JOSEPH COMES TO STRAUGHN

JOSEPH AND HIS AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT COMES TO MANSFIELD

Last night I was privileged to sit in on the last Wellsboro rehearsal before the Hamilton-Gibson show moved to Straughn in Mansfield.  A couple more rehearsals there, and then it opens for a 3-day/4-show run, July 5,6,7  As we gathered in the Deane Center large second floor
community room, I looked around at all the guys (the "brothers") and the women and the children, and I felt their easy familiarity with each other.  Gary was at the piano, and Thomas was in his familiar low-ket director mode, and Maddie Palm was waiting to guide the cast,
all of them "dancers," through their already-practiced routines.  I know what it feels like at that point, when you're "almost there."  So I found myself a chair off to the side and sat there with my yellow pad and newly sharpened pencil.  A few stopped to ask if I was "recording all their mistakes." and I, of course assured them that I certainly was not there for that reason.

So this rehearsal was just supposed to be working on some singing and some dancing..  And that's what they did.  First the "loo loo loo" and "yah yah yah" and then that familiar bit about "selling sea shells down  by the sea shore"  to get the voice and the lips going.  And then Thomas announced that "this is the last time you'll have that book in your hand" and so away with the scripts!  And then "Let's dance...." a half hour after everyone gathered.  Soon all the
"brothers" sang , and that was the first time I heard all the male voices in unison, and it was grand.  Then Maddie Palm, dance instructor began to call out the "step...touch...step touch" pattern for all to follow.  And a call-out from a male cast member, "Let's do it again," ,and the children...oh the children '''so real, so good, so fun."  For the two-and-a-half hours I was there, I kept being swept into the action.  All dance/movement--I kept feeling part of it all.The dance
instructor knows everyone's name and calls out instructions to specific individuals as the rehearsal progresses.  I was amazed at her ability to zero in on every touch, every step.  I was pulled in by the cast as they paid great attention and had a joyously good time all at
once.

As the rehearsal wound down, all listened to Thomas clarify a few things and have complete confirmation about which guy was wearing which color shirt.  The details.  The fun.  The dance.  The song.  I really look forward to seeing this on the Straughn Auditorium stage.

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