'Would you, could you this weekend?'

Click here for schedule Pioneer & Heritage Festival

Step back in time - and then begin speaking in rhyme.

The Rusk Chamber of Commerce and the Cherokee Civic Theatre are teaming up for a weekend of action-packed activities that already have folks giggling and making senseless, Seuss-like rhymes in ordinary conversation.

The two events are the annual Pioneer and Heritage Festival and the theatrical production of "Seussical, The Musical."

Activities begin Friday night with the opening of "Seussical, The Musical" at the Cherokee Theater in downtown Rusk. The production will continue Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Then the show will be presented Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19-20 and Sunday Oct. 21. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets may be purchased by calling (903) 683-2131. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children in advance and $10 at the door. Group discounts are available. The box office is open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday  through Friday and one hour before each performance.

"The Who Kids" l include (seated in front) Michael Dominguez and Beth Furrer. Standing from left are Moira O'Heaney Debbs, Trae Gunter, Rebekah Johnson, Blake Mitchell and Eva Hammock. The theatrical production of "Seussical, the Musical" is planned 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 12, 13, 19 and 20; and 2 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 14 and 21. For ticket information call the box office at (903) 683-2131. PHOTO: SHEILAH O'HEANEY

"Seussical, The Musical" is directed by Karen Hendley. The cast includes Dr. Seuss characters such as the Cat in the Hat played by Keith Becker; Horton the Elephant played by P.O. Ford; and the Grinch played by Eddie Breen. This musical production also includes Gertrude McFuzz played by Rachel Joseph; Mayzie La Bird played by Jenni Daniels; and Yertle the Turtle played by Bill Sherman.

Other characters in the cast are: Boy and JoJo, a Who played by Mark Becker; Bird Girls, played by Minette Satterwhite Trent, Linda Newton, Linda Henderson and Candy Dominguez; Sour Kangaroo played by Cheryl Cameron; General Gengus Khan Schmitz played by Cody House.

Wickersham Brothers are played by Brett Smith, Tim Howell and Stephen Bogan.

Whos are Mr. Mayor, played by James Crump and Mrs. Mayor, played by Sheila O'Heaney; and others, Beth Blake, Mitchell Blake, Moira Debbs, Jessica Breen Ford, Beth Furrer, Trae Gunter, Eva Hammock, Scarlett Henderson, Rebecca Johnson, Brehonna Lewis, Michael Pyle, Jessica Marquez, TJ Marquez and Mackie Satterwhite.

Pioneer & Heritage Festival

The Pioneer and Heritage Festival is planned for all day Saturday. The event will begin with a rope flag ceremony presented by the Wells 4-H Horse Club and a riffle volley firing by the Sons of the Confederate Veterans. Admission is $1 or a canned food item for adults. Children will be admitted free. Proceeds will benefit the Rusk Good Samaritan.

Contests will include a "Jam or Jelly" contest sponsored by the Good Samaritan; the Rotary Club of Rusk Karaoke Contest produced by Boogie Butt Productions; the Lions Club horseshoe and rings pitching tournament; and a PeeWee cowboy and cowgirl beauty contest.

Activities throughout the day will include a Veterans of Foreign Wars Poppy Drive. Whistle Stop will sponsor a quilting show. Entry forms are available at Whistle Stop.

The Senior Finale will sponsor cow patty bingo. A dog show will be sponsored by Klein Animal Shelter. Rusk Kiwanis Club is sponsor for a PeeWee Stick Horse Rodeo. There will be hayrides or horseback rides offered during the day. A cowboy prayer breakfast will be sponsored by Circle C Cowboy Church with Pure Country Band. A Petting Zoo will be sponsored by the Alto FFA. The Circle C Cowboy Church will also sponsor a trail ride.

DJ music will be presented throughout the day with songs including "Rawhide," "Ghost Riders in the Sky," "Tumble Weed," Long Prairie" and others. Other entertainment will include Jacksonville Jammers and Cherokee Cloggers.

Arts and crafts exhibitors will come from throughout East Texas. Pumpkins and mums will be offered for sale. Vendors will include information booth for the Alto Sons of the Confederate Veterans, the Southern Belles will have a bake sale and sell tickets for a $200 gift card raffle, Branded by Christ Cowboy Church, Cherokee County Democratic Club, Cloverleaf 4-H, Colleen's Collectibles, Curtis Ross, Dry Creed Western, Halls Produce, Helm's Mums, John and Bonnie Nickle with American flags, L&R Marketing, Longeburger, RESTELEDish Network/Power Wheel Chairs, Temporary Airbrush Tattoos, Faerie Tail Farm Boutique and Road Runner Trading Company, Charlotte's Web Too, and the Heritage Center of Cherokee County.

The food court will be filled with booths by Boy Scout Troop 405 with cotton candy and water; Buscher Boy vending with barbecue, chili, gumbo, Frito pie and nachos; J&D Little Cafe with a variety of funnel cakes, corndogs, curly fries and Rusk area Buyers Group with sausage on a stick. There will be frontier reenactors and demonstrators, Cowboy re-enactors of the Old West, Native American Indians, Mountain Men, fur traders and Civil war soldiers. Actors will portray images of a village blacksmith, pioneer tools, country classroom and pioneer toys and games. A colt starting demonstration will feature Steve Hilton Smith from Cornerstone Training Facility.