MRT Launches Youth Pilot Program with Seussical JR.

McKinney students will soon unlock the imaginations of our community as they bring the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, and the Whos of Whoville to life! McKinney Repertory Theatre (MRT) is thrilled to announce a Youth Pilot Program production of Seussical JR. for Summer 2026.  Registration for this program opens on April 8th! 

This new initiative continues MRT’s long-standing commitment to building community through live theatre. By piloting this program, we aim to test this model and expand opportunities for young people to participate in the performing arts while building vital confidence, collaboration skills, and creative expression.

We are proud to announce that this program will be directed by DeAnna Stone, an esteemed educator with over 25 years of experience and a specialized expertise in youth theatre. Under her guidance, students will explore the "plinker-plunker" of musical styles in this show—ranging from Latin and pop to swing, gospel, and funk—co-conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Eric Idle.

May 26, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM 

Cost: $20 per participant

Eligibility: Grades 3–12 

To start the program, we are offering an Audition Workshop designed to help students feel confident and prepared. The workshop covers audition techniques, vocal performance, and what to expect when auditioning for this musical.

• Flexible Participation: This workshop is completely optional. Students do not need to attend the workshop to audition for the show, and students are welcome to take the workshop for the experience, even if they do not plan to audition for the production. 
• Sign Up Here on April 8th

Horton will hear a Who, and cheerful chaos will ensue when MRT presents Seussical JR. on August 6–8, 2026, at the Church Street Auditorium. This pilot program is a unique opportunity for students in grades 1–12 to leverage MRT’s community theatre expertise while filling a vital need for youth programming in McKinney.

• Eligibility: Grades 1–12 (Ages 7–18)
• Tuition: $250 per student (Scholarships may be available)
• Registration: Enrollment is limited to the first 50 students.  All students who audition will be cast in the production.  Once registration spots are full, we will have a waitlist available to fill any spots should a registered student be unable to participate.  Waitlist spots will be filled in the order they are received.  
• Auditions:  May 28, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM 
• Rehearsals:  Thursdays from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM, beginning on June 4 through July 30. 
• Tech & Performance Week: Sunday, August 2 - Saturday, August 8, 2026.  Times vary for Tech  & Performance Week. Please see the schedule below for all call times.  
• Commitment:   Registration includes student rehearsals, all performances, and parent volunteer support.
• For those who cannot afford the cost of tuition, partial scholarships may be available. Scholarships are based on need and fund availability and will be awarded at the discretion of the Executive Director and Board of Directors.   For all scholarship inquiries, please contact our Executive Director (contact information below). 

The adventure begins with a young boy named JoJo, who conjures up the Cat in the Hat with his powerful imagination and is whisked to the Jungle of Nool. There, JoJo discovers the tiny citizens of Whoville, who live on a planet the size of a speck of dust. Their sole protector is Horton the Elephant, the only one with ears sensitive enough to hear them playing their oompahs!

As the Sour Kangaroo and the Wickersham Brothers threaten to cast the dust-speck into a vat of Beezle-Nut oil, Horton must stay steadfast. Along the way, he is admired from afar by Gertrude McFuzz, while the glamorous Mayzie La Bird convinces him to egg-sit so she can take a vacation. Through it all, the Cat in the Hat weaves these stories together until JoJo ultimately saves his whole tiny world with one big, imaginative “think.”

“Now, I’m here, there is no telling what may ensue with a Cat such as me, and a Thinker like you!” — The Cat in the Hat

• Download and review the Parent/Guardian Information Packet (PDF below): Includes the full rehearsal schedule, volunteer responsibilities, Code of Conduct, and the participant waiver/hold harmless forms.  All forms must be filled out and turned in to the Producer at the first rehearsal.
• Sign Up for Auditions here on April 8th:  Reserve your specific time slot for the production casting session by clicking here. 
•  Complete the Program Registration Form (Available April 8th)

Please direct all inquiries regarding registration or scholarships to our Executive Director, Davina Gazo Stampfel, at executivedirector@mckinneyrep.org.

Registration opens on Wednesday, April 8th, and closes May 22, 2026—or when we reach our 50-student capacity!