YLT Presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 12/3

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic Broadway musical based on the "coat of many colors" story from the Book of Genesis opens at YLT on December 3, offering a delightful night of family-friendly entertainment for the holiday season. Its universal themes of hope and forgiveness and colorful, catchy music help explain its 40-year popularity and the show's approximately 20,000 productions since its creation in 1968.

The musical was originally written as a 15-minute pop cantata for performance in schools and tells the story of Joseph, a dreamer, who is Jacob's favorite of 12 sons. Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers when Jacob gives a beautiful multi-colored coat to the favored Joseph. He becomes a slave of Potiphar, a wealthy Egyptian and is falsely accused of lusting after Potiphar's wife. He is jailed but his ability to interpret dreams gets him into the employ of the Pharoah. Joseph envisions, through dream interpretation, that there are seven years of prosperity coming, followed by seven years of famine and he becomes Pharoah's favorite advisor. Eventually Joseph saves Egypt and reunites happily with his father and his brothers.
The show has little dialogue and is nearly completely sung-through. The musical score uses a variety of styles including country, calypso, French romance and 60s pop and features popular songs such as "Any Dream Will Do," "Close Every Door," "One More Angel in Heaven," and "Go, Go, Go Joseph."
YLT's production is directed by Artistic Director Eric Bradley Long who has particularly enjoyed working with the Children's Choir of 18 who are on stage for most of the show. "The youth ensemble is adorable," says Long. "It's been a joy to work with so many extraordinary children."

Musical Direction is provided by Mitch Cooper and Melissa McGinley serves as Choreographer. The dynamic set featuring a large variety of moving pieces is designed by Ray Olewiler and executed by YLT Technical Director Bob McCleary. The brightly colored costumes are designed by YLT Costume Designer Patee Pizzirusso who says, "They are an eclectic mix of traditional and modern costuming concepts.

The local cast of approximately 50 includes Joseph Reed as Joseph and Robin Almony Powers as the Narrator. Dave Hamme, Claudia Shanaman, Jen McGurn, Steve Gibson, Lee Howard, Catherine Howard, Andrew Matseur, Samantha R. Hyson, Stefon Marquette, Ashely Ruppert, Kelsey Jeziersky, John Smith, April Harrison, Tom Beane, David Nickol, Rachel Mitts, Brian Valley, Jessica Beth Zeidler, Phil Rooney, Amanda Shank and Courtney Lehman appear as the brothers and their wives.
Performances are on December 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 17 and 18 7:30; and on December 5, 12 and 19 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 -22 and group discounts are offered. More information and tickets are available by calling the box office at 717-854-5715, 11 - 6, Monday through Friday, or visiting www.ylt.org.

York Little Theatre, now entering its 78th season of shows, is a nonprofit community theatre which values and nurtures the irreplaceable role of the arts and is dedicated to engaging and enriching its entire, diverse community in the dramatic arts through a broad range of professionally directed, entertaining, stimulating, and sometimes provocative performances.
York Little Theatre is located at 27 South Belmont Street, York PA, just south of Market Street at the intersection of I83. York Little Theatre is a proud member of The Cultural Alliance of York.

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