A nosy reporter wants to find out all she can about Dr. Seuss, aka Ted Geisel, and gets told the real facts by several of his characters, with large snippets of his stories and songs interspersed.

Ambitious stage mother Rose wants desperately for her daughter, June, to become the vaudeville star she never was. With the help of savvy but kind-hearted agent Herbie, Rose realizes her aspirations for June, but when her star rebelliously elopes, June's shy sister, Louise, reluctantly steps into the spotlight, transforming herself into the legendary burlesque star Gypsy Rose Lee.