MILLBROOK — A middle school cast of more than 50 actors will transform the auditorium at Millbrook High School (MHS) into a whimsical jungle of faithful elephants, sour kangaroos, self-centered birds and Whos in jeopardy. Millbrook Middle School will present “Seussical Jr.,” based on the stories of Dr. Seuss and featuring award-winning music by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, at the MHS auditorium at on Friday, May 13, and Saturday, May 14, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. and seats are general admission.Millbrook Middle School music teacher and “Seussical Jr.” director Alexis Clements said the middle school production was moved to Millbrook High School due to facilities complications and construction at the middle school auditorium. She said the most challenging part of shifting the production to the high school was the mental change in reworking blocking and the logistics of moving set pieces, scenery, costumes and props.“I think the experience has given our cast and crew some idea of the flexibility that is required of professional touring companies — being able to refocus, adjust your body language and the volume of your voice, reset your blocking and just make it work in whatever venue you’re rehearsing or performing in,” Clements said.Clements said “Seussical Jr.” sends a message about believing in yourself, even when others bully you. She cited the struggles Horton endures being bullied by the jungle citizens and Jojo the Who’s tense relationship with his parents. “I think it’s a show that everyone can relate to, and the Dr. Seuss stories really showcase our students’ imaginations and individuality as well,” Clements said.Eighth-grader Delilah Napier said she has really enjoyed being self-centered Mayzie LaBird in the “Seussical Jr.” cast. “It’s fun because Mayzie’s almost the opposite of my character in reality,” said Delilah. “She’s conceited, vain and fancy-free. I think the funniest parts to play are the ones that are not like you.”Clements said audiences can expect to be surprised by “Seussical Jr.” “Our cast this year is amazingly talented, the music is infectious, and our sets are spectacular. We’re definitely ready to show off our hard work,” she said.Seventh-grader Sam Bonelli, the “Seussical Jr.” crew chief, said he takes great pride in the set pieces this year, especially the Who House and the exotic palm trees. Sixth-grader Colin Barger, who is also on the crew, agreed and said the best part about the job was painting the fantastic trees that make up the Jungle of Nool.Eighth-grader Corey Orlik, who plays Horton, the elephant who withstands bullying and is true to himself, said audiences will be delighted with what the middle schoolers have achieved with “Seussical Jr.” “There are a lot of creative backgrounds in the set and some really great singing in the cast,” he said.Seventh-grader Peter Kiewra plays Jojo, who assists the Cat in the Hat, in unwinding the crazy plot events of “Seussical Jr.” “It’s been a little bit pressuring having to finish everything in the final week, but it’s really fun and it’s going to be a great show,” he said.Clements said the biggest reward about directing the middle school production is seeing the way students translate what they learn on stage into their real lives. “I see the students’ experiences with the drama club positively influence their public speaking and their academics, as well as their personal and social lives, at a time when being in the club could really be considered uncool,” she said. “The end result, and the pride they have in their work, makes it all worth it — they’ve made memories for a lifetime.”Sixth-grader Erica Gartelmann said she is excited to be playing Yertle the Turtle in her first middle school production. “This is harder work than when we did the musical at our elementary school, but it’s nice to have a featured part because a lot of sixth-graders are in the ensemble this year.”Sixth-grader Miranda Schnoor, who plays one of Mayzie LaBird’s sassy bird girl sidekicks, said the hard work of the cast is paying off. “I think people should come see ‘Seussical Jr.’ because every member of the cast is working hard to give their best performance,” she said. Submitted by Diane Jackson Schnoor.
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Greg Fricke and James Boehmer, co-owners of Peggy Mercury in Kent, recently launched their first fashion line, “Imaginary Concerts.”
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Fricke and Boehmer are not there to stock their shelves with the same products customers find at standard makeup retailers. They’re there to help customers find what works for them. That usually means asking customers about themselves and learning about their beauty habits, skin, style and the way they like to present themselves. Fricke and Boehmer believe it’s their job to help customers bring out the qualities that suit them and determine what works best for their look.
So much of the Peggy Mercury world is about emboldening people to become more creative, and possibly bolder, versions of themselves. Some of this comes through the store’s creative collaborations with artists, designers and stylists.
It’s part of an ethos that encourages them and their friends to use the shop as a kind of laboratory, trying out new creative experiments without knowing how they might turn out. Whether in fashion, painting, fiber arts or photography, the projects almost always turn out marvelously.
A line of sterling silver charms they sell started as a small project by their friend Nolan Percival. In the beginning, the pieces were for close friends and loved ones. But Boehmer and Fricke encouraged Percival to get a little more serious about the project and create a whole line for the store. Today, it’s one of their top-selling collections.
Classic styles, bold colors, and creative concerts make up the “Imaginary Concerts” line at Peggy Mercury.Provided
“Imaginary Concerts” has the duo taking their own advice.
The project started as a way for Boehmer to connect with his mother, who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Taking old concert shirts from his own collection, Boehmer and his mother began cutting out the graphics with the idea that they would make a quilt together. Unfortunately, she died before they could complete the project in 2025. The pieces, which were ready for production, were put on the back burner as Boehmer and Fricke dealt with their loss and the whirlwind of projects that never seemed to cease at Peggy Mercury.
But the harsh winter of 2026 presented an opportunity to take some time and focus on themselves. Part of that meant revisiting and redefining the concert T-shirt project. This time, instead of looking to the warmth and comfort of a quilt, they turned to another passion — fashion.
Taking a page from their own book, they wanted to create something that felt comfortable to them. They took two disparate loves — one rooted in simple preppy style, with clean lines and classic silhouettes, and the other in the nitty gritty worlds of punk rock and pop — and blended them together to create something entirely new. Pulling from the staples of vintage Brooks Brothers and Charvet collections, they applied the graphic elements with bold stitching reminiscent of punk jackets of the ‘70s and ‘80s, but with a much more sophisticated air.
But the remixing isn’t just the pairing of prep and punk. The pieces are not canon. They take liberties with the realities of concert tours, combining one band’s dates with another band’s logos, mixing them all up until the reality is lost and imagination is the only truth.
Shirts from Peggy Mercury’s first fashion line, “Imaginary Concerts,” hang on display.Provided
Adding to the mix is an element of perpetual creativity. Art can be messy, both figuratively and literally, and many of Fricke and Boehmer’s artist friends carry evidence of their work on them at all times. As a nod to these tireless creatives, the duo added haphazard splashes of bright color, giving the line an even more distinctive feel.
For them, “Imaginary Concerts” passes the “Peggy Test.” The mythical Peggy Mercury is a fictional figurehead for the company, a character who thrives on creativity and change. The name, much like the clothing line, is a mixture of interests: Mercury is a planet, a deity and an elusive, transformative element, while Peggy is the wonderfully stylish and boundary-pushing Peggy Guggenheim.
Everything Fricke and Boehmer put in their store has to pass this test: Would Peggy Mercury approve? For their first collection, the answer is a resounding yes.
Peggy Mercury is at 9 Maple St., Unit 2, Kent.
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