By DIANE GASPER-O'BRIEN

dobrien@dailynews.net

Most people can identify with the familiar red-and-white striped top hat of Dr. Seuss books and plays.

Elise Peterson hopes this year's Hays High School musical can bring back a lot of memories for those who attend.

HHS' 2009 musical production, "Seussical the Musical," is based on the characters and stories of Dr. Seuss.

" 'Beauty and the Beast' was a children's musical and was so successful," Peterson said of last year's Hays High musical. "And ticket sales are good already for this one, too."

Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12, 13 and 14 and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 15, all at 12th Street Auditorium.

Advanced tickets can be bought by calling the auditorium box office at (785) 623-2428 from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday and Friday or from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets -- $6 before the day of each show or $7.50 at the door -- also can be purchased by calling Hays High at 623-2600.

The musical, narrated by senior Brandon Smith as the Cat in the Hat, features characters and scenes from numerous Seuss books.

But the plot focuses on Horton the elephant, played by another senior, Matt Nolte.

Horton discovers a tiny speck of dust that turns into being the smallest planet in the universe occupied by tiny creatures known as Whos.

"This one is unique because it is primarily music, a lot of song, and very little drama and dialogue scenes," Peterson said.

Peterson, in her eighth year as director of plays and musicals at Hays High, said she chooses the musicals "to fit the potential for the cast."

Seussical was a good fit this year because "there are a lot of male and female roles."

One of the main roles -- JoJo, a little boy in the Who colony -- is being played by sophomore Kiley Dinkel, who along with Smith, played a part in an HHS musical, "Secret Garden," when they were in middle school in 2004.

"She always was a dynamic little singer," Peterson said of Dinkel. "And this part (of JoJo) is perfect -- you need a small-statured person."

Even after the huge success of "Beauty and the Beast," Peterson said she thinks "Seussical" will be well received, too.

"People are asking, 'How are you going to beat that?' " Peterson said. "You don't. You just go with something very much different."

"And," she added, "these are stories most of us know from our childhood. It'll be fun, too."