The stage of the Tyrone Area High School becomes the land of Egypt on April 25 and 26 with the production of the revived Broadway musical “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
The musical was a collaboration between lyricist Tim Rice and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the famous duo who also wrote such productions as Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. The musical consists of two acts, a cast of 17 men, one narrator, one woman, a chorus, 17 songs and instrumentation.
“We had auditions, and they were very difficult to do because there are 11 brothers, and each one of them is fantastic, and each one of them could have been Joseph easily,” said Cathy Young, TASD teacher and musical director and producer. “He is the youngest brother, and so we have an eighth grader playing the same age as Joseph would have been in the Bible, which is 13, I believe. Josh Shaffer is 13, and he’s doing an excellent job. That was one of the hardest ones to cast is the lead.”
The plot of the musical is taken from a biblical story in which Joseph is the favorite son in the family. His brothers become very jealous of him when their father gives Joseph a coat of many colors, so the brothers sell Joseph into slavery in Egypt. He has a unique gift of interpreting dreams which helps Joseph to save the country and come into favor with the Pharaoh. He is reunited with his estranged brothers in the end.
There are no speaking parts in the musical, so another lead role is the narrator who sings many songs to explain to the audience what is going on in the show.
“It’s the same with the female lead which is the narrator. She sings all the leading parts, and that’s Melody Garthwaite who made it for state chorus.”
Young commented most of the other parts were easy to cast, and students cast as the brothers are going to “steal the show.”
Many members of the community are helping to make the production of the musical a complete success. Sue O’Brien is making all of the costumes. Nancy Sloss and Cindy Bennett from The Tyrone Community Players are working with some of the cast members on building characterization. Choreographer Tara Penick is teaching the entire cast dance steps to the major songs in the musical.
“She’s so good with them. She can give them stuff to do where they look like they know what they’re doing,” said Young of choreographer Penick.
Practice is held every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Some students have an extensive dance background whereas others do not, so they are hard at work and will continue to put in long hours until the nights of the show.
“We’re really excited,” said Young. “I’m just thrilled to be working with all of these people who are involved and helping me out.”
Call 684-4240, ext. 3703 for ticket information. Reserved seats are $7, and general admission seats are $5.
