“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” will make its Moorestown premiere on July 20.
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” premiered on Broadway 50 years ago, and on July 20, the show will make its Moorestown debut. At the hands of MoorArts and the Moorestown Department of Parks and Recreation, the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic will bring a show of many colors to the stage of Moorestown High School.
The musical re-imagines the Bible story of Joseph, and follows the story of Joseph, who is sold into slavery by his brothers. While imprisoned, Joseph discovers his ability to interpret dreams, and his gift attracts the attention of Egypt’s Pharaoh who quickly makes him his right-hand.
The show marks the second year of a partnership between MoorArts and Parks and Rec. MoorArts produces one show a year, and last summer, the nonprofit partnered with Parks and Rec. for their first joint production.
The two groups decided to produce a show that would involve a small to medium cast of students with an interest in pursuing theater. The production was enhanced by the two organizations’ shared resources, which allowed both groups to have more staff to work on the show, more funding and more exposure.
Andrea Seuren, vice president of MoorArts, said the nonprofit has wanted to work with the show’s directors, Greg and Erica Harr, for years, and they were excited this year everyone’s schedules aligned. Erica said the musical was the first show she and her husband performed in together, and so they were eager to suggest it for this summer’s production.
Erica said the show has great pacing and features an array of catchy music. She said from country songs, Elvis-inspired numbers and Calypso music, the show is a fun and light production.
“People should come because it’s a quick-moving show,” Erica said. “It’s really high energy.”
Tierney Lee Howard, a rising junior at MHS who plays one of the show’s three narrators, said unlike some other musicals, the show is entirely sung with no dialogue in between, which has been a real thrill for her. She said her character helps to tell the story and moves the production along. She said as the story unfolds, she and the other narrators are there to clarify what is going on.
While the show is based on a Bible story, that should not be a deterrent for people, Lee Howard said. She said the show uses the story as an outline and fills in the gaps with a whole new plot.
“It has a lot of lessons in it,” Lee Howard said. “It’s just a beautiful story.”
To enable everyone to enjoy the story, an ASL interpreter and a sensory room will be provided during the show’s July 28 performance. Erica said this show’s more relaxed performance will provide a more laid back atmosphere where attendees are free to speak or walk around.
Seuren said while there are several productions simultaneously taking place in and around Moorestown around the same time, she sees it as an opportunity for residents to take in a wide array of theater this summer.
Erica said for many, seeing ““Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” will be a cross-generational experience. She said while students may not be familiar with the show, many of their parents know and love the musical.
She said the show is fun and lighthearted — the essence of a summer show — and theater-goers can expect a night of fun and musical variety.
“You’re seeing young people do something high-energy and positive and to me that’s always worth a night at the theater to see that,” Erica said.
The show runs for five performances on July 20, 21, 25 and 27 7:30 p.m. for and July 28 at 3 p.m. on the Moorestown High School auditorium stage. ASL Interpretation and a sensory room will be provided at the July 28 performance. Seating is reserved and tickets are $15. Tickets are available in advance online at www.MoorArts.org and at the door before performances.
