SMITHFIELD – The upcoming production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by the Four Seasons Theatre Company here will mark the return of the incomparable Sarah Huff to the local stage.
Ms. Huff has been cast in the role of the Narrator of the familiar sung-through musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, which will be performed from Monday, Oct. 7 until Monday, Oct. 14 at Sky View High School in Smithfield.
Her crystal-clear soprano voice and renowned acting skills have made Ms. Huff a favorite performer with local audiences.
She made her local stage debut as Maria in the Four Seasons’ production of The Sound of Music in 2014; performed the title role in productions of Mary Poppins in 2015 and 2022; and appeared as the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella in 2021.
Ms. Huff will share the role of Narrator with Baylie Hendry, another familiar face to local audiences due to her appearances as the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods in 2023 and also in Anastasia in 2024, both Four Seasons productions.
Joseph is a campy retelling of the Biblical story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis set to varied popular music. It was the first collaboration by Rice and Webber in 1968, but was not performed in its final version until 1974.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, this musical has been performed literally thousands of times, including twice by the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre in 2013 and 2022. Joseph is particularly popular with Utah audiences given it’s associated with Donny Osmond, who performed its title role in touring productions and in the 1999 film version of the musical.
According to the Bible, after being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph ingratiates himself with Egyptian noble Potiphar, but ends up in jail after refusing the amorous advances of Potiphar’s wife.
While imprisoned, Joseph discovers his ability to interpret dreams and he soon finds himself in front of the mighty but troubled Pharaoh, a rock star figure. Joseph’s solution to Egypt’s famine elevates him to Pharaoh’s right-hand man and eventually reunites him with his family.
The musical is full of catchy songs in a variety of styles, from a parody of depressing French ballads, to country-western and even a calypso tune.
The lead role of Joseph will be played by Tanner Doyle, last seen in Into the Woods by the Four Seasons troupe and Elixir of Love staged by the Opera Theatre at Utah State University.
Other leading roles will be performed by Kaden Bundy as Pharaoh, Karl Calderwood as Potiphar and Rachel Duffin Fillingim as Potiphar’s bombshell wife.
The roles of Joseph’s eleven brothers will be played by Jake Peterson, James Jenkins, Ammon Jensen, Mead Hansen, Todd Hollingworth, Grant Fuller, Aaron Lacey and Andrew Withers, with lead solos being performed by Ben Hall, Joshua Hunsaker and Germain Costa.
The brothers’ wives – and the female chorus – will be played by Amber Larsen, Meaghan Cottom, Maddie Moe, Kyra James, Annaliese Resendes, Patrice Weatherstone, Olivia Huff, Jessica Christensen, Oakley Roper and Brighton Walker.
Other cast members include Robert Hendricks as Jacob and Jenny Mathews, Mindy James, Hayley Brown and Noelle Rowe as Jacob’s wives.
The children’s ensemble will include Jaxson Everton, Nixon Thedell, Nathan Shields, Boston Peterson, Mazin Porter, Phippin Tingey, William Rowe, Derek Geddes, Abigail Geddes, Brooklyn Peterson, Ivy Lacey, Lucy Cottam, Molly Cottam, Hannah Hough, Sophia Rowe and Lucy Brown.
All performances of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be in the Auditorium at Sky View High School at 520 South, 250 East in Smithfield.