Staff from the Missouri Ecological Services Field Office volunteered to perform Dr. Seuss's The Lorax at Lee Expressive Arts School. Fourth grade classes performed on stage with FWS staff at Paquin Park. - FWS Photo by Rick Hansen

Back Row: Charlie Scott, Field Supervisor; Andy Roberts, Biologist; John Weber, Environmental Contaminants Specialist; Becky Willowood, STEP Student; Paul McKenzie, Biologist. Front Row: Becky Clearwater, Adminstrative Officer; Dave Mosby, Environmental Contaminants Specialist; Ellie Milligan, Office Automation Assistant; Jill Utrup, Biologist. - FWS Photo by Rick Hansen

Ellie Milligan leads her Humming-fish through the forest. - FWS Photo by Ashley Spratt

On October 31^st, Lee Expressive Arts School in Columbia, Missouri celebrated Dr. Seuss’s 100^th Anniversary at their annual Fall Festival.  There were a few Thing Ones and Thing Twos, one fish… no… two fish, some red, some blue, Brown bar-ba-loots, Swommee-swans, and Humming-fish, too! But wait, I see biologists from Missouri ES, boy have they gotten themselves into some mess!

Putting their dramatic arts skills to the test, biologists and staff from Missouri Ecological Services performed The Lorax, Dr. Seuss’s timeless environmental story about a “mossy, bossy” manlike creature and his plight for the environment against the greedy Once-ler.  

Lee School fourth graders performed alongside Missouri ES staff as Truffula trees, Brown bar-ba-loots, Swommee-swans, and Humming-fish.

Missouri ES and Lee Expressive Arts School have been Partners in Education since early 2007.

The Cast:

Lorax………………………...Dave Mosby

Once-ler……………………...Charlie Scott

Truffula Trees………………. Andy Roberts, John Weber, and Students

Brown Bar-ba-loots………….Paul McKenzie and students

Swommee-swans…………….Jill Utup and students

Humming-fish……………….Ellie Milligan and students

Director, Reader, Artistic Director…..Becky Willowoos

Cinematographer…………………….Rick Hansen

Producers…………………………….Becky Clearwater and Ashley Spratt