INperson | CFCT’s Joseph Raises The Bar For Local Theatre
by: Matthew Hundley
The Cedar Falls Community Theatre has assembled a tremendous cast of local talent for their production or "Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
Every day I am reminded of the tremendous talents that reside in this community. For many years we have been privileged to have great theatre offered at the Waterloo Community Playhouse, Theatre UNI and the Cedar Falls Community Theatre.
More recently the Gallagher-Bluedorn has added to our theatrical opportunities by bringing in national touring groups. Then we have additional performances from small troops like Half-Masted and Lampost. Let alone our fantastic high school and church-based productions.
There is some good theatre going on in this town. But this article is not about good theatre. This article is about great theatre.
I recently attended a performance of "Kiss Me Kate" at the GBPAC. The performance was phenomenal – great cast, great sets, great costumes, great music from a live orchestra. I thought about our community theatres at that performance and how just little touches would help push performances to the next degree of professionalism.
Fast forward a few weeks. It is the first night for costumes and make-up for the Cedar Falls Community Theatre’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. It is a performance that convinces me that we can achieve “great” theatre in this town – not “good,” not “nice,” but “great.”
Let me lay out some of the details before diving into performance notes.
The folks involved in this cast come from a variety of ages and professions. Director Christine Sikula has brought a number of projects to the stage, including Joseph, through her work at Columbus High School. This is her second production at the CFCT – her first being “Something’s Afoot.”
You’ve got Leah Raulerson who handles lighting design as well as holding a part on-stage. Jeremy Wilson, who trained in dance in New York, plays Potiphar and was also a choreographer for the show. Joel Waggoner is a very talented conductor and pianist – his work with the pit band is amazing. And I could go on with Tim King’s set designs, Denise Clippertons props and so on.
The night I attend is a few nights out from the first performance in front of an audience. With a fairly young cast of 43 odd bodies the energy runs high leading up to the pre-show talk with the director.
“We’re looking to see the show that you think is the performance show, “ Christine tells the cast sitting on the stage. “Let’s shut down the shop lights, close the curtain, dim the house lights, and run through this thing.”
The lights dim. The pit band begins to below and scratch and tune before launch in into the prologue.
Leah Stumme steps onto the stage with a voice that you would expect to find in a 42nd street and not on Main Street. But that’s just the beginning, as the song segues from “You Are What You Feel” into “Joseph and Sons” and the audience is treated to the full 42 voice ensemble singing out.
You’ve got Joseph’s brothers, “We’re great guys but no one seems to notice.” Each of these brothers has their own unique personality that they bring to the stage and it works very well with this production.
In “Joseph’s Coat” we meet Joseph, played by Brook Jacobsen, who sings, “I look handsome. I look smart. I’m a walking work of art.” And the chorus calling out colors, “red, yellow, green, brown, scarlet…”
Brook Jacobsen as Joseph
Then we here the cause of the brothers hatred for Joseph, his dreams, “This is not the kind of thing we brothers like to here.” And “ One thing we are sure about, the dreamer has to go.” And so the brothers take care of the dreamer who calls out, “I don’t speak Egyptian very well” as he is taken away by Egyptian slave traders.
There is a mourning song from the women, “Poor, poor Joseph.” The segues “One More Angel,” a somewhat comedic telling of the brother Josephs demise and the presentation of his coat to Jacob, “You know you had a dozen sons. Well now that’s not quite true.”
Next we are introduced to Potiphar and his seductress wife. Potiphar – played by Jeremy Wislon – emerges as the flamboyant ruler. Autumn Griffiths plays things up with the men on stage before her attempts to lure Joseph into her Web. Potiphar roars and Joseph is sent to the stockades which draw out the solo performance of “Close Every Door” surrounded by a choir of candle holders.
Then the motivational part of the program, “Go, Go Joseph.” Where the choir sings, “Hey dreamer – don’t be so upset. Hey dreamer – you’re not beaten yet.” And in the next moment we are introduced to the comedic duo of baker & butler – who’s dreams are interpreted by Joseph who calms them by saying, “Don’t relay on what I said at all. It’s just that I have never been wrong.”
After more dancing and singing Act I is brought to a close.
What sticks in my mind is the caliber of singing, the sparseness of the set, the importance of the props and costumes in setting the tone of each scene. I also commend the pit band, directed by Joel Waggoner. These guys were tight and they really kept the show moving.
In the second half there are lots of surprises that emerge. The energy steps up a notch and so does the fun as the performance rounds out. I'll let you experience that for yourself.
This entire piece runs just over an hour. But the level of professionalism exhibited on-stage in this performance makes every minute worthwhile.
My hope is that after the show you will agree that the Cedar Falls Community Theatre has really raised the bar for local theatre in the Cedar Valley.
Posted: June 12, 2004  
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