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Goal

This project aims to strengthen student achievement in literacy, communication and collaboration through a hands-on, cross curricular partnership among the Theatre, Art, and English Language Arts (ELA) departments. By producing Seussical Jr., students will not only explore performance, design and storytelling but also directly engage with reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and creative writing-all key components of our schoolwide literacy initiative. Theatre and Art students will work together to design, construct, and perform Seussical Jr., a musical that celebrates imagination, reading comprehension, and creative expression.

Working closely with ELA teacher Ms. Alford, our theatre curriculum has been intentionally aligned with literacy standards to support reading fluency, vocabulary development, and comprehension skills. Ms. Alford has guided the integration of text-based activities into the theatre classroom, including the use of graphic organizers, text analysis tools, and reading strategies to deepen understanding of character motivation, plot, and theme.

This collaboration bridges the gap between literacy and the arts by empowering students to read, interpret, and perform text while applying artistic design principles to visualize and build the story world. The ultimate goal is to improve reading proficiency and engagement through meaningful, hands-on experiences that bring literature to life.  

 

Category

School-Wide, Grade-Level, Or Class Events/Programs - Parent Nights, Honor Roll Celebrations, EOY Events, etc. 

 

What will be done with my students

Throughout the 2025–2026 school year, students in both theatre and art will collaborate to bring Seussical Jr. to life for a spring performance in March. The project will unfold in several phases:

Fall 2025 – Literacy & Design Integration:
Under the guidance of Ms. Alford, theatre students will analyze the Seussical Jr. script using ELA-aligned strategies such as close reading, text annotation, and vocabulary mapping.

Winter 2025–26 – Creation & Collaboration:
Theatre and Art students will work together to design, paint, and build sets and costumes. Using Ms. Alford’s literacy tools such as character graphic organizers and story maps, students will connect textual details to visual design choices. For example, students will interpret descriptive language from the script to decide on costume colors or set shapes that best capture the tone of a scene.

Spring 2026 – Performance & Reflection:
Students will stage Seussical Jr. for the school community, demonstrating mastery in reading comprehension, communication, and collaboration. Following the performance, they will complete reflective journals and group discussions guided by ELA literacy frameworks, connecting their performance experience to academic reading and writing goals.

This project provides meaningful, interdisciplinary learning, linking visual arts, performance, and reading comprehension in a way that directly supports our school’s literacy initiative.  

 

Benefits to my students

This project will foster literacy, creativity, collaboration, and confidence through an arts-integrated approach.

Students will:
Strengthen reading comprehension by engaging deeply with complex text through theatre performance.

Apply literacy tools and strategies provided by Ms. Alford such as graphic organizers, guided reading questions, and text annotation to interpret scripts with greater understanding.

Practice expressive communication, critical thinking, and vocabulary development through performance and dialogue.

Translate written text into visual and physical art forms through collaborative set and costume design.

Build teamwork, problem-solving, and real-world creative skills through the shared goal of producing a full-scale musical.

The impact of this project will be measured through multiple forms of assessment: reading comprehension rubrics, written reflections, performance evaluations, and visual art portfolios. Through the integration of literacy and the arts, students will make measurable gains in both creative expression and academic achievement.  

 

Budget Narrative

The total requested amount of $2,000 will fund essential supplies for costume styling, set construction, and prop creation for Seussical Jr. Most funds will support costuming, as students will be creatively selecting, designing, and assembling looks for each character rather than sewing from scratch.

Approximately $1,200 will go toward costume design and styling. This includes purchasing and assembling clothing items, fabrics, and accessories that can be combined to represent characters in a unique, whimsical Seussian style. Students will creatively mix and match costume pieces using layering, fabric painting, and alteration techniques to personalize each look. Funds will also support fabric paints, embellishments, wigs, hats, and character accessories. Additional materials like garment racks, hangers, and protective covers will help store and organize costumes throughout rehearsals and performances.

Roughly $625 will be used for set design and prop materials. Art and theatre students will collaborate to create imaginative backdrops, stage panels, and props that reflect Dr. Seuss’s vibrant world. Supplies will include stage-safe paints, brushes, rollers, wood panels, cardboard, foam board, adhesives, and hardware. Students will learn to interpret the written text through color, form, and visual storytelling, transforming words on the page into a fully realized environment.

The remaining $175 will fund storage and contingency needs, including plastic bins, labeling supplies, and a small allowance for unforeseen costs such as additional materials or shipping fees.

This budget directly supports student creativity, collaboration, and literacy engagement by giving them the materials to transform what they read into what they build, paint, and perform. Every element of the production from the costumes to the scenery will be a product of student imagination, interpretation, and teamwork.  

 

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