Think back to a time when someone invited you to “imagine”... 

Imagine … what this fort will look like when we’re done. 

Imagine … your dream job or dream house. 

Or perhaps the last time you heard this word was in the lyrics of John Lennon, asking us to imagine a different kind of world. 

This year marks five years of Hillcrest Village Community Players. Season one’s story and purpose was all about community and reconnection after the pandemic (Anne of Green Gables). Season two was about music as resistance (Sound of Music). Season three a story of collective grief, and learning how to live again after tragedy (Footloose). And season four was a story of identity and how we are shaped by the people around us (Little Women). Through all of these productions, the power of imagination made theatre an expression of optimism. Which brings us to season five. 

Seussical the Musical is a joyful, silly show bursting with colour and big imagination. Amidst the goofiness, the message is simple: listen to one another, believe in one another, and we can imagine better worlds together. 

As we get older, imagination is often the first thing we lose. In times of stress or burnout, we’re told to be practical, cautious, or “realistic”. Seussical reminds us that imagination is not escapism - it is an essential act of hope. In hard moments, imagination is not a way out, but a way forward. It teaches us to believe something better into being. And perhaps now, more than ever, it is exactly what we need. 

This story reminds us why it matters to speak up, even when it’s uncomfortable. One small voice, one unlikely believer, can change everything. Communities grow stronger when we choose compassion over convenience, curiosity over conformity. 

Audiences come for the fun, and the joy delivers - and then some! But it is the deeper message that stays with us: beneath the colour and laughter, this story opens the door to empathy, courage, and connection.

So, I ask you all to put that phone away, even during intermission. Be present to our shared community. Embrace the silly, the colourful, the impossible - and remember that imagination is not just for children. It’s how we hope, connect and create strong community.

This production is dedicated to my parents, who modelled parenthood based on imagination and embody the importance of community. You showed me that believing is just as important as dreaming, and your belief has made this “little” project possible. Love you forever, and a day after that.