These past two weekends, Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s theater department put on its production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” In an hour and a half, the story of Joseph, portrayed by ERHS senior J.D. Jamison, was told through nonstop musical numbers.
The story begins with the “golden child,” Joseph, being gifted a beautiful and vibrant coat from his father. The costumes from there are bright and colorful, capturing the essence of each character. Jamison was dressed in the coat for part of the play, capturing his main character’s aura until he switched into a variety of costumes that conveyed leadership, even amidst his hardships.
The set remained simple throughout the duration of the musical, but the simplicity was overlooked as the intricate choreography occurred in every scene. With angelic background vocals and constant, mesmerizing movement, the show never had a dull or uninteresting moment.
Towards the end of the play, it carried moments of family connections as Joseph reunited and forgave his brothers. The story ended with tears as the cast finished their final song and choreography for this extremely special show.
J.D. Jamison talked about his final show with the ERHS theater department and the work it took.
“It was an absolute pleasure ending off my senior year as Joseph. It was such a rewarding process, from exploring the emotional intricacies of the song ‘Close Every Door’ along with balancing vocal showmanship, was a beast in itself. Also preparing my body for the role via my diet and exercise where I cut off sugar for the entire rehearsal process and ran three miles or did an equivalent every day, which led to me losing 30 pounds!”
Jamison continued, “Being able to lead the production and support my ensemble was also magical, because having it be the last time put everything into perspective for me and made me realize how much love I have for this small growing community that is Eleanor Roosevelt High School’s theater program.”
Jamison concluded his thoughts, “As I move onto bigger opportunities, I want to leave saying that I will always possess a deep fondness for our theater program and the people who comprise it. I am optimistic for its future, and I would like to thank it for every opportunity I’ve gotten, because it’s led me to being the performer I am today.”
Sammy Fowler, another ERHS senior and a narrator in the musical, also reflected on her final experiences with “Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”:
“This show changed my life in so many ways. It was the first show I actually got a lead role. And it changed my perspective on everything. I’m usually ensemble for plays, but getting this opportunity was so special and I loved it so much. At first, everyone was very doubtful or hesitant about this show because they either hadn’t heard of it or never watched it, but I feel that the uncertainty faded.”
Fowler continued, “The show was so amazing, and it showed our talent and everything that makes theater what it is.”
Many ERHS theater seniors agreed that this show was a beautiful way to end the school year, and this play will always be special to the audience and the actors.
