See 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' at St. Viator
The Biblical saga of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" comes to life this weekend at St. Viator High School, with nearly 200 students, or 20 percent of the student body, involved in the performances.
From the 80 cast members each night to the 15-piece orchestra and nearly 25 tech crew members working behind the scenes, the show bursts with youthful energy and color.
"We're having loads of fun with it," senior Jerry Cavanaugh said, who shares the role of the Pharoah with senior Mike Scully, both of Arlington Heights.
"We've all seen it several times growing up," Cavanaugh added. "It's just fun to be able to be in it and bring these characters to life."
"Joseph" is the 49th annual musical produced by St. Viator's theater department. Kate Costello returns to direct the show. Her veteran production team includes Tony Calzaretta as assistant director, Kristina Sandrock as choral director, Jen Cupani as choreographer, Diane Petrovich and Mary Woods as costumers and Peter McManus as tech director.
Freshman Laura Kuper of Wheeling is one of eight narrators, four per night, and she's finding that the transition from middle school to high school level performing, is a big jump.
"It's scary being up on stage with so many talented people," Kuper said. "I'm just feeding off their energy and trying as a narrator to get the audience involved with the story."
She shares the narrator role with Maria Werba of Prospect Heights, Michaela O'Neill and Megan Daughtery of Arlington Heights, Sarah Miklius of Palatine, Caroline Sevilla of Mount Prospect, Bailey Wojtowicz of Roselle and Olivia Dominguez of Mount Prospect.
Senior John McManus of Arlington Heights and sophomore Zac Jones of Des Plaines share the lead role of Joseph. Both are involved with St. Viator's choral programs and easily command the stage with Joseph's nearly one dozen songs.
But it is their respective brothers who nearly steal the show. Their entertaining ensemble numbers open with "Jacob and Sons," and build to include such favorites as "Benjamin Calypso" and the western-themed "One More Angel in Heaven."
Add in the rest of the show's colorful characters, from the brothers' wives and the Ishmaelites, to the full choral ensemble, and the compact, 90-minute musical takes audience members away from their troubles, to another time and place.
Students in the tech crew had a hand in transforming St. Viator's stage into a Biblical Israel by designing a temple inside a pyramid, a jail and slave owner's plantation.
But the one set design that took the most time to create, creating Joseph's name in block lettering, promises to deliver the biggest bang for the buck.
Crew members used the back side of the pyramid set to create the design. Each letter is 15 feet high, painted in vibrant, different colors.
"We're trying to achieve a 3-D look," said sophomore Zach Stawicki of Elk Grove Village, one of the floor managers.
His classmates added that just marking out the letters took days, let alone creating the 3-D illusion.
"It's worth it," junior Matthew Fitzgerald of Mount Prospect said. "Just to have that 'wow' factor."
Shows take place at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 and 31, Feb. 6 and 7; and at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 1 and 2. All tickets are $12.
For ticket information, call the box office, at (847) 392-4050, ext. 349. Or, email boxoffice@saintviator.com for tickets.