Footlighters Theatre Company presents 'Joseph' in Des Plaines
Footlighters Theatre Company will stage "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," based on the 'coat of many colors' story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis, in the Hebrew Bible, through Sunday, Aug. 8, at Prairie Lakes Community Theater, 515 E. Thacker Street in Des Plaines. The family friendly story, universal themes of sibling rivalry, jealousy, and forgiveness, and catchy musical productions have made Joseph one of the most popular of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice collaborations.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has been performed by more than 20,000 professional and community theatre companies all over the world since its inception in 1968, as a 15-minute school show. The musical has very little spoken dialogue; it is sung by an energetic cast, with plenty of Las Vegas-style glitz, performing catchy, eclectic songs, including "Any Dream Will Do," "Close Every Door," "Go, Go, Go Joseph," and various bits of country, calypso, reggae, and Elvis Presley style rock and roll. Directed by Michael McGuire, with musical direction by Marcie Selvaggio-Mattis, set design by Christopher R. McGuire, and choreography by Liz Yerkovich, Joseph features a cast of 62 performers, including a kids chorus of 28 young singers and dancers, and over two dozen veteran Footlighters players.
As Joseph, Pete Almeida, leads the talented cast which includes Megan Soberski and Meghan Warren as the narrators, Jack Rasof as Jacob, Randy Lechelt as Reuben, Bud Jones as Potiphar, and Erik Morrissey as the Pharaoh. They sing the story of the favorite son of Jacob, resented by his envious brothers for their father's excessive attention.
Joseph's fate sours when his brothers sell him into slavery, and he eventually finds himself in jail. However, Joseph's favorable interpretation of the Pharaoh's troubling dreams win him the admiration of the all-powerful leader, and soon Joseph is named the Number Two man in Egypt.
Years later, Joseph's now starving brothers arrive in Egypt and ask him for assistance. When he realizes they do not recognize him, Joseph gives his brothers a sound scaring, but eventually grants them all they desire and reunites the family.
The show runs 8 p.m. Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 8 p.m. Sundays through Aug. 8. Tickets are $14 for adults and $11 for seniors and students and are on sale at the Prairie Lakes box office. For information and group ticket sales call (847) 391-5711 or visit desplainesparks.org.
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