Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts, Pembroke Pines, Florida November, 2013
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Starring
Cameron Jordan as Joseph Melissa Burde as The Narrator Scott Travis as Naphtalie Michael Felder as Asher Joe Verga as Simeon Bob Boyer as Levi Andrew Obeidy as Issachar/Butler Bryce Lucas as Judah Tommy Mandel - Ruben/Baker Zack Weinstein - Benjamin Lester Torres as Pharaoh Keith Kramer as Potiphar Wendi Librach as Mrs. Potiphar Carey Courson Missy Guerra Andi Green Janet Akanbi Tammy Albury Nicole Pollard Katie Smith Carly Mandel Eric Weinstein Chesney Vokaty Chloe Vokaty Angelina Lombardo Annabella Lonardo Mina Marcelino Ashley Johnson Chelsea Abo Valerie Cronin Elizabeth Polk and Bernie Lawrence as Jacob |
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Geoff's Director's Note:
Dreams. Obviously, dreams are one of the main themes of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It's right there in the title. I mean, what's a "dreamcoat"? I don't know but I'm pretty sure I want one.
Dreams can be multi-colored, psychedelic, gloriously ecstatic, horrifically scary, amazing things. And just as Joseph interprets his own dreams and those of the people around him, it's been my job as a director to interpret this work from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. With a show like Joseph, that's not always an easy task. Of course we know that the story is based on the "coat of many colors" story of Joseph from the Bible's Book of Genesis. Beyond that, how to tell the story of Joseph is wide open to interpretation. This can be a blessing and a curse. The freedom of being able to create any fantastical world these characters live in can collide with popular perceptions of what a beloved piece of theatre like Joseph should be. Fortunately because of this amazing cast and production team, those collisions were nothing more than fun, creative twists and turns in the road. The fact that the story is based on a story from the bible - although there are only a few mentions of the Bible and virtually none of God - can also make the directing waters of Joseph a little trickier to navigate.
At the beginning of this year I had the privilege of directing another Lloyd-Webber/Rice musical based on the Bible, Jesus Christ Superstar in Cleveland. What is it with these two and Bible musicals? While Joseph is much lighter and based on an Old Testament story, I learned from my JCS experience that no matter what directing approach one takes with pieces like this, it's critical to understand that feelings run deep and a common respect for all viewpoints - religious, theatrical or otherwise - must be the starting point for making these stories come alive. I have nothing but respect for the incredible people I have worked with on Joseph and I don't think I've ever felt more welcome to a theatre as a newcomer to PPTOPA and to South Florida. I am filled with gratitude for warm embrace I've felt here.
Just as dreams can be a mental mash-up of images and feelings, so too is our production of Joseph. Contemporary contrasts with biblical. Comical slapstick in partnership with heartfelt and sincere sentiment. Color and black and white. Cornball gimmicks with spine-tingling rock and roll. It's all here for you on stage tonight. So wrap yourself up in your dreamcoats and get lost in our dream world story of a boy whose dreams came true.
Because it could be you.
- Geoff Short
Dreams. Obviously, dreams are one of the main themes of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It's right there in the title. I mean, what's a "dreamcoat"? I don't know but I'm pretty sure I want one.
Dreams can be multi-colored, psychedelic, gloriously ecstatic, horrifically scary, amazing things. And just as Joseph interprets his own dreams and those of the people around him, it's been my job as a director to interpret this work from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. With a show like Joseph, that's not always an easy task. Of course we know that the story is based on the "coat of many colors" story of Joseph from the Bible's Book of Genesis. Beyond that, how to tell the story of Joseph is wide open to interpretation. This can be a blessing and a curse. The freedom of being able to create any fantastical world these characters live in can collide with popular perceptions of what a beloved piece of theatre like Joseph should be. Fortunately because of this amazing cast and production team, those collisions were nothing more than fun, creative twists and turns in the road. The fact that the story is based on a story from the bible - although there are only a few mentions of the Bible and virtually none of God - can also make the directing waters of Joseph a little trickier to navigate.
At the beginning of this year I had the privilege of directing another Lloyd-Webber/Rice musical based on the Bible, Jesus Christ Superstar in Cleveland. What is it with these two and Bible musicals? While Joseph is much lighter and based on an Old Testament story, I learned from my JCS experience that no matter what directing approach one takes with pieces like this, it's critical to understand that feelings run deep and a common respect for all viewpoints - religious, theatrical or otherwise - must be the starting point for making these stories come alive. I have nothing but respect for the incredible people I have worked with on Joseph and I don't think I've ever felt more welcome to a theatre as a newcomer to PPTOPA and to South Florida. I am filled with gratitude for warm embrace I've felt here.
Just as dreams can be a mental mash-up of images and feelings, so too is our production of Joseph. Contemporary contrasts with biblical. Comical slapstick in partnership with heartfelt and sincere sentiment. Color and black and white. Cornball gimmicks with spine-tingling rock and roll. It's all here for you on stage tonight. So wrap yourself up in your dreamcoats and get lost in our dream world story of a boy whose dreams came true.
Because it could be you.
- Geoff Short
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Set design animation video
The initial idea for the set for Joseph was to create a cartoonish, multi-color playground for the cast to tie-in with the playful, farcical nature of the show. Geoff wanted the band on stage as opposed to situated in the front of the house as they normally are at PPTOPA. The band, actors and children all had to interact and have access to each other on various levels and platforms. The final set design kept the band on stage on platforms on both sides of the stage. The set also featured a retractable staircase leading up to a higher platform and a runway leading off the front end of the stage.
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Geoffrey Short
South Florida Entertainer
South Florida Entertainer