Tweed and Company Theatre is proud to present Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat! Playing this August 16th - 27th (with a possible extension!) at the Bancroft Village Playhouse. This is the company’s biggest production to date. The team (cast, production crew, creatives, a local children’s chorus, and others) is made up of more than 50 people!

Hot off the tails of last year’s smash hit, Mamma Mia!, Tweed and Co is going all out - with top-quality costumes, stunning set pieces and massive dance numbers; this show is sure to blow audiences away. Bringing this incredibly well-known, world famous musical to Bancroft is guaranteed to boost tourism and local economic drive, with thousands of patrons heading into the downtown core. In fact, tickets are already 70 percent sold.

Joseph is a mega-musical multi-award-winning sensation that tells the famous biblical story through classic numbers like "Any Dream Will Do", "Go, Go, Go Joseph", "Close Every Door To Me", and many more. As last year marked the 50th anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s composition of the musical, it feels timely that the show is seeing a grand resurgence right here in Hastings County.

The cast features returning Tweed and Co favourites, along with many talented newcomers. One of which is Christopher Sherwood, who is playing the title role. “The thing I love the most about this musical is how sincere it is! It’s a story of nostalgia, and reliving what it’s like to be a kid.”

Returning star Jessica Wilson (Hastings! The Musical, My Funny Valentine) agrees. “I think Joseph is timeless and truly has something for everyone. Plus, Tweed and Company productions always dazzle.” Jessica feels very lucky to be stepping into the Narrator role. “It’s one of the most iconic theatre characters. What’s really great about this specific show is we have an additional ASL Narrator which will make the show that much more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.” Another Tweed and Company favourite, Cassie-Hope Aubin (Both Sides Now, Ride the Cyclone, Aleck Bell), will be playing the other Narrator and providing ASL interpretation.

These cast members cannot wait for audiences to see this show. “You aren’t prepared for the calibre of choreography and its ability to make you want to get up and dance!” Christopher adds. “It’s going to be a showcase of brilliance and dedication, with some of the most breath taking and naturally talented performers Ontario has.”

As the show’s director, Phillip Nero thinks the most telling sign of a great show is how many songs you remember afterwards. “And almost all of the songs in Joseph are memorable.” Phillip is excited to highlight the show’s many themes that still ring true today. “This story is about faith, about resilience, about doing the right thing, about redemption and mostly about forgiveness,” he says. “These are values that we can all benefit from talking about.”

The cast and crew hope to bring the joy of live theatre to as many people in Bancroft as possible. “There is something magical that happens when a group of people congregate to share an experience.” Phillip adds. “Storytelling is in our DNA. To sit in a darkened theatre and experience this story unfolding in front of you is to experience the most fundamental part of human communication.”

Plus, Tweed and Company is partnering with Franklin Tours to get people to and from the theatre for the August 20th matinee. “This production is more than worth the travel to Bancroft!” Christopher says. “It supports so many emerging and seasoned artists and is a beautiful story.” The bus will be doing pick ups starting at 11am from Belleville, Tweed, and Madoc. Call Franklin tours at 613-966-7000 before August 4th to book a ticket (roundtrip tickets are $75/person).

“It’s going to be a great show. It’s that simple,” Jessica explains. “It’s like Broadway in Ontario’s backyard with incredible Canadian talent.”

Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat runs from August 16th-27th at the Bancroft Village Playhouse. Every show will be ASL interpreted, and there’s a relaxed performance on Sunday, August 27th at 2pm. Tickets range from $24.50-$39.50 with discounts for students, seniors, and arts workers. To buy tickets and learn more, go to www.villageplayhouse.ca or call the box office at 613-478-6060.