The story told in ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ is as old as humankind, a story of a family being torn apart by jealousy and greed, and then finally, after trials and tribulations, being brought together again.
Over the course of the next two weekends, the White Lake Dramatic Club will present ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ on the stage of the historic Playhouse of White Lake.
‘Joseph’ was the first musical collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, who soon would go on to write the worldwide blockbuster, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’, and then many, many more famous musicals.
This is the first time Erin Sharpe, Administrator of Education & Community Engagement at the Muskegon Civic Theatre, has directed the musical.
“While it’s my first time working on the project, ‘Joseph’ has been big in my life since I was around five years old and I saw Donny Osmond as Joseph at the Chicago Theater,” said Sharpe. “It has been a huge part of my life and theater background, so it is exciting to direct it.”
Though the themes explored in ‘Joseph’ are heavy ones, they are told in soaring, uplifting songs in a myriad of musical styles ranging from the driving rock-and-roll of ‘Jacob & Sons/Joseph’s Coat’ to the steel drum-driven ‘Benjamin Calypso’ to the ‘50s-style boogie-woogie of ‘Song of the King (Seven Fat Cows)’.
Asked what her favorite song in the production is, Sharpe replied, “That’s a tough question, but I think everyone will be familiar with ‘Go, Go, Go Joseph’ and ‘Joseph’s Coat’, and I think they will really enjoy our versions. And, I think when they hear ‘Close Every Door’ people are going to start weeping because it is just so beautiful.”
This production of ‘Joseph’ features a huge cast of 42 members ranging in age from seven years old to seasoned theater veterans with many years of experience.
“Our cast definitely uses every inch of the stage, and even a little of the house because there’s so many people,” said Sharpe.
A unique aspect of this production is the role of younger singers and actors.
“We are trying to tell the story through the eyes of the children,” said Sharpe. “So throughout the musical the kids move the story along, and they get to play a couple of characters that aren’t traditionally played by children.”
“What is exciting about this particular production is we have so many family units in the cast,” said Sharpe. “We have a mother and her daughter, a mother and her son, a mom and dad and their child, and we have brothers and sisters. It’s really fun to be able to participate with your family.”
One of those family units is cast member Kristi Stariha’s.
“What makes this show extra special for me is that all four of my children are in the cast with me,” said Stariha. “Two are in the children's chorus, one is in the women's ensemble, and one plays Joseph's youngest brother, Benjamin. This is their first community theater production, and it has been fun to experience it with them particularly because this is such an extremely talented cast.”
Sharpe’s question to the cast and production team during rehearsals has been this: “Why do you think ‘Joseph’ is a story that needed to be told? What is its purpose, why is it an important story?”
“Somebody once described the show to me as a fever dream," said Stariha. "I think that's on point. It's full of energy and chaotic turns, but the central message throughout is to keep stepping forward and attempting to be a decent human, and even in the midst of horrible things that happen around you, and to you, you will prevail. In the end, despite the ugliness that can be humanity, mercy and love right all wrongs.”
“I think ‘Joseph’ is a story of overcoming challenges,” said Sharpe. “And taking the hardships that you have experienced in life, and seeing how it has prepared you for the next phase. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, who had tried to kill him, but he ended up being second in command in Egypt, and at the end of the play he forgives his brothers, and I think that is an important message right now, just showing love to people even though they haven’t shown love to you.”
The White Lake Dramatic Club will present ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ at the Playhouse of White Lake on the evenings of Friday, July 25, Saturday, July 26, Friday, Aug. 1, and Saturday, Aug. 2, at 7:30 p.m. Matinee showings will occur Saturday, July 26, Sunday, July 27, Saturday, Aug. 2, and Sunday, Aug. 3, at 3 p.m.
