Theater and music students are gearing up to perform the winter musical, “Seussical the Musical,” which opens at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Seussical the Musical, by Lynn Aherns and Stephen Flaherty, features Seuss’ collection of children’s books. Seussical joins Horton Hears a Who, Horton Hatches an Egg, The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, The Butter Battle and many more of Seuss’ tales.

“It’s really interesting how they intertwined all these different stories,” sophomore Crosby Dold said. “I grew up on those books, so all the bright colors and the weird words have kind of affected me.”

Cast members who didn’t know much about the musical before rehearsals began found they had already been introduced to many of the stories with bedtime readings or through movies based on the books.

“When I was little, I would see the movies on TV,” sophomore Emily Walthall said. “Personally, I like the movie Horton Hears a Who.”

While the musical touches on different stories, it lingers around one tale, Walthall said.

“The main storyline is Horton Hears a Who but it also includes the Butterside Up Wars, the Lorax and more,” Walthall said. “It’s actually really cool because it doesn’t switch from story to story. It kind of combines them all into one.”

Cast members said Seuss fans will enjoy the production.

“It is extremely humorous, ” junior Jesus Rodriguez said. “It’s a bunch of stories mashed together. It’s really funny, and you’ll love it. I promise.”

Freshman Colin Bradt, who plays Jo Jo, agreed.

“It’s a really funny spin,” he said. “It’s all the stuff and stories we heard when we were little. It’s Seuss brought to life.”

After long weeks of rehearsals, Bradt said he is looking forward to opening night.

“It’s going to be really fun,” he said. “It might not be good because everyone will be nervous, but it’ll be fun.”