“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” a musical inspired by the Bible story of Joseph, opens tonight on the Benson stage.
The story is told by a narrator, who is speaking to a group of children about Joseph’s adventures. The cast also includes Joseph’s brothers, his father and mother, Potiphar and his wife, Pharaoh and many more. According to junior Tori Wisely, the narrator, the entire show is sung-through with only one spoken line in the entire two hours.
With so many different characters, Wisely said, the cast is diverse and features talent from all over campus.
“Joseph” was also performed in 2001 at Harding. Senior Nate White, who plays Joseph in the show, said that the new cast stayed true to a lot of the choreography and concepts created with the 2001 musical. Director Robin Miller said that this year’s show is a revival, not a re-imagining.
“Joseph is easily one of the most recognizable Old Testament characters,” White said. “What’s interesting about the account of Joseph in Genesis 37 through 39 is that it doesn’t give as much of the emotional aspect of things.”
White said he has been challenged to find the character arc of a one-dimensional character in the Bible. He said he hopes he is able to bring the character to life and make him relatable to a modern audience.
Wisely said her role as narrator has also been a blessing.
“This particular role has been my dream role since seventh grade,” Wisely said. “When Dr. Burks announced last year that it was going to be the musical for this year, I started crying. … This has just been so surreal for me to actually do it and on a stage this size.”
According to both Wisely and White, the show is very high-energy and features lots of music and dancing in addition to the amazing costumes and set.
“I love telling a story,” White said. “I love authentic stories. Obviously I’ve done performances that are supposed to be cheesy and big and in your face, like Spring Sing. But the beauty of performance and theater, specifically musical theater, is finding authenticity in these musical numbers. There are these beautiful characters within (the story) and to find them and bring those people out and tell their story is something I really love.”
Though they both agreed that working on “Joseph” has been a great experience, Wisely and White both stressed the importance of time management.
White said many members of the cast bring their homework to practice with them so they can work during any free time.
As far as social life goes, “the performance and being in the play — that becomes your social life,” White said. “We all become a family.”
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is not the first show either Wisely or White has been in. White was in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Annie,” “Oklahoma!,” and has been a Spring Sing host three times. Wisely was in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and was a Spring Sing hostess in 2011. She is a hostess again for the 2013 Spring Sing.
Susan Shirel serves as the vocal coach for the musical, Robin Miller is the director and Cindee Stockstill is the producer.
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” runs tonight and tomorrow night at 8 p.m. in the Benson Auditorium. Tickets are $12 to $18 depending on seating.
