Temple Theatre of Sanford Delivers a Rollicking
and Joyous Production of Joseph and
the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

The Temple Theatre of Sanford kicks off its centennial season with a rollicking and joyous production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. We all need a little joy in our lives these days, and you can get a massive dose of it in Sanford at the Temple Theatre for the next three weeks. The Temple Theatre is celebrating its 100th season this year, and is opening this centennial season with Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Dreamcoat is a fun and breezy musical, filled with humor and color. Directed and choreographed by Temple musical director Gavan Pamer, the production is visually stunning. The large ensemble and lavish dance numbers make wonderful use of the space on stage. This show is a perfect match to show off the improvements made to the old theater over the summer, including new seats. The venue does not have a bad seat. You are always close enough to see the actors faces and expressions.

Logan Kelly (left) and Hunter Semrau star as the Narrator and Joseph, showing off his Coat of Many Colors (photo by Heather Garrity)

The spectacular costumes by costume designer Kimberly Brown serve as an extra character. Additionally, the Dreamcoat itself has a remarkable story behind it. The Coat of Many Colors was created from scratch in a week by Gavan Pamer's mother Therese in 1984 for him to perform as Joseph. She used the image on the Broadway Cast Album as a guide. The same coat has been used in innumerable productions all over North America, including this one.

This production is filled with fine local actors, including many Temple veterans. Hunter Semrau is outstanding as Joseph, the youngest and most favored of a dozen sons of Jacob. Seth Hoyle (Levi), Patrick Holt (Reuben), and Colton Steele (Simeon) sparkle in featured roles as three of Joseph's older brothers.

Hunter Semrau (center) as Joseph cavorts with Canaanite women Emily Hartsoe (left) and Keri Small (photo by Heather Garrity)

The true standout is Logan Kelly as the Narrator. She has a beautiful voice and infectious stage presence. Another treat is Jacob Barton as a very Elvis Presley-like Pharoah. Jacob has played Elvis so many times that one might suspect that he actually is Elvis.

The show opens with her leading a children's choir of a dozen talented kids onstage, where she introduces the story. There is another group of 12 kids who alternate performances with the group I saw. It really makes you wonder where Temple producing artistic director Peggy Taphorn continues to find so many talented kids.

Hunter Semrau's Joseph (far left) is bullied by his brothers (from left) Ontonio Osley, Colton Steele, Christopher Kyle, Seth Hoyle,
Patrick Holt, Stephen Chambers, Tyler Berndt, and Luís Beltran in the Temple Theatre production (photo by Heather Garrity)

The story, which is loosely based on the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors, is the weakest part of the production; but it takes nothing away from the enjoyment of the production. Young people will be enthralled by the humor, color, and movement. I might not recommend this show for any kids under 8 or 9 as there is some mention of adultery, slavery. and execution. It is, at its core, a Bible story.

Like many of the Temple Theatre shows, the performance raises the level of the material. Bring your teens and preteens, and let them fall in love with theater and this gem of a venue.

Joseph's brothers celebrating his downfall in the current Temple Theatre production include (from left) Christopher Kyle
as Dan, Stephen Chambers as Gad, Collin Dunn as Zebulon, and Patrick Holt as Reuben (photo by Heather Garrity)

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (In Person at 2 p.m. Thursday, 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 7, 8, 12-15, and 19-22), directed and choreographed by Gavan Pamer and starring Hunter Semrau as Joseph, Logan Kelly as Narrator, José Cangas as Jacob/Potiphar, Ashlyn Stanley as Mrs. Potiphar, Jacob Barton as Pharaoh, Patrick Holt as Reuben, Colton Steele as Simeon, Seth Hoyle as Levi, Luis Beltran as Issachar, Collin Dunn as Zebulon, Christopher Kyle as Dan, Stephen Chambers as Gad, Grant Cunningham as Asher, Ontonio Osley as Judah, Nathan Paukstelis as Benjamin Calypso, and Tyler Berndt as Napthali, plus a Women's Ensemble that includes Emily Grace Hartsoe, Kaley McConnaughey, Mimi Mollins, dance captain Emma Resek,, Kerri Small, Emily Snow, Ashlyn Stanley, Tamara Wilkins and Swings that include Lorelei Garrity, Julia Heifert, Ethan Martin, Tucker Moss, Hayden Sullivan (Temple Theatre of Sanford). VIDEOS: https://www.youtube.com/user/templetheatrenc. PRESENTER/VENUE: http://templeshows.com/, https://www.facebook.com/TempleTheatreNC, https://www.instagram.com/TempleTheatreNC/, https://twitter.com/TempleTheatreNC/, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_Theatre_(Sanford,_North_Carolina), and https://www.youtube.com/user/templetheatrenc. 2023-24 MAIN-STAGE SEASON: http://templeshows.com/#mainstage. DIRECTIONS: http://templeshows.com/contact. COVID-19 GUIDELINES: http://templeshows.com/tickets/temple-theatre-covid-guidelines. JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (1968 pop oratorio for children, 1972 Edinburgh International Festival, 1973 West End, 1981 Off-Broadway, and 1982 Broadway rock opera): https://www.josephthemusical.com/, http://www.timrice.co.uk/joseph.html, http://www.iobdb.com/Production/2183, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/joseph-and-the-amazing-technicolor-dreamcoat-4942, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Joseph-and-the-Amazing-Technicolor-Dreamcoat, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_and_the_Amazing_Technicolor_Dreamcoat. STUDY GUIDE (Utah Shakespeare Festival): . BARON ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER (London, England-born composer and playwright): https://www.andrewlloydwebber.com/, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/andrew-lloyd-webber-12073, http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/16989, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0515908/, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-Baron-Lloyd-Webber-of-Sydmonton, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Lloyd_Webber. SIR TIM RICE (Amersham, England-born lyricist, and playwright): http://www.timrice.co.uk/, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/tim-rice-8890, http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/16990, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005358/, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tim-Rice, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Rice. NOTE: All shows are wheelchair accessible, and a hearing-loop system is available for all devices with T-coil wireless receivers. TICKETS: $35 ($20 children and students and $32 active-duty military personnel and Lee County educators), plus taxes and fees, except $30 per person for groups of 8 or more. Click here to buy tickets. GROUP RATES (8+ tickets): http://templeshows.com/tickets#id-928. INFORMATION: 919-774-4155 or boxoffice@templeshows.org. PLEASE DONATE TO: Temple Theatre of Sanford.

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