‘Showcasing art forms’ in Biblical FHS musical
‘Joseph and Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’
Scheduled to take place starting at 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 12-14, in Vickie B. Wells Auditorium of Farragut High School, 11237 Kingston Pike, the event is open to the public.
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is a take on the Biblical story from the Book of Genesis, originally with lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
A special feature of the show is the artistic element.
“I think one of the biggest things this year is we’re trying to showcase art and how it can come in many different forms,” said senior Kaitlyn Mee, show narrator.
“We have a class called stage craft,” she added. “It’s made up of different students from the school.”
Tickets are $15 each or purchase a run-of-the-show bundle, in which the buyer purchases a ticket to each of the nights for $40 and saves $5.
For advance tickets, visit the online link at http://app.givebacks.gives/josephfhs or purchase them at the door.
“It will likely around two- to two -and-a-half hours with an intermission, so it’s split into to acts,” said senior Hayden Toon, who manages the media and marketing and also plays the part of the pharaoh. “The whole cast, the set constructors and the pit band (made up of marching band and orchestra members) are all made up of students, so aside from our director, Dr. Tony Wooley (musical theater director); our vocal directors, Kirstine Buchanan and Mitchell Moore, the school’s choir directors, Buchanan as pit band conductor, and choreographer Bria Bannister, it’s all student-run.”
“We pretty much work all semester to build the set (for the production), so each year Dr. Wooley comes with us with a base plan for what kind of show he wants,” Mee said. “Then the class designs and builds the set.”
“A new thing they’re letting us do this year is paint (murals) on the side walls (of the auditorium),” said Barber, who plays Joseph’s brother, Levi.
There are about 35 students in the stagecraft class.
About portraying the pharaoh, “I really like it,” said Toon, who also manages the media and marketing. “It’s a super fun, unique part because he’s Elvis-inspired. He’s the king and he has to come out and basically just have fun, show off Elvis moves and take over the stage for a song.”
“It’s such a fun little play,” said junior Joey Nieman, who portrays Joseph, the main character. While acting with Joseph’s brothers, he must act like he’s oblivious to their resentments.
“Because they don’t like me at all … and that’s just a lot of fun to, like, mess with and figure out,” he added.
Also, “Joseph has a gift that he has dreams and they foreshadow something in the future,” Nieman said. “That gives him so much importance in the show as a character. That’s a lot of fun to really experiment with, and I really enjoy acting with everybody.”
Mee said she is enjoying the part.
However, “it’s a lot of work because the narrator is on the stage the whole time, singing and telling the story of Joseph, so it’s a big responsibility having to memorize so much.
“But, it’s been a lot of fun, and it’s been an interesting character that I can mold it into whatever I want it to be,” Mee added. “It’s been a challenge, but it’s been a really great opportunity.”
Molly Barber, a senior, portrays Joseph’s country brother, Levi, of his 12 brothers.
“It’s been different,” she said of her character. “He’s just so silly a character, and I get to put on this crazy country accent and pretty much sing about how we just sold our brother to slavery.
“It’s so fun, and being able to interact with all the different brothers has been such a joy,” Barber added. “It’s kind of like a comedic relief a little bit.”
Senior Olivia Gnoth plays Judah, “the Jamaican brother.”
She said Judah’s solo is pretty late in the show, “when they are defending the brother, which is a crazy different jump because they sold Joseph but he’s now defending his brother.
“It’s cool to experience, like, the change,” Gnoth added. “I also like working with the brothers because it’s a really good community to be in.”
