School is out and summer festivities are in full swing. In Renton, that means the Renton Civic Theater’s annual Summer Teen Musical is under way, and this year, the musical is as quirky and delightful as green eggs and ham — it’s “Seusiccal.”

The musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty revisits Dr. Seuss’ beloved characters, including the Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and Jojo. The story centers on Horton and his attempts to save a speck of dust containing Whoville.

This year, taking the director’s role for the first time, is John Tembruell, who recently joined Renton Civic Theater as its assistant artistic director.

Tembruell’s described himself to once be a “shy, quiet kid in the corner.” But upon getting involved in a local theater group and immersing himself in a world of dress rehearsals and curtain calls, Tembruell began to crack open his shell and come alive. “It saved my life,” he said.

Now, he’s in the business of helping teens have the same experience he did.

When he was offered the opportunity to trade the spotlight for the director’s chair, Tembruell was thrilled. But directing has proved to be a tricky craft.

“It has been a learning experience,” he said. “I wasn’t prepared for blending everything together harmoniously because I’ve only done straight plays before, where there’s only blocking and acting. Now I have to worry about music and dance, let it all melt together and free-flowing throughout the play.”

He says that coming from a background of serious theater also helps him find important moments, and make directing choices that enhance the story line.

“The thing about “Seussical” is that it’s a kids show, but there’s an actual story there that gets lost when it’s just kids up there that parents can smile at,” Tembruell said. “It’s a bonus coming from non-musicals that I can find those moments and mix them in. It really helps having a production staff be phenomenal.”

Working with kids ranging from ages 13-18 has also proven to be tricky, but Tumbrell says he is surprised by how well he gets along with them.

“I don’t feel like the dictator-director; I feel like a mentor,” he said. “There is a certain amount of grace you need to have, especially when you’re dealing with kids… When things get out of control, there is a Nerf gun that we break out.”

But through the difficulty (and for every Nerf gun fight he has had to have), Tembruell says that the most satisfying part of his job is “seeing the kids have fun and get into their roles. Because that’s how I felt. Seeing them making a connection with another castmate — something that they might not experience in normal day life — is hugely rewarding. That feels so good.”

Seussical opens July 22 and runs through Aug. 2.