Totem Pole Playhouse Opens 2018 Season With JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

Totem Pole Playhouse, America's beloved summer theatre, located in Caledonia State Park between Gettysburg and Chambersburg, PA, opened its 68th summer season on Sunday, May 27th with the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Broadway star Matt Rosell from Les Miserables plays 'Joseph' and New York actress Marie Eife portrays the musical's 'Narrator.' Joining them is Chambersburg native Lee Merriman in the dual roles of 'Jacob' and 'Potiphar,' Taylor Kellas Warren as 'Pharaoh,' Lainee Hunter as 'Mrs. Potiphar,' Owen Beans, Jason Cohen, Taylor Kellas Warren, Madison Hagler, Brad Barkdoll, Will Hornby, Owen Yingling, Zack Triska, Jack Brewer, Brandon Gladfelter, and Devin L. Price as Joseph's eleven brothers. The Women's Ensemble is played by Ellie Zambarano, Stephaine Allee, Veronica Stern, and Lanie Hunter.

In addition to the professional actors there are eighteen local area school children, musical theatre students from the Cumberland Valley School of Music, prominently featured as the Children's Choir on-stage throughout the show: Ellaina Bakker, Kaelin Bowie, Drew Callagan, Jaeda Dockman, Eliza Gregory, Luca Harritos-Raimo, Jocelyn Merriman, Kenzie North, Langley Owen, Sara Policicchio, Luisa Robinson, Hannah Ross, Allison Ross, Madelyn Ross, Angelina Sanders, Finley Vandevander, Leah Willis, and Molly Willis. CVSM instructor, Lindsay Alexander Owen directed the Children's Choir.

The musical is staged and directed by David Caldwell, who has directed numerous productions at the Playhouse including last season's production of Irving Berlin's I Love a Piano. Totem Pole's resident musical director, Darren Server, leads the show's 7-piece on-stage band and the show's choreography is by Alyssa Little. Veteran Totem Pole set designer James Fouchard supplied the set designs, the lighting design is by Jeremy Mayo, sound design by Kate Wecker, and costumes were supervised and designed by Jasmine Brown.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is based on the story of the "coat of many colors" from the Bible's Book of Genesis. Produced in 1968, fifty years ago, it is the first musical written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber who went on to create the international hit musicals Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. The musical's family-friendly story, familiar themes and catchy songs have resulted in over 20,000 productions including a popular video version starring Donny Osmond. The production marks the Playhouse's new policy of offering one large-scale, family-friendly Broadway musical each season.

Totem Pole is offering a special Family 4-Pack of tickets for just $125 that can be purchased by calling the box office directly; there will be no on-line sales for this special promotion. Additional tickets may be purchased at $35 for adults and $25 for children under 15.

Subscription tickets for all four shows are still available and range in price from $133 for junior subscriptions ages 5 to 15, and $171 for adult subscriptions. Single ticket reserved seat prices for the season are all seats $50.00. Totem Pole also offers three low-cost preview performances with all seats half-price, $25.00, and seating is general admission. In addition, a 4-play and 3-play FLEX subscription plan will once again be offered at the same prices whereby subscribers have the flexibility to choose the performance they wish to attend (subject to availability) rather than be locked into a set date for each production.

Tickets for groups of 10 or more are on sale now by calling the Totem Pole Playhouse Box Office Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at (717) 352-2164.

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