Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Go, Go, Go! Drayton Entertainment is dreaming big for 2017, hoping theatregoers will flock to its multiple theatres for a mega-musical of epic proportions. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is planned for four stages as part of the award-winning theatre organization’s 2017 Season, Artistic Director Alex Mustakas confirmed today.
The production will play at the following locations in 2017:
· Dunfield Theatre Cambridge (5 weeks, March 1 to April 2)
· Drayton Festival Theatre (3 weeks, May 17 to June 3)
· Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend (3 weeks, June 7 to June 24)
· King’s Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene (4 weeks, Aug 10 to Sept 2).
Created by the legendary Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is one of the most adored musicals in Broadway history. And with its family-friendly storyline, universal themes and catchy music, it’s also one of the industry’s most lucrative productions.
The 2017 Season lynchpin follows a string of coups for Mustakas, starting with regional premieres of Disney’s Mary Poppins in 2013, Les Misérables in 2014, Chicago in 2015, and Mamma Mia! in 2016.
“Joseph remains so popular because it presents a timeless message about faith and forgiveness – something we need today more than ever,” says Mustakas. “This is family entertainment at its best. It's extremely funny, warm and uplifting … it's guaranteed to leave you singing your way out of the theatre.”
The irresistible tale chronicles the trials and triumphs of Joseph, Israel's favorite son. Sold into slavery by his eleven jealous brothers when their father, Jacob, gives him a coat of many colours, Joseph capitalizes on his ability to interpret dreams and in so doing rises above his bleak circumstances to become one of the most powerful men in Egypt.
Explosive dance numbers, plenty of laughter, unforgettable tunes like “Go, Go Joseph,” “Any Dream Will Do,” and “Close Every Door” make Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat a vibrant feast for the eyes and ears. From Calypso to Jazz to Western, the types of music are as varied and electrifying as the multitude of colours on Joseph’s famous coat.
“The show has universal appeal – it’s fun and upbeat and sure to entertain audiences of all ages,” says Neil Aitchison, President of Drayton Entertainment’s Board of Directors. “It also has the necessary popularity to attract bus tours, day trippers, and overnight travellers, which will bolster tourism in the areas immediately servicing and surrounding our theatres.”
The production is a bonafide global phenomenon, which is impressive given its humble beginnings. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat 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.
The rest is the stuff of theatre legend, as The Really Useful Group estimates over 20,000 productions have been mounted by schools and theatre groups around the world.
“This is a show that people won’t want to miss,” says Mustakas. “Audiences will be totally enthralled from the moment the curtain rises.”
Tickets for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, as well as the other 2017 Season productions, will go on sale exclusively to Members of Drayton Entertainment this fall. Members make an annual donation to the not-for-profit charitable organization in exchange for several noteworthy benefits, including advance booking privileges. Tickets will go on sale to the general public in early December.
To jump to the front of the line and become a Member of Drayton Entertainment, contact the Box Office toll free at 1-855-DRAYTON (372-9866).
For more information about the current Season, please visit www.draytonentertainment.com.
2016-08-08
Cambridge: Drayton Entertainment announces "Joseph/Dreamcoat" as its flagship production for 2017