Wednesday's Internet Edition, December 03, 2008.
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| Lea Ledger Auditorium will be the site of the play Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat this weekend. Two performances are scheduled. – Courtesy Photo. |
News editor - The Copperas Cove High School’s Lea Ledger Auditorium will perform Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat during two shows this weekend. One presentation is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and the other for Sunday, Feb. 2 at 3 p.m.
The production coming to Cove is based on the concepts of Temple Civic Theatre’s Guest Director Bob Kiser. With so many different versions of this play in circulation, Kiser said he decided to go back to the original reason for the show’s creation - - children.
“Children don’t always see things like adults, thankfully. They add humor. They add humanity. They add truth,” states Kiser.
Kiser says he went back to the Bible for reference and discovered the reactions and opinions others had to the truths that Joseph spoke and how that affected Joseph. “I invite all who enjoy musicals to come see Joseph through the eyes of the children,” adds Kiser.
Kiser came to the Temple Civic Theatre from Chicago. He has directed numerous shows around the country, including Anything Goes, Love Letters, Hair and Interrogation. Kiser also went on the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita, Singin’ in the Rain, Forever Plaid. He was with Kenny Rogers during his 1995 and 1997 Christmas tours.
In Chicago, he was in the long-running comedy Sheer Madness and played the role of the fool in Harold Prince’s production of Candide. Kiser is a graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in acting and studied at the Royal Court Theatre in London. He is currently writing and directing shows with Navy Pier of Chicago.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was commissioned by the Colet Court School in London for an end-of-term concert. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Time Rice created an original music piece that lasted 15 minutes. Since then, the musical has been expanded and seen around the world many times, including twice on Broadway.
The Copperas Cove production features performers and crew from Temple. Misty Harberer is the dance captain, while Leon Perkins is the stage manager. The musical is under the supervision of Natasha Tolleson, vice-president of production of the Temple Civic Theatre.
Tickets are $12 per person and can be purchased at the door. For more information, call 547-2002.