Children's theater group restages 'Joseph'
He was Horton the elephant in one show and John the Baptist in another.
In the Christian Youth Theater production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" set to open Friday, Jan. 30, in Elmhurst, Hayden Ashley plays the title role.
"I was in sixth grade and I saw my friend in CYT. So, I decided to join and I've been in it ever since," said Ashley, a 16-year-old Glenbard North sophomore from Carol Stream. "It's a really encouraging and a positive environment."
A national after-school theater arts education program that got started in 1981 in San Diego, local CYT programs serve about 4,000 students a year in the Chicago area, said marketing director Lindsey Branson.
"We have a variety of classes for kids, ages 6 through 18," said Branson, adding that students 8 and older are eligible to audition for shows.
Christie King is directing and choreographing this show, a 90-minute musical featuring 95 cast members. A director of theater presentations at Ginger Creek Community Church for 17 years, King said she got on board with CYT about three years ago. Her son, Kenneth, 17, and her 13-year-old daughter, Teah, are both "Joseph" cast members.
"We love the organization. It's very encouraging. Our kids have made friends there," she said. "It's a great family organization, it really promotes family and family values and it's a safe place for kids. They really grow in more ways than just theatrically."
"It's a really high-quality children's theater," said Lisa Ashley, Hayden Ashley's mother. She said the group, which embraces Christian values and ideals, welcomes Christian and non-Christian students into its classes and productions.
She said her son enjoys the camaraderie, the nurturing atmosphere and the chance to work on his musical techniques.
"He plays the piano, the guitar and the tuba and sings in the choir," she said. "Music is his passion."
Hayden Ashley said "Joseph" offers the audience generous amounts of both singing and dancing.
"It's mostly singing for me," he said, adding that his favorite number is titled "Close Every Door."
Joseph sings the song when he loses his freedom.
"This is the point where he's in jail. It's the turnaround where he realizes God can take anything away from his life," said Hayden. "He realizes it's God's life, not his life."
Joseph experiences more than one reversal of fortune in the show.
"It's the story of the Old Testament family of Joseph," said King. "There was jealousy within the family. The father favored Joseph and the brothers were angry with him. This young man has a chance to be humbled and he realizes he has to forgive these things people have done to him."
The story is told with dazzling production numbers that employ a variety of dance styles.
"The show itself is very colorful, lots of awesome music and dance," King said. "It's a fun musical with a great message."
<p class="factboxheadblack">"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"</p> <p class="News"><b>Who:</b> Presented by Christian Youth Theater</p> <p class="News"><b>When:</b> 7 p.m. Jan. 30, 2 and 6 p.m. Jan. 31, 2 and 6 p.m. Feb. 7 and 14; 7 p.m. Feb. 13</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> Auditorium at Timothy Christian School, 188 W. Butterfield Road, Elmhurst</p> <p class="News"><b>Tickets:</b> $9 to $12</p> <p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (847) 516-2298 or <a href="http://www.cytchicago.org" target="new">www.cytchicago.org</a></p> <div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=267405">Director's cut: An inside look at the making of 'Joseph' </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>