Schaumburg High’s ambitious ‘Joseph’ opens April 18
Schaumburg High School presents “Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” this weekend for the first time in the school’s history.
In this retelling of the Biblical story, Joseph is a handsome young man who is his father’s favorite child, able to interpret dreams, and the bearer of an amazing coat. All this leads Joseph’s 11 brothers to become insatiably jealous and sell him into slavery. The Pharaoh soon hears of Joseph’s ability and appoints him to the post of No. 2 man in Egypt.
Years later, Joseph’s now starving brothers arrive in Egypt and ask Joseph, whom they don’t recognize, for assistance. Joseph, in turn, gives his brothers a scare, but eventually grants them all they desire, reveals his identity, and reunites the family. It’s an all-singing, all-dancing, feel-good musical.
Notable in the composition of the music is the variety of styles used by Lloyd Webber, including parodies of French ballads, Elvis-inspired rock and roll, western, 1920s Charleston, calypso and disco.
Under the direction and choreography of math teacher Kerrie Noah, more than 100 students and faculty have collaborated over a three-month period to create the musical. The play opens at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at the school’s Carl Weimer Auditorium, and continues at the same time Friday and Saturday. Running time is about two hours.
Tickets are $9, with a service charge for online purchases. They are available at ShowTix4U.com, at (866) 967-8167, and will be sold one hour prior to each show at the box office at the main entrance to the school, 1100 West Schaumburg Road.
The Schaumburg cast is under musical direction of Tim McGlynn, choral director, and Bev Tipps, accompanist. The production features a live orchestra of student musicians under the direction of Kevin Miller. Conant alumni and Schaumburg On Stage staff assistant choreographers Danielle Zyrkowski and Colleen Lynch worked with Noah to create the high-energy dance numbers.
Joseph is played by Blake Krantz; narrators are Paige Brantley, Lana Fenkanyn, and Taryn Neubecker; the 11 brothers are played by Michael Long, Jon-Carl Sholar, Nathan Kessler, Alex Maciejewski, Andrew Pelarinos, Noah Boeing, Daniel Rosser, Isaiah Carrington, Tyler Warren, Justin Vargas, and Dominick DeLuca; Carissa Miers plays Rachel; Alex Maciejewski plays Potiphar and Christina Phillips plays his wife; Noah Boeing is the butler; Jordan Parris, the baker; and Schaumburg High School math teacher Chris Rafaj plays the Elvis-like character Pharaoh the King.
The ensemble includes Charysse Berkowski, Mariah Calubag, Jamie Chiostri, Morgan Gold, Jada Haywood, Darien Hiller, Giana James, Sarah Jaris, Allyson Jesse, Meghan Kasner, Nicole Kousoulas, Boston Kuchar, Jasmine Leek, Samantha Licari, Kelly Mangan, Sarah Mattioli, Sarah Meyer, McKenzie Miklitsch, Brina Miller, Liz Mitchell, Cheyenne Morton, Katie Mueller, Katherine Musni, Destinee Patterson, Elissa Peterson, Alyssa Rainey, Kaitlyn Salemi, Michelle Santos, Alexis Smith, Rebecca Tessarolo, Sierra Tuazon, Madi White, Melissa Wickland, Kathleen Young and Ashley Zimel.