Some of Dr. Seuss’ most famous characters are invading Kitsap Forest Theater starting this weekend.

“Seussical, The Musical” debuts Sunday, May 24 at the outdoor Seabeck theater. Aside from a performance Monday, May 25, shows will be on Saturdays and Sundays through June 14. All shows begin at 2 p.m.

Peter Nolte, of Seattle, plays the Cat in the Hat and said the cast has been rehearsing since March and he’s excited the opening day performance is almost here.

“It’s coming up real fast,” Nolte said of the first performance.

“Seussical, The Musical” is Nolte’s first show at Kitsap Forest Theater and he’s excited to perform at the outdoor venue.

“It just seems like a really fun, warm, inviting place to be,” he said.

“Seussical, The Musical” features elements from Dr. Seuss classics including “The Cat in the Hat,” “Horton Hears a Who,” “Horton Sits on the Egg,” “Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories,” “McElligot’s Pool” and “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!”

Nathaniel Jones, of Seattle, plays Horton the Elephant and said “Seussical, The Musical” should make for an entertaining, original show.

“The characters are familiar. I think a lot of folks haven’t heard of it as a musical,” he said. “It’ll be a lot of fun.”

Nolte agreed, saying “Seussical, The Musical” is a “fun show to do” and he enjoys seeing how the different Dr. Seuss characters interact with one another.

“I think what I love about ‘Seussical’ is it’s a combination of some really fun music and some wacky characters we all grew up with and just getting to see how all of these original characters, who aren’t related to each other, work together,” Nolte said.

Jones said the outdoor theater adds a lot to the production and the audience should enjoy the set.

“It makes for a different show and it works for ‘Seussical,'” he said.

Nolte said the rhododendrons surrounding Kitsap Forest Theater are used in the production because “they look like they came directly out of a Seuss book.”

“You could have practically created the Kitsap Forest Theater for ‘Seussical,'” Nolte said.

“Seussical, The Musical” tickets are available at The Mountaineers, Seattle at (800) 573-8484, Ted Brown Music in Silverdale, Mills Music in Poulsbo and at the Kitsap Forest Theater Web site, www.ForestTheater.com.