that reminds you of how simple life is as a child and the joy that comes from fantastical adventures. As adults, sometimes we struggle to find that childlike wonder in our daily lives; however, every once in a while, we find it in spades. OnOurOwn Productions' Seussical The Musical is that reminder that so many of us desperately need, as we dive back into the wacky world of Dr. Seuss! We recently spoke with Leon Anderson Jr., who plays Horton in the show, about his time with this production!

In this exclusive Box Seat Babes interview, Anderson discusses his history with Seussical the Musical, having played Horton the Elephant twice before. What drew him back to this role once again? What is it like to act in a show with your wife and children? What songs does he enjoy singing the most, and what about this production has challenged him as an actor? There are so many great tidbits in this interview that only make us more excited for audiences to see this production of Seussical the Musical!

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
We're so glad to have you here.

(00:01):
We are so excited for Seussical the musical, which you're currently in the rehearsalprocess for.
How is that going?
uh It's going pretty well.
The best thing about this particular group can sometimes be the worst thing at timesthough because everybody is so friendly, everybody gets along real well, um everybody's

(00:23):
very accommodating the whole time, and tech week is next week and I'm not sure if we'vehad everybody at one rehearsal yet.
Okay
But it's coming together really, really well.
too, right?
I guess maybe between 40, 50 people.
If I had to guess.
um So for those who are maybe unfamiliar with the story of Susacle the musical, can youkind of tell us what's going on in the story and who you're playing?

(00:54):
I am, well, my name is Leon Anderson Jr.
I'm playing Horton the Elephant.
This is my third time playing Horton, second time with this group, but it's been a minute.
uh Last time we played, we did this show.
My 15 year old was 18 months old and he was the elephant bird at the end of the show.

(01:17):
And now he's like five inches taller than me.
So it...
lot of time has passed.
of Dr.
yeah, lot of years.
It kind of merges a bunch of Dr.
Sue stories.
Clearly Horton hears a who, Horton lays an egg, um cat in hat, all kinds of stuff.

(01:39):
And it starts off with Horton finding, hearing a little voice and tracking down the voiceto find this little speck that he puts on this clover.
And he, for majority of the show, he is the only one that hears it.
And everybody, all the other animals thinks he's crazy.

(02:01):
And then on the who side of things, there's Jojo getting in trouble with his parentsbecause he's thinking too much.
He daydreams all the time, makes these big things and messes.
And so,
Horton's got this big taftka head trying to protect the Who's that only he knows exists,but he knows that there's a mayor and a Mrs.

(02:29):
Mayor and there's a Jojo out here feeling kind of alone like he is.
So they have this little bit of a bond, if you will.
But hilarity ensues.
A lot of fun, catchy music.
Wraps up on a green eggs and ham number, so yeah.
So it sounds like the connective tissue truly is Jojo and Horton kind of throughout thestories what the narrative is.

(02:53):
things so I'd say that yeah.
So what do you feel like is Horton's motivation then?
Because you say he finds the Whoville, you know?
um What's his motivation throughout the Seussical?
That's a question.
um
I just think he's a...
maybe never had any true responsibility before.

(03:14):
And having this one thing that at least for the time being nobody else can verify, it'skind of cool.
I think, I don't know, you'd have to talk to Dr.
Seuss about what the intention was behind the stories.
But personally, I think it's cool.
So you have mentioned that you've played HORN.

(03:35):
This is your third time, correct?
So what drew you to wanting to come back to this role?
Um, honestly, it's because of said family.
mentioned I had my youngest or my oldest at the time, uh, was just a little tike when wedid it last time.
So his mom was in it then she was very pregnant with our younger son.

(03:59):
Also while she was playing Mrs.
Mayor So all four of us are in it again this time.
Um, she's playing Gertrude, uh, youngest son is one of the
things and uh Tallboy is one of the cadets.
So it's just, it's got a special little something for the Anderson family.

(04:23):
I was gonna say it's a whole family affair.
We have.
ah Is there any pressure to stepping into the world of Dr.
Seuss in kind of bringing the vibrant world to the stage?
Well, given that it's my third time doing so, not really.
For a beginner, maybe.
For a first-timer, possibly.
Luckily, all the music is pretty catchy.

(04:47):
I know some people just don't like Dr.
Seuss books, but they should probably still give this a try, because it's different.
We have a ton of the books.
this...
I was gonna say, I grew up on Dr.
Seuss.
Like, this is right up my alley of, like, it's that nostalgicness of being a child again.
Do you have a favorite song to perform in the show?

(05:08):
For me m
Technically, I guess it would maybe be a duet because it's alone in the universe when Ising it with JoJo.
That's in Act 1.
What kind of draws you to that one being one of your favorites?
I just like the...
The rhythms of it, I guess, would be a good...
Like there's a song I have in Act Two that is good also, but it's kind of quiet.

(05:33):
It's more like a lullaby.
And Alone in the Universe is just kind of the first big joint um connection between Hortonand JoJo.
Okay.
So it's like a really pivotal moment.
Yeah.
How has your role as Horton in this production, on our own production, challenged you as aperformer?

(05:56):
physically, you know, not as young as I used to be.
So, so knees and back.
oh
oh They're constantly, you know, something drops.
do you have any specific way that you get into the mindset of your character?
I don't think I do, I just know that I should be.

(06:16):
As silly as I can be while trying to be taken seriously as well, um it is Dr.
Seuss.
It doesn't have to be that deep.
So.
ah
But at the same time, Dr.
Seuss has a lot of layers.
He has a lot of deep thoughts, which is kind of what Horton is.
He's a deep thinker and kind of has to stand up against a lot of the adversity when peopledon't believe him.

(06:41):
That is true.
Has there been a standout moment amongst this rehearsal process or from this productionthat like, you just, you can't stop thinking about it, puts a smile on your face, know,
something positive?
uh Wyatt, the guy who plays Mr.
Mayor.
Every time he's doing lines and moving, I crack up.

(07:04):
You'll just have to see it.
And we're excited to see it.
uh One final question for you then is just what are you hoping audiences take away fromthis production of Seussical the Musical?
um that community theater is a safe place.
ah
Dr.
Seuss is a safe topic.
um Like you can just about put music to anything and make it make sense.

(07:29):
um
Don't be so...
Don't be so...
uh Don't be in such a hurry to...
you know, judge some, judge a book by its cover and, you know, give somebody, be patientwith people, give them a chance to prove themselves if they are thinking a little bit

(07:50):
different here and there.
That's a beautiful answer.
uh Leon I appreciate you being here with us.
I'm so excited to see you as Horton um when this production of Seussical Musical Arrivalsstage.
So thank you so much for your time and being here with us.
Thanks for having me.
Appreciate it.
I think I did okay.
oh
On our own production of Seussical, Arise at the Fraser Performing Arts Center, June 20thand runs through the 28th, so get your tickets now and we will see you there.