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Show 'Joseph' production ; opens Feb. 12 at BYU The set may resemble a jungle gym, but it's not a playground for ! children; it's the springboard for BYU's magical musical, "Joseph ' and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." "Joseph" runs Feb. 12-22 at BYU's deJong Concert Hall. Tickets are on sale at the theater I, ticket office, 378-3875. BYU's version of "Joseph" is l designed to bring a twist, a jump, and a -chuckle to Biblical history i; with musical extremes and ! outrageously unique costuming. The i action travels to the ends of the earth, from country-western to calypso. The story line traces the Biblical tale of the boy, Joseph, his prophetic dreams, coat of many colors and sale into Egypt. It follows Joseph's evolution from a self-centered dreamer to a prophet. Created by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the play has been an international favorite. Veteran director Charles W. Whitman, having worked with this same script twice previously, says the wide popularity doesn't make it lose its unique appeal. if it 'was a production people didn't like or if there wasn't something simply magic about it, it J'would be difficult to produce," he says, "but with such creativity and magic, we didn't have that problem." While "Joseph" is usually directed as a Biblical "spoof," Whitman says the BYU production is certainly not disrespectful. "There are in it moments to show spiritual insight and we're capitalizing on them. 'Joseph' is humorous but there's something spiritually deeper, too," he says. Scott Pickard is cast in the lead role of Joseph. Musical director Randy Boothe says Pickard 's is a performance that "brings chills." "Scott has traveled internationally in-ternationally with the BYU Young Ambassadors and brings more vocal and dramatic power to this role than I've seen in other productions. The performances of Joseph in New York and London didn't compare to his." Vocalists Mary Fanning and Nina Warren are narrators for the production. Playing dual roles, freshman newcomer Marc Marriott will play Jacob, the father, and also the Pharaoh, "Marc is a brilliant young talent I found in my acting class," says ' Whitman. "He's really an amazing young man. I asked him to audition." Marc's role is also unique in that he'll be wearing a 50-pound costume throughout the production. Other contributions to "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" include staging by Pat Debenham and orchestra conducted by Ron Simpson. Additional cast members include Alex Perez, John Powell, Trent Bright, Kelly Kuhnen and Mike Phillips. |