With a cast of 80 and a complete orchestra, Moline High School students are putting on the ever-popular Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
(Moline, IL) Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat] is a popular Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with lyrics by Tim Rice. The story is based on the "coat of many colors" story of Joseph from the Bible's Book of Genesis. The show has little spoken dialogue; it is completely sung-through. Its family-friendly storyline, universal themes and catchy music have resulted in numerous productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. This month, 42 Moline High School student actors along with 38 elementary and middle school students, a supporting crew of dozens of students, and an orchestra of 15 will produce four shows for local audiences. Dates of the show are March 14, 15 and 16 and the media will get a sneak preview of the show this week.
WHO: Moline High School Students and the children's choir
WHAT: Media Preview of the MHS spring musical
WHEN: Tuesday, March 12, 7:00 pm
WHERE: MHS Auditorium
There will be 4 performances-- Thursday, March 14 @ 7:30 PM; Friday, March 15 @ 7:30 PM; Saturday, March 16 @ 2 PM and 7:30 PM. $6.00 for students; $8.00 for adults. Tickets are available at the door or in advance at the MHS bookstore. 309-743-8833
This show was the first Lloyd Webber and Rice musical to be performed publicly. Joseph was first presented as a 15-minute pop cantata at Colet Court School in London in 1968 and was recorded as a concept album in 1969. After the success of the next Lloyd Webber and Rice piece, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph received stage productions beginning in 1970 and expanded recordings in 1971 and 1972. While still undergoing various transformations and expansions, the musical was produced in the West End in 1973, and in its full format was recorded in 1974 and opened on Broadway in 1982. Several major revivals and a 1999 straight-to-video film, starring Donny Osmond, followed.
Musical Theatre Productions by the Moline High School Music Department
1961 Pajama Game
1962 Bells Are Ringing
1963 My Fair Lady
1964 Bye, Bye Birdie
1965 South Pacific
1966 The Music Man
1967 The Sound of Music
1968 How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
1969 Carousel
1970 Li'l Abner
1971 Guys & Dolls
1972 Pajama Game
1973 Hello Dolly
1974 No, No Nanette
1975 The Music Man
1976 Mame
1977 How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
1978 The King & I
1979 Hello Dolly
1980 Oklahoma
1981 Irene
1982 Li'l Abner
1983 Funny Girl
1984 Little Mary Sunshine
1985 The Sound of Music
1986 Hello Dolly
1987 The Music Man
1988 South Pacific
1989 Guys & Dolls
1990 How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
1991 Bye, Bye Birdie
1992 Oklahoma
1993 Cabaret
1994 West Side Story
1995 Mame
1996 Damn Yankees
1997 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
1998 The Sound of Music
1999 Bye, Bye Birdie
2000 Once Upon A Mattress
2001 Grease
2002 Godspell
2003 Phantom
2005 Oliver
2006 A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum
2007 King And I
2008 Cabaret
2009 Beauty and the Beast
2010 The Music Man
2011 Bye Bye Birdie
2012 The Sound of Music
2013 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph Director, Ron May, has been involved in musical theatre for more than 40 years. His experience began upon the recommendation of his college advisor. May was urged to become more knowledgeable about musical theatre if he wanted to be a high school choral director. Immediately after college, May was cast as Thomas Jefferson in the Quad City Music Guild's production of "1776" and since then has performed additional leading roles in "Damn Yankees", "Cabaret", "Evita", "Godspell", among others. As an educator, he has directed/produced more than 50 productions. In addition to educational and community theatre settings, he has served as musical director for professional productions of "Hairspray", "Legally Blonde-the musical", "Whodunit? The musical" (world premiere at Circa 21), "The World Goes Round", and countless other reviews and industrial musical shows.
It was doing a community theatre production of "The Sound of Music" where May met his wife of 36 years. He and Cindy (a freelance choreographer) have collaborated in nearly all of his educational musical theatre productions. They are both collaborating on this production.
Students of Mr. May have gone on to successful careers in professional theatre. Former students have performed in "Miss Saigon", "The Full Monty", and "The Drowsy Chaperone" on Broadway and in national tours of "Peter Pan". Many former students are currently pursuing a career in musical theatre across the country. Some current seniors are exploring acting, musical theatre and/or directing in part because of Mr. May's influence.
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