Colorful wardrobe, dancing enliven

DeSoto’s ‘Dreamcoat’

By Jon W. Sparks
Special to DeSoto Appeal
Saturday, June 28, 2008

DeSoto Family Theatre’s rollicking production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” oozes fun, not just from the witty material and staging, but from infectious performances as well.

Director Harry Snelling has done a deft job in satisfying “Dreamcoat’s” challenges. There are some 30 kids to wrangle along with a hefty cast that is busy singing and dancing throughout this contemporary take on the Old Testament tale.

Joseph (Blaine Means) is the favorite of the 12 sons of patriarch Jacob. He’s a nice kid and pretty smart, although sometimes clueless as illustrated when daddy gives him the fab designer frock. Joseph thinks all his brothers are equally thrilled by his good fortune; instead the siblings seethe rivalry, roughing him up, shredding the coat and selling him into slavery.

Means, whose wide-eyed, baffled expression resembles Dana Carvey, is in good voice and makes the transition from slave-in-chains to savvy dream interpreter whose services are called upon by the Pharaoh (Tracy James).

The allure of “Dreamcoat,” besides being family friendly, is the variety of styles that lyricist Tim Rice and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber offer up. Calypso, disco and country are all represented along with the ham-heavy Elvis stylings of the Pharaoh. James gives it his all in a Vegas-meets-ancient-Egypt goof-o-rama.

Longtime DFT songbird Ashley Wieronski is the narrator, her lovely voice stitching the story together. Veterans Dean Bryant and Jeffrey K. Smith stand out in their scenes as conniving brothers, and Marissa Newton is a terrific dancer whether in traditional ballet or a sultry seven-veils kind of frolic (but still keeping it G rated).

There is a whole lotta choreography going on and Otis Smith and Cindy Lipscomb get credit for keeping it coherent and entertaining. Special nods go to costume designer Mary Ann Overman for smart and appropriately colorful choices and to music director Jennifer Rushton for keeping things on track. Robert Tackett’s spare set allowed the focus to remain on the talent.

The show ends this weekend, so you’d best try to get those tickets now.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

When: 7 tonight and matinee performances at 2 p.m. today, Sunday.

Where: DeSoto Civic Center, 4560 Venture Drive, Southaven.

Tickets: $12 and $18. Tickets are sold at the DeSoto Civic Center box office, by phone at (662) 280-6546 and through all Ticketmaster outlets, including by phone at (901) 525-1515 and online at Ticketmaster.com.

Link to Article on the CA Site:

http://commercialappeal.com/news/2008/jun/28/colorful-wardrobe-dancing-enliven-desotos/

Memphis Commercial Appeal
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Way to Go People and Praise the Lord!!!

 Blaine

ATTENTION ALL:

If you are attending Friday nite’s festivities at the DCC after the Show, you MUST pay your $12.00 to Cindy tonight (Thursday). She is meeting with the DCC Friday morning and has to turn in all of the money at that time. You can pay cash or make a check payable to DeSoto Civic Center.

We are going to have so much fun and not have to drive anywhere or wait in long lines.

See you all this evening.

Everyone is doing a great job on the Show, Keep Up The Energy.

Marcia

The New DFT Family Pass is Here!!

$25 for five punches, one punch per person per show attended.

Good for immediate family only, spouse and children or parents and siblings living in the same household with cast member.

An incredible savings of $7 – $13 off the regular ticket price.

Purchase your card by seeing Donna Wieronski, our house manager.

Here are the printed list for Wranglers, Bringing Bottled Water and Ushers thus far.  If there are some blanks, please help us fill them in.    JADTsignupsheets

I will have a print out of these list with me at the Theatre.

Thank all of who have volunteered to help in these areas.

If you are a child or teenager receiving this email, please give it to your parents.

Thank you,

Marcia

Cindy has asked that the girls in the Ballet meet at the Theatre on Tuesday to rehearse upstairs in the large dressing room from 5p to 5:30p. Then the girls in the Potiphar number, including Marissa, meet at 5:30p to rehearse the tap number until 6p. Please do not come through the Auditorium. Go down the hallway, behind stage and through the scene shop and then upstairs.

Don’t forget, we need to tweek these numbers  a little bit.

Thanks

Marcia

There will be a Parent Meeting on Tuesday night, 6/10/08 at 6:30pm at the Theatre in the Lobby. Siblings 15 yrs and older are welcome as well. We will discuss Ushering, Working in the Lobby, Help in the dressing rooms and Child Wranglers. These positions are needed for every performance. 

Thank you for your prompt attention. See you on Tuesday.

Marcia

Tomorrow, Saturday, we will rehearse at the ATMOS Building from 10a to 12n and then again from 1p to 4p.

Sunday – Off

Monday – 6p to 9p at the Theatre

Tuesday – 6p to 9p at the Theatre

Thursday – 6p to 9p at the Theatre

Friday – 6p to 9p at the ATMOS Building

Saturday – 10a to 1p at the ATMOS Building

Sunday – 2p to 5p at the ATMOS Building

Dress Rehearsals begin on Monday, 6/16/08, be sure you have the shoes and any other costume piece you have been asked to bring. The Dress Rehearsals will run 6pm until we finish every night Monday thru Thursday.

REMINDER: there are NO absences during Dress Rehearsal or the Performances. If you have an emergency, please call me immediately.