The music is engaging.
The story plot is not only thought provoking but very entertaining.
The high school actors at Carbon have been working on lines, songs and choreography for weeks, and they are now ready to give the public a show worth attending.
The part of Joseph is being played by Stephen Ewan. He is joined on stage throughout most of the musical by three narrators – Mercedez Clifford, Bethany Prettyman and Addy Taylor, and they have worked out the moves and the songs to play off from one another in a very engaging way.
Traditionally there is only one narrator. Having three narrators opens up opportunities for duets and trios that work well in the play.
The show will open Nov. 15 with shows set the 15-18 and again on Nov. 20. Curtain time is 7:00 p.m. in the Carbon High School auditorium.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children under the age of 12.
There are over 85 performers that includes a 27 member children’s choir from the community.
“We have been in rehearsal since September 7th. Kids have been here 4 days a week, every week for 2-3 hours per day doing dance and music rehearsals,” Pay explained. “It is coming together to be a powerful performance.”
In 1968, the choir director at Colet Court School in London commissioned Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber to write a musical based on the coat of many colors story of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis. The result was “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and it became one of the most recognizable musicals in the theatre community.
It was presented at the London school in 1968 as a 20 minute pop cantata. After several rewrites by the authors and the success of their collaboration on the musical, “Jesus Christ, Superstar,” “Joseph” finally received stage productions in 1970.
The musical was then presented in London’s West End in 1973 and finally went to Broadway in 1982. Several rewrites later, it reappeared as major revivals, national tours and a 1999 straight to video film starring Donny Osmond.
“It has been a staple for community, school and professional theatres to boost their theatre programs ever since,” stated Steve Pay, director at Carbon.
“After the success of last years’ ‘Beauty and the Beast’ I was in turmoil as to which musical to produce,” continued Pay. “ I did not want to necessarily produce another Disney production and toyed with the idea of going back to one of the more traditional type musicals.”
However, he wanted to produce a musical that would be recognizable and would bring the community back to the theatre for another great production.
Pay saw a production of “Joseph” by a high school in St. George last January and witnessed some great talent and wonderful ideas.
“Looking at the students I believed might audition for the musical, it occurred to me that I may need to continue to build the program before attempting this production,” Pay said. But things changed in June.
“In June, the idea of ‘Joseph’ was again presented to me and the thought came to me ‘trust your kids! They will rise to the occasion,” Pay said. “So…I announced ‘Joseph’ as the fall musical.”
Pay stated that within days he heard comments such as, “are you nuts?” and “will you use girls as the brothers?” and so on.
“Again the thought came to me to trust my kids,” Pay said. “And trust them I did, and I have not been disappointed.”
“This cast has worked tirelessly since September to bring to life this performance to for you,” Pay said. “They embraced it and have spent countless hours both in and out of rehearsal to learn the music and dances. It is something I think you will enjoy.”
“Joseph” presented an entirely new rehearsal, blocking and technical process for Pay and his co-producers, in that it has no spoken dialogue, but relies completely on music, singing, dancing, visual effects and a children’s choir to get the message across.
The creative staff has been unequalled in the task Pay said.
Rebecca Taylor and Larry Martin as music directors, Linda Johnstun as choreographer and Adam Day as technical director have lived with this production since July.
“The results of their efforts (and sleepless nights) will shine on the stage for each performance,” Pay said. “They have given up family time, changed vacation plans, added in countless hours of rehearsal time because they love the kids and want nothing more than to see them excel!”
Pay added that at the end of the show the cast sings, “…Give Me My Colored Coat…My Amazing Colored Coat!” and that this production “for me is truly amazing and is so filled with light and color.”
“I invite you to come and see the performance,” Pay said. “You will see the results of over 85 dedicated students (and their families) rising to the occasion. Enjoy the show!”
Joseph’s COAT of many colors presented by Carbon HS
Joseph 2