Outside Philly

If you didn’t go to see the kids performing the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” then you missed a wonderful experience! Those 45 kids poured their hearts into their performances. There was dancing and singing complicated by several costume changes and a multi-tiered set and yet the cast and crew did a fabulous job.

Eamon Goebel who played Joseph was brilliant in his portrayal of a young man who became 2nd to a King, and a leader of the Tribe of Israel. Goebel was strong and funny and his voice was truly remarkable. I have no problem stating with total confidence that that kid is going to go far!

Arjun Pande! played Potiphar with a kind of Hugh Hefner air that made him absolutely believable as the rich and prosperous merchant whose wife, played by Abby Awe, danced suggestively enough to imply her pursuit of Joseph, and yet with a sense of grace and style that made her dance G rated and perfectly fine for little people, even though the cast of children that sang in the chorus were presented covering their eyes during that part of the show.

The eleven brothers and their wives were supremely talented. Special attention must be paid to Dane Duncan for his cowboy ways during his solo in the One More Angel in Heaven Hoedown, and Matt Kiesling was a brilliant ‘french guy’ singing about the gayest parties in the Bible in those Caanan Days. Joe D’Ambrosi belted out a humorous calypso. Nathan Yurick, Tom Haverkamp, Robert Swahl, Kevin Quigley, Beau Dallas, Stephen Maurer and Anthony Guidotti and Arjun Pande! played the brothers.

The wives were played by Brittany Jackson,Taylor Helmers,Emily Reinhart,Alex Mannix, Maggie Swahl, Colleen Deegan, Catherine Henry, Sami Kolb, Alex Cathcart and Amanda Mirabile.

Alex Galambos played a comically depressed Jacob. Collin Gray performed a truly hysterical send up of an Elvis like Pharoh. Zach Matarazzo and Joshua Batman were the poor dreamers relying on Joseph to interpret their dreams. Catherine Henry chilled the audience with her bittersweet reminder to the imprisoned Joseph that ” it wasn’t over yet” and the Narrators, Vanessa Duncan, Kelly Thompson and Emma Shellhamer were angelic and powerful songstresses performing throughout the entire show without a hitch.

The stage design was simple and so it was the perfect backdrop for the students explosive and excited energy. This show wouldn’t have been as delightful without the ensemble which danced and sang and whipped flags throughout the performance. The ensemble cast included: Caitlin Barone, Jason Welsford, Tori Simonetti, Kelsey Timmins,Melody Weaver,Jordan Caplan, Marissa Challenger, Savannah Gallant, Meg Sutter, Amanda Ficca, Will Haverkamp, Katherine Hood, Sarah Intoccia, Taylor Mace and Maddie Murphy.

The children’s choir was made up of Rachel Barrett, Gavin Hendershot, Sophia Pizzi, Jordan Roach, Alexandra Giongo, Julia Maenza, Justin Manno, Helena VanNatter, Caroline Cody, Emma Flinchbaugh, Olivia Foden, Leigh Magness, Lucas Gray, Cameron Hofmann,Samantha Nelson, Emily Reitz, Madison Frederick, Kaiden Roberts, Conrad Sager, and Callista Winstead.

The design of the actual coat was done by a former OJR student Justin Sloan and it was delivered to Jacob onstage by the talented Nick ” UPS Guy” Hakun.

Good Job Kids! You were absolutely awesome!

love,

mo

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