Two Catholic high schools are getting ready for their spring musicals. Look for "Seussical" at Bishop Canevin in East Carnegie next week and "Little Shop of Horrors" starting tonight at Serra Catholic in McKeesport. Both schools attract lots of students from the South Hills.

Bishop Canevin director Andy Folmer said he liked that "Seussical," the musical based on several of Dr. Seuss's best-loved children's stories, had so many substantial parts for his students.

"One of the main goals is to give the kids as many opportunities as possible," he said. Mr. Folmer, 35, lives in Brighton Heights and works as a director of Web development at Technology Publishing Co. on the South Side.

But he also thought the show would offer chances for the school to show its creativity, especially in staging. "The underlying theme of 'Seussical' is not to limit your imagination," he pointed out. "And we've taken the script and gone to work to put our own stamp on things."

"Seussical" was written by Lynn Ahrens and Dormont-born Stephen Flaherty, the same duo responsible for "Ragtime" and "Once on This Island." The show opened on Broadway in 2000 and includes Seuss characters the Cat in the Hat, the Grinch and Horton the Elephant.

Much of the plot revolves around Horton's efforts both to protect the tiny speck that contains all of Whoville and Mayzie LaBird's egg, which he's been sitting on in her absence.

The Internet offers "lots of resources" for those researching the show, noted Mr. Folmer, but he said he preferred to strike out on his own.

Instead of portraying the mischievous Wickersham brothers as monkeys, as in the Broadway version, Mr. Folmer has opted to give them "a boy-band feel, something a little hip-hop."

And he borrowed the roles of Thing One and Thing Two from the children's version of "Seussical," adding that along with the Cat in the Hat, "they become almost a vaudeville trio." It helps, he said, that the Things are played by dance captains Chelsea Pacconi and Celina Pompeani.

Mr. Folmer also said that the musical program "opens the door for people to go on in theater," including his Cat in the Hat and Horton. Dylan Putas, the Cat, will be attending Carnegie Mellon University for drama next year, and Paul Kolos, who plays Horton, will go to Point Park University for broadcasting.

"Seussical" also stars Chelsea Raffa as Gertrude McFuzz, Olivia Davis as JoJo, Mackenzie Grapes as the Sour Kangaroo and Bo Tokarski as the Mayor of Whoville.

Bishop Canevin competes at the highest budget level for the Gene Kelly awards.

Besides enjoying the "fun and infectious songs" from "Seussical," Mr. Folmer said audiences would be guests in a world where there are no rules. "You're going to see Dr. Seuss in a whole new light."

"Seussical" will play Bishop Canevin High School, 2700 Morange Road, Pittsburgh, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, next Thursday and April 25 and 26. Tickets are $6, bleachers $5. Call 412-922-7400.

"Little Shop of Horrors," which opens at Serra Catholic High School in McKeesport tonight, represents a fresh beginning of sorts for the school's musical program as new director Jeanie Pass-Werner takes the helm.

New directors have been the rule for the past few years at Serra Catholic. "We've had a new director every year since I can remember," said Nathan Sudie, who was the King of Siam and the student producer of last year's production of "The King and I." He said he felt the constant changes had made it more difficult to maintain the quality of the productions.

Now in his freshman year at CCAC South, Mr. Sudie is a production consultant on "Little Shop" and said he hopes Ms. Pass-Werner can restore some continuity to Serra Catholic's musical program.

For her part, Ms. Werner-Pass said, "I'd like to be here more than just this year." She added that since Serra Catholic's enrollment has recently increased, the time might be right to found a drama club at the school.

A Serra Catholic alumna, Ms. Pass-Werner teaches music at St. Bede School in Pittsburgh and has directed children's theater at Bethel Park Community Center.

She said she hadn't been sure what to expect for "Little Shop" auditions, but was pleasantly surprised when more than 50 students turned up. "Pretty amazing when you consider the school only has 300-some kids," she said.

Written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, the same duo responsible for Disney's "Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast," "Little Shop" tracks the rise of nerdy Seymour Krelborn, a Skid Row flower shop assistant, when he discovers a strange, fast-growing plant he calls Audrey II.

Songs like "Suddenly Seymour" and "Somewhere That's Green" pay tribute to the doo-wop and Motown songs of the 1960s.

Freshman Joe Penzelik plays Seymour, Megan Piplica plays Audrey and Jeff Rodgers plays florist Mushnik. Tesa Gould plays Chiffon, Brooke Perkins plays Ronnette and Jordan Oeler plays Orin the dentist.

Mr. Sudie said although he would miss it, he won't be assisting with Serra Catholic's musical next year. After five years of involvement, he said, "I'm going to let others take over. But I wish them the best."

"Little Shop of Horrors" plays at Serra Catholic High School auditorium, 200 Hershey Drive, McKeesport, at 7:30 p.m. today, tomorrow and Saturday. Tickets are $8, $5 for students. Call 412-751-2020.