JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Set for Theatre in the Park

Joseph and his band of 11 brothers will rock the stage at Theatre in the Park with the energetic musical "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" opening Friday night, July 15.

The musical runs through Sunday, July 17, and then continues its run Wednesday, July 20 through Saturday, July 23. The box office opens at 6 p.m. and the gates to the seating bowl open at 6:30 p.m.; the show begins at 8:30 p.m. "JOSEPH" is rated G and is appropriate for the entire family to enjoy.

Under the direction of first-time TTIP Director/Choreographer Guy Gardner, "JOSEPH" features the largest all-local cast of the season with a 66-member children's chorus. There are also several families performing together in this production. James Levy is vocal director/conductor.

"The children's chorus are all paired up with adult cast members in a mentoring type program to further the connection cast members get in theatre," Gardner said.

With music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, "JOSEPH" tells the story of Joseph from the Bible's Book of Genesis. A group of narrators tell the tale of Joseph, the favorite son of the patriarch Jacob. Joseph has vivid dreams that foretell the future, and his older brothers are jealous of their sibling's talent. In this musical filled with hilarious songs and colorful dance numbers, Joseph finds himself sold into slavery and later imprisoned for sharing his vivid tales. Joseph regales Pharaoh by interpreting his dreams - a task that earns Joseph his freedom. Finally, with his colorful coat, Joseph rises above it all.

Gardner and his team have added another special element to this production of "JOSEPH"; one of the songs will be performed in American Sign Language.

"We want all dreams to be heard, whether you're seven or 70. Everyone has dreams, so we included the sign language in the opening and closing number, with 'Any Dream Will Do,' to share this message with others," Gardner said.

CONSTRUCTING A COMMUNITY QUILT

The cast, crew, and staff of "JOSEPH" are teaming up to make a Community Dream Quilt that will be on display during all performances of the show.

"A huge theme of the show is 'Any Dream Will Do' and we want our audiences to enjoy looking at those dreams," Gardner said.

The quilt, which matches the design for Joseph's Coat in the show, will have more than 100 hand-designed dream patches showing some of the dreams of those involved with the production.

This is Theatre in the Park's (TTIP) 47th season of musical entertainment featuring talent from all over the Kansas City metropolitan area. The TTIP season concludes with everyone's favorite nanny MARY POPPINS, a co-production that will play under the stars at TTIP and on stage at the White Theatre at the Jewish Community Center. "MARY POPPINS" opens at TTIP beginning July 29 through July 31, and Aug. 3-6 after its run at the White Theatre that starts on July 9.

TTIP is holding the line on prices for the 2016 season with general admission only $8, youth $6, and children three and under may attend for free (but require a ticket for entrance). Limited reserve seating and parking is available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.theatreinthepark.org or at the theatre box office the nights of performance.

MOVIES IN THE PARK are back for only one buck! Check out the full schedule and what films are coming up on the TTIP website, www.theatreinthepark.org/movies. On movie nights, gates open at 7:30 p.m. with movies starting at 8:30-8:45 p.m., depending on sunset.

The Theatre in the Park is located in Shawnee Mission Park at 7710 Renner Road, in Shawnee, KS, and is a program of the Johnson County Park & Recreation District. TTIP is the largest outdoor community theater in the country, and has been providing quality theatre entertainment in the community for more than four decades.

For more information including entire show synopses for all 2016 TTIP productions, visit www.theatreinthepark.org.

Cast of "JOSEPH":

(Character Name, Performer, city of residence)

Joseph - Wesley Geil; Grandview, MO

Jacob - Trevor French; Kansas City, MO

Pharaoh - Joel Morrison; Lee's Summit, MO

Potiphar/Reuben - David Thompson; Olathe

Mrs. Potiphar - Celia Thompson; Olathe

Gad - Carson Tate; Overland Park

Judah - Hewleek McKoy; Olathe

Zebulun - Gabriel Lasley; Lee's Summit, MO

Dan - Tanner Neath; Overland Park

Benjamin - Evan Nugent; Olathe

Levi - Jeremy Walterman; Olathe

Issachar - Caleb Nugent; Olathe

Naphtali - Max Mammele; Kansas City, MO

Simeon - Ethan Platt; Gardner, KS

Asher - Zane Champie; Overland Park

Wife/Narrator - Tori Loepp; Overland Park

Wife/Narrator - Renee Blinn; Leawood

Wife/Narrator - Abby Cramer; Prairie Village

Wives:

McKenna Neef; Leawood

Carlie Sherman; Overland Park

Nina-Sophia Pacheco; Knob Noster, MO

Alex Teeple; Shawnee

Whitney Armstrong; Overland Park

Laura Kariuki; Lenexa

Nicole McCroskey; Overland Park

Child Narrators:

Zoe London; Smithville, MO

Mia Kate Musick; Raymore, MO

Brenna Nelson; Shawnee

Devyn Trondson; Lenexa

Bridget Walsh; Shawnee

Children's Chorus

Sophia & DomiNic Adams; Olathe

Gracie Akers; Olathe

JorDan Baker: Overland Park

Millie Bell; Olathe

Hana Bowsher; Overland Park

Amber & Cole Bracken; Kansas City, MO

Calvin Campbell; Overland Park

Kaitlynn Daniels; Kansas City, KS

Veronica Dervin; Shawnee

Zach Dulny; Shawnee

Emily Elder; Overland Park

Ashley Eillott Rowe; Olathe

Grace Fields; Leawood

Declan Franey; Overland Park

Sydney Gilman; Overland Park

Tiernan Hans; Mission Hills

Signe Hansen; Lenexa

Lizzie, Eli & Gavin Hoedl; Olathe

Mason Hoyt; Overland Park

Katie Hulla; Overland Park

Maddie Huwe; Stilwell

Addison Landes; Olathe

Laikyn & Lillie Large; Overland Park

Olivia Loepp; Overland Park

Grant Martin; Spring Hill

Julia & Ava Masterson; Overland Park

Collin & Kendal Montgomery; Stilwell

Molly & Elliana Moore; Lenexa

Abby Morrison; Lee's Summit, MO

Mylie Musick; Raymore, MO

Brenna Nelson; Shawnee

Scarlett & Sawyer Nevins; Kansas City, MO

Katie Noll; Leawood

Amber Nugent; Olathe

Leah Pal; Lenexa

Emerson Pereira; Prairie Village

Samantha Peters; Kansas City, KS

Autumn Quarles; Lenexa

Kiera Rader; Olathe

Elayna Rodriguez; Belton, MO

Claire Rupp; Mission Woods

Eva Smith; Olathe

Madeline Smithson; Stilwell

Cole Southard; Kansas City, MO

Tripp Starr; Shawnee

Jamie Todd; Lenexa

Abby Trondson; Lenexa

Bridget Walsh; Shawnee

Brooklyn Werth; Overland Park

Janey Wetzel; Kansas City, MO

Michael Young; Overland Park

Angie Zumbrunnen; Overland Park