Meredith Muller, 16, plays the Cat in the Hat and Tony Feenan, 19, plays Horton the elephant in Peninsula Youth Theatre's production of Seussical the Musical. Based on a concept by Eric Idle, who performed with and wrote songs for Monty Python, and Tony Award-winning lyricist Lynn Aherns, the show weaves together numerous Dr. Seuss classics, from Horton Hears a Who to Green Eggs and Ham to How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

"The Cat morphs into lots of other characters to tell the story," says Muller, who attends Castilleja School in Palo Alto.

"It's fun overall," Feenan says. "It mixes lots of music together and gives lots of different points of view. And there's audience participation."

"There are a few parts where I come down into the audience and talk to them as a news reporter," Muller says.

While Feenan, who attends Foothill Community College, doesn't don floppy ears and a trunk for his role, he tries to imbue Horton with the physical aspects of an elephant. Muller, on the other hand, gets to wear the trademark red-and-white-striped stovepipe and bow tie.

"I'm in Army camo and a hat," Feenan says." She's dressed up as the Cat."

This is Muller's sixth show with the theater company and Feenan's 24th. Feenan has also performed in adult productions with the Palo Alto Players and the West Valley Civic Light Opera. He says he prefers musicals to straight dramas.

While Muller says she leans toward musical theater, she'll soon be auditioning for a dramatic role with the Young Actors Conservatory at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco.

Both say they'll continue performing in college and beyond, although not necessarily professionally. Feenan will attend Ohio State University next fall and is considering a double major in theater and accounting. Muller says she's looking into a career in music therapy.

Feenan says one of his favorite roles so far was Barnaby in West Valley Civic Light Opera's production of Hello, Dolly! Muller's was Little Red Riding Hood in Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods. She says she's looking forward to playing more adult characters in the future.

"Most of the roles I'm eligible for are in youth theater, so I don't get to do anything more grown-up," Muller adds.

In her spare time, Muller takes classes at Trapeze Arts in Oakland.

"When I was really young, I was crazy flexible, and I went to a circus camp in San Jose," she says. "I decided I wanted to take it up again, and Oakland is the closest school now."

When he's not at school or on stage, Feenan works as a barista at a local Starbucks.

"I like my job," he says. "I like communicating with the customers. I like learning about them and getting to know them. I'm a people person."

Both Peninsula Youth Theatre and Children's Musical Theatre of San Jose have Aida on their season schedules. But Feenan, who has performed with CMT, says he'll audition for Peninsula Youth Theatre production of Aida because he prefers the environment at the youth theater, which he considers a great learning experience.

"Seussical the Musical" runs through Nov. 21 at the Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St., Mountain View. Performances are Nov. 18 at 9:30 a.m., Nov. 19 at 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $7 to $17. For more information, call 650.988.8798 or visit www.pytnet.org.