By Nathan Duke
Staff Writer

Goffstown High School graduates Caitlin Hynes and Sam Ducharme and upcoming junior Jon Poirier are causing trouble this summer and will likely be applauded for it.

The students are taking part in the school drama department's summer theater program, which will present six performances of two plays - "Seussical" and "Aladdin, Jr."

"Seussical," which has a cast of 24 students and a crew of six backstage, grades eight through graduated seniors, will be performed on Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Students have been rehearsing since late May and currently meet from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and a few hours on Friday.

"Seussical" previews at the Goffstown Town Common on Thursday, July 21, at 6:40 p.m. The musical will be performed Friday, July 22, and Saturday, July 23, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. , at Goffstown High School. "Aladdin, Jr." has two performances at Goffstown High School on Friday, July 29, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5.

"Aladdin, Jr.," which features 19 students from grades 3 to 8, will be performed on Friday, July 29 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The group has been rehearsing since late June.

Josh Desrochers, from the high school's music department, is the producer of both plays and is directing "Seussical." Melanie Paul is directing "Aladdin, Jr." and local dance instructor Katie Proulx is acting as choreographer for "Seussical."

For nearly a month, he has been spending about nine hours every day in the school's theater. Several students have undertaken a similar schedule.

"Some of the eighth-graders, because they are crazy, have decided to do both plays," he said. "They might be dancing from 12:30 to 9 on any given day."

"Seussical" combines the stories from several Dr. Seuss books and is modeled after the Broadway production of the same name.

The story focuses on Horton, an elephant who discovers a race of microscopic creatures called the Whos. Because they are unable to be seen, nobody believes Horton about his discovery.

Though Horton is the main character in the story, "Seussical" also features the Cat in the Hat as the master of ceremonies, as well as selections from Seuss. book, "Oh, the Places You'll Go."

Desrochers said the version of "Seussical" he is directing differs slightly from the Broadway show.

"(The show) was not a success on Broadway because people came in expecting to see what they imagined as the Seussian world and the (play's) director did not have their same vision," he said.

In Goffstown High's version, the performers all come out on stage in black on a mostly black stage, forcing the audience to use their imagination.

"I said (to the cast), 'Let's not try to shove what I think Seuss' world looks like down their throat,'" said Desrochers.

Several of the cast members have been enjoying their roles as troublemaking characters, such as Caitlin Hynes, 18, who plays the Cat in the Hat and Sam Ducharme, 18, and Jon Poirier, 15, who play two of the four Wickersham Brothers.

Hynes said the creation of the characters' physical appearances were a do-it-yourself process.

"We do our own costumes because our budget is so tiny," she said.

Hynes has taken part in school theater productions for several years and taught a number of students how to dance during the spring production of "Crazy for You." She said the school's music and drama departments have helped her strengthen her abilities as a performer.

"I have been dancing for 14 years, but I definitely got stronger through the music department," she said.

Hynes will attend the University of New Hampshire in the fall and will pursue a career in the performing arts.

"Aladdin, Jr." is an abridged version of the Disney film "Aladdin," making it easier for children to perform. Several of the songs have been changed to different keys, in order to make them easier for younger children to sing. The program runs about 75 minutes.

This is the first year Goffstown High's music department has offered a summer program for younger students, who were charged $300 to take part in the program, and the second year for high school students, who paid $125 to participate.

"We are lucky to get support from the Goffstown selectmen to fund this activity," Desrochers said. "I think they realized how much of a positive impact this (program) is for these kids."