It may seem a long way from "Oklahoma!" to Whoville, but two high school musicals opening this weekend are a reminder that there'd be no "Seussical" without Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1943 smash about cowboys and farmers.

"Oklahoma!" opens tonight at Carlynton High School. It was one of the first musicals where story and song were integrated to make a larger point, rather than a simple musical revue. Set in 1906, just before Oklahoma's statehood, the show features cowboy Curly vying with farmhand Jud for the hand of farm girl, Laurey.

Producer Lori Dedola said she and director Mary Kay Smith were looking for a traditional musical that would feature a lot of students. They succeeded with an "Oklahoma!" that boasts a cast of 52 high school students and 13 preteens from Carnegie and Crafton Elementary schools.

But there was another reason to choose "Oklahoma!"

Ms. Dedola said Carlynton's vocal director, Mary Lear, started the musical tradition there 25 years ago with a production of the same show. She said that Ms. Smith had been in that production, "and now her son, Justin, is in the ensemble. It's come full circle."

Ms. Dedola noted junior Zachary Kapeluck, who plays Curly, has been accepted to the Juilliard School for a summer intensive course. "He's a great actor and dancer."

"Oklahoma!" also stars juniors Lauren Uffelman and Mark Sewell in their first lead roles, as Laurey and Jud. Ryan McGrogan and Adrienne Grapes play Will and Ado Annie.

Ms. Dedola said besides show-stoppers such as "Kansas City" and "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'," audiences will enjoy the costumes, nearly all made by mothers of cast members. "Each is more beautiful than the last."

Meanwhile at Big Beaver Falls High School, musical and high school choir director Yvonne Sterrett said there was "lots of excitement" when her cast heard this year's show would be "Seussical," written by Lynn Ahrens and Dormont-born Stephen Flaherty.

Based on several of Dr. Seuss's best-loved books, "Seussical" emerges from the daydreams of little boy Jojo to center on Horton the Elephant's efforts to rescue tiny Whoville.

The large cast includes 27 pupils from Beaver Falls Middle School.

This is Ms. Sterrett's first year as director, but she said her biggest challenge isn't taking on her high school's musical for the first time -- it's competition from spring sports.

"We just don't have a lot of boys available," said Ms. Sterrett, referring to basketball schedules. To compensate, she has cast young women in several male roles.

But her young women are dedicated, she said, adding both Sara Deppenbrook and Sarah Oliver, who play the Cat in the Hat and Gertrude McFuzz, made their own costumes, and Emily Oravitz, who plays Maizie LaBird, did her own choreography.

"Seussical" also stars Da-Shawn Boring as Horton and Casey Shee as Jojo.

Though the audience may not be familiar with the music, said Ms. Sterrett, she was confident they'd enjoy the songs.

"They're beautiful. Our orchestra loves 'Solla Sollew,' and the Jojo/Horton duet 'Alone in the Universe,' " Ms. Sterrett said. But the best part of the show, she said, was that it provides a unique experience.

"You're going to be dropped straight into the middle of an imaginary Dr. Seuss world. It's fun for all ages."