Sean Elias Stars in Pleasant Valley Productions' JOSEPH AND THE TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Now thru 2/18

After last Saturday's opening night was snowed out, Pleasant Valley Productions celebrated the opening of its latest show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, this past Sunday. The production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's adaptation of the well-known Biblical tale continues this weekend at Roosevelt Middle School in West Orange with performances scheduled for Saturday, February 16 at 7 p.m., Sunday, February 17 at 2 p.m. and President's Day, Monday, February 18 at 3 p.m. With more snow in this weekend's forecast, visit www.PleasantValleyProductions.org for updated information about performances. The show is directed by Camille Vecchio-DiLorenzo, with music direction by Ilene Greenbaum and choreography by Cindy Jung McArthur.

For more than 30 years, this joyful, family-friendly musical has been giving audiences a new appreciation of the story of Jacob's favorite son. Joseph, a boy blessed with the ability to interpret dreams, is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt. He endures a series of trials and triumphs, from being thrown into jail to becoming Pharaoh's second in command. Years later, Joseph's brothers arrive in Egypt, starving and in need of help. Not recognizing their brother, they beg Joseph for assistance; eventually he reveals his identity and grants them all they desire. The story is told entirely in song, spanning musical styles from rock 'n' roll and country- western to calypso, pop, and more.

Pleasant Valley Productions was formed last year by theatre colleagues, Camille Vecchio-DiLorenzo, Ilene Greenbaum, and Howie Tilkin. The company's mission is to create a professional theatre experience for local area performers, audience members, students and volunteers while providing a broad range of Musical Theatre Works. After presenting their inaugural production, the critically acclaimed Songs for a New World last March at the Pleasantdale Presbyterian Church, they have continued to grow their company's presence in the community by offering free concerts at the West Orange Public Library as well as an after-school musical theatre enrichment program at Roosevelt Middle School. The ten-week workshop enabled 7^th and 8^th graders to experience the world of live theatre from auditions through rehearsals and culminated in a performance for family and friends in December. The partnership with the West Orange schools is an integral part of the company's arts education mission and dedication to engaging students in theatre, both on stage and off. In addition to future theatrical events, PVP plans to continue and expand its arts education program and free concert series.

Performances of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be held at Roosevelt Middle School, located at 36 Gilbert Place, West Orange, NJ 07052. For more information, visit www.PleasantValleyProductions.org. For tickets, visit www.brownpapertickets.com or call 1-800-838-3006.

Pictured: Sean Elias as Joseph with his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Photo Credit: Samuel Dantowitz.

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