Players Guild of Dearborn's Rendition of Old Testament Musical Opens Friday

Music will fill the Players Guild of Dearborn as actors and crew on Nov. 9 open the delightful inspiring Webber and Rice Old Testament musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

The show—the first musical of the group’s 85th season—runs Nov. 9-11, 16-18, 23-25 and Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 for a four-weekend run. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m., with 2:30 p.m. Sunday matinees.

Directed by Kim Donovan of Northville and produced by Valerie Haas of Inkster, the show features the choreography of Janeen Bodary of Dearborn Heights and the musical direction of Paul Abbott of Allen Park.

For tickets or more information, call 313-561-TKTS or go to www.playersguildofdearborn.org.

Multi-age, multi-talent

Director Donovan said Joseph is one of her favorite shows.

“I love the upbeat, fun nature of it,” Donovan said. “I like Andrew Lloyd Webber, I like the all music versions of things because there is a lot of singing and dancing and moving and playing.”

She said she plans to incorporate the children’s chorus into more of the action of the play.

“I do believe in kids,” she said. “I think kids can add so much to a production. They’re more talented than anybody gives them credit for, and that’s where they learn.”

She encourages people to come see the Guild’s unique version of the show.

“If you’ve ever seen Joseph, you’ve never seen the way the Guild is going to do it,” Donovan said.

Meet the cast

The cast includes Brandon Mace of Novi as Joseph and Mark Byars of Garden City as Jacob.

Mace, who is new to Michigan, first played the role of Joseph in 2001 in Fredricksburg, Virginia—when 9/11 happened. He said he has an emotional connection to the role that he hopes to once again share with audiences.

 “Joseph is one of those unique shows that everyone can enjoy,” Mace said. “Maybe it is the range of musical styles, … the colorful way the show is performed, or… just a simple story of hope and overcoming adversity that everyone can connect to. If anyone hasn't seen this show, they need to. I have never, ever met a person who did not enjoy this show.” Leah Cooley of Lincoln Park and Sydnee Rider of Dearborn share the role of the narrators.

Matt Calder of Dearborn plays Potiphar, with Mellissa L’Heureux of Lincoln Park as Potiphar's wife.

L’Heureux said she is pleased to be reconnecting with Guild members she met during a production of Fiddler on the Roof, but added she is not used to playing a sexy role.

“It’s a whole new character for me since my weight-loss,” she said. “I hope to portray the vixen that she was.”

 Jacob Dombrowski of Dearborn will play Pharaoh in a manner reminiscent of Elvis Presley.

“He’s the king, and everything he does it’s like (the) Michael Jackson of his time—that’s what I think of people of his stature,” Dombrowski said.

Jeff Lokken of Livonia will play the Butler, with Steve Nazarek of Westland as the Baker.

Jacob’s sons include Dearborn residents Chris Boudreau as Levi, James Mayne as Gad and Michael Suchyta as Issachar; Livonia residents Tim Carney as Simeon, Jeff Lokken as Naphtali and Dominic Valentini as Asher; Southgate residents Dale Zanardelli as Reuben and Ryan Zanardelli as Zebulun; Inez Hernandez of Ecorse as Judah, Stephen Nazarek of Westland as Dan and Michael Parks of Taylor as Benjamin.

The brothers’ wives will be played by Dearborn residents Diane Cliff, Shardai Davis, Lexie Kaplan, Maddie Kaplan, Eileen Lopez and Amy Moore; Marissa Campitelle of Inkster, Jillian Drapala of Dearborn Heights, Sue Oliver of Westland, Dana Welsh of Detroit and Jade Reynolds of Oxford.

The adult chorus includes Dearborn resident Clare Hickman, Hailey Hayward of Wayne and Kimberly Reynolds of Oxford.

The children’s chorus includes Inkster residents Cole Haas, 10, and Ian Haas, 12, and Dearborn residents Grace Bertucci, 11, Tatiana Blurton, 8, Molly Boudreau, 11, Nate Hermen, 10, Lily Kanclerz, 10, John (“Jack”) Lopez, 9, Peter Moore, 11, Julian Moore, 9, John Oatney, 11, Emily Robinson, 10, and 8-year-old Lilian Robinson.

Source: Sue Suchyta, Players Guild of Dearborn