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‘A Technicolor dream come true’

Walnut Grove musical theatre students take on Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat starting April 7.
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Walnut Grove Secondary student actors Nakano (front), Jos Portillo (middle) and Cameron Jones (back), pose in front of a colourful prop specially ordered for the musical they are in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

 

When Joseph receives a stunning multicolour coat from his father, Jacob, his 11 jealous brothers decide to take matters into their own hands.

Plotting to kill Joseph, the brothers instead sell him off as a slave to a group of Ishmaelites travelling to Egypt.

But Joseph has a unique power of dream interpreting, and using this skill, becomes the second most powerful man in Egypt.

Eventually he is reunited with his family, whom he forgives.

Following stories from the Book of Genesis in the Bible, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat — Walnut Grove Secondary School’s latest musical endeavour — takes audiences through “a visually stunning” musical journey to ancient Egypt.

“It’s a technicolor dream come true,” said musical lead Jos Portillo, who plays Joseph.

“It’s going to be a great show.”

This is the first production for the Grade 9 student, who admits he never wanted to play the main character when he auditioned.

“It’s pretty surprising, I never knew that I would get the lead role,” he said.

“I never wanted it actually. I wanted the lowest role. It’s a lot of hard work.”

Starring 76 musical theatre students in Grades 9 to 12 — along with 17 music students in the live orchestra — the production will be the first time many of the students perform onstage in front of a large audience.

“It’s extremely nerve-wracking, but it’s very exciting as well,” said Grade 11 student Cameron Jones, who plays Joseph’s father, Jacob.

“At first my role was a little bit awkward because I play the dad to all of my friends in the play. But then once you get over the awkwardness, it’s just like a big family.

“You just have to be a fatherly figure and go with it. And after watching the musical on YouTube a couple of times, you can also pick up certain tips and see how other people handle their roles, and learn from each other.”

And just like the plot, where many of the characters are related, the musical theatre students have become one big family, said Robyn Nakano, a Grade 11 student who plays the eldest of the 12 children, Reuben.

“It’s actually really great because we have all bonded together over the show while putting it all together, so we don’t really notice the different ages.

“We’ve come out of it with a new family.”

“It’s a really cool experience because you get to meet a new group of people and make new friends,” Portillo added.

“They don’t even feel like they’re friends, they feel like a great big huge family.”

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is performing April 7, 9, and 14 at 7 p.m. and April 16 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors.

Tickets are available online at theatreinthegrove.brownpapertickets.com, or by calling 604-882-0220 ext. 580.