Generations come together in Marmion’s ‘Joseph

The past, present and future will come together in Marmion Academy’s spring musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” The cast includes Marmion alumni as well as future and current students.

“The role of Pharoah is being played by three Marmion faculty, two of whom are Marmion alumni,” said Kristin Voris, director. “One of them is the new headmaster, Tony Tinerella (class of 1984).”

Performances will be held 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 19; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20; and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21, in the Academy’s Alumni Hall at 1000 Butterfield Road in Aurora.

The 63-member cast, under the artistic direction of Voris and vocal direction of Julianne Vickers, consists of 36 students from Marmion Academy and Rosary High School and 27 children in second-through-eighth grades from local private and public schools.

Many of the younger performers, Voris said, are the siblings of current Marmion or Rosary students, or children of faculty members.

“I have never done a show with younger children, but the kids have done great,” said Voris, who has been directing musicals at Marmion for five years.

Voris said “Joseph” presents many challenges, between the large cast and all the singing and dancing.

“It’s all singing, no traditional dialogue,” Voris said. “It’s a different sort of experience,” from a regular musical, and rehearsals can be “intense,” Voris added.

The play tells the biblical saga of Joseph, played by Marmion senior Javier Andujar of St. Charles, and his coat of many colors. Narrators Alexandra Joyce of Aurora, Katelyn Jassoy of St. Charles, and Kate Jarecki of Aurora tell the story of a boy who is blessed with prophetic dreams. When he is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, Joseph endures a series of adventures in which his spirit and humanity are continually challenged.

Voris said the energetic 90-minute show will keep the audience entertained.

“I think they’ll like that it’s fast-paced, constantly moving to the next moment,” she said. And each song, she added, has a different style, ranging from country-western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock ‘n’ roll, so there’s “something for everybody.”

New this year, Voris said, is a Saturday matinee, bringing the total number of performances to four.

Reserved seating tickets are $10; limited seating will be available at the door. Tickets can be purchased at marmion.org/tickets or by calling Maria Thornton at (630) 966-7644.