The Dr. Seuss-inspired " Seussical the Musical" combines elements from many of the beloved author's stories into one story whose universal themes even adults can appreciate. 

The musical, which opened on Broadway in 2000, will be staged beginning Saturday at Cutting Hall in Palatine with expanded roles for children. The Broadway version included only one child part - JoJo, the son of the mayor of Whoville. 

But this production, by the local theater company LZP, features 11 children and four teenagers in its 43-member cast, including four parent-child combos. 

"It just seems like a natural show to have kids in," said co- director and choreographer Peter Rasey, an Aurora native who now lives in Chicago. 

LZP does two to three musicals a year and tries to do at least one family-oriented show every year. 

For Morra Priess of Hawthorn Woods, the show's other co- director, getting parents or grandparents and their children into the theater together is critical to the future of live theater. It's even better when a show gets children on stage. 

"I just wish there were more shows that kids could see, but also that kids could do," Priess said. "They can work on shows at their schools, but here they're working with adults. It gives them a whole new perspective." 

She should know. In addition to directing, Priess plays Gertrude McFuzz, the bird with the one-feathered tail, and is the mom of 10- year-old K.C. Priess, who has a variety of ensemble roles. Priess' husband, Ken, an actuary at his day job, plays Horton the Elephant, the star and, appropriately, Gertrude's love interest. 

"We're not just mom-and-kid, or dad-and-kid," Priess said. "We're co-stars. We're practicing lines together. We're singing songs together. It gives a whole new aspect to the relationship." 

Computer programmer Tom Brauer of Palatine hadn't been on stage since the first grade - 31 years ago - when he decided to take a part in " Seussical ." His sons Adam, 8, and Justin, 11, both had ensemble parts that required them to be at rehearsal three days a week, but not on the same three days, which had Brauer watching rehearsals six days a week. When another adult dropped out, Rasey talked him into taking the part. 

"I kept saying, 'No, no, I'll work backstage,'" Brauer said, "but they made me feel really comfortable. I'm feeling good about being in the show." 

His kids, predictably, were not so supportive at first. 

"They kept saying, 'Dad, you can't sing. Dad you can't act. Dad, you'll embarrass us,'" Brauer said. 

The music in " Seussical " ranges from '70s funk and circus music to Latin rhythms and traditional Broadway fare. 

The main plot combines "Horton Hears a Who" with "Horton Hatches the Egg." Horton must try to save the Whos, whom only he, with his oversized ears, can hear, while caring for the egg left to him by the irresponsible Lazy Mayzie. 

"They've done a wonderful job with the script, patching together the different stories," Priess said. "We went to see it in New York, and we just fell in love with it." 

Rasey said he was skeptical at first - sometimes he prefers darker or more serious material - but he quickly fell in love with the characters. Re-reading many of the Dr. Seuss books, he remembered that the children's tales often are allegories for larger issues. 

"They seem like kids' books, but it really is a basis for looking at issues of slavery or war or accepting yourself for the way you look," Rasey said. "It's really very timely." 

Re-creating the fantastical world of Dr. Seuss for the stage was a challenge, especially for a small theater company like LZP, which doesn't have the big budget of a Broadway production. 

"Because of the illustrations in the books, everyone has an idea of what it should look like, and we've tried to be true to that while adding some of our own touches," Priess said.