press release
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Starring Clay Aiken and Keala Settle Opens July 31 at the Ogunquit Playhouse
For Immediate Release:
July 25, 2013
The Ogunquit Playhouse is going Technicolor® with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s irresistible story of Joseph, his jealous brothers and one very colorful garment in this delightful musical parable that swirls on stage July 31 through August 25. The Ogunquit production stars Clay Aiken as Joseph and Broadway’s Keala Settle as the Narrator. This thrilling musical adventure follows the Biblical story of Joseph, the favorite son blessed with prophetic dreams, on his journey to Egypt after being sold into slavery by his brothers. Audiences will enjoy an engaging crazy quilt of musical styles, from country-western to calypso and bubble-gum pop to rock 'n' roll. The production includes the popular songs “Go, Go, Go Joseph” and “Any Dream Will Do,” performed by an all-star cast along with two groups of 20 children selected from local casting calls.
This timeless tale of Joseph is filled with surprising humor for adults and dazzling delights for children, and with Clay Aiken and Keala Settle on stage, “It won’t be like any Joseph ever seen or heard before!” said Ogunquit Playhouse Executive Artistic Director Bradford Kenney,
Starring in the role of Joseph is multi-platinum recording artist, American Idol and Broadway star Clay Aiken. Mr. Aiken garnered broad critical acclaim for his Broadway debut as Sir Robin in the Tony Award winning production of Spamalot in 2008 and 2009 and recently played Man in Chair in the North Carolina Theatre production of The Drowsy Chaperone. He has released several albums which have debuted in the top five on the Billboard Chart, launched ten national concert tours, authored a New York Times best-selling memoir and has appeared on many popular television shows, including 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live.
Keala Settle will portray the Narrator. Ms. Settle was most recently seen on Broadway in Hands on a Hardbody for which she received nominations for a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award, and won the Theater World Award. She has also appeared in the National tours of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, South Pacific and Hairspray.
The roles of Reuben and The Butler will be played by Craig Laurie who has performed extensively with the hit Off-Broadway show Forbidden Broadway, as well as in the Chicago production of Jersey Boys where he originated the role of Bob Crewe. Broadway veteran Bill Nolte is cast as Jacob, Potiphar and the Baker. Mr. Nolte last appeared in Ogunquit in The Producers and has performed in Regional Theatres across the country and on Broadway in many shows including La Cage Aux Folles, The Producers, Me and My Girl and Cats. Playing the Pharaoh is Matthew Ragas who was last seen at the Ogunquit Playhouse as Warner in Legally Blonde with Sally Struthers. Mr. Ragas has toured the U.S. in many shows including Hairspray, Legally Blonde and The Wedding Singer. The role of Levi will be played by Alex Puette who was recently seen in the First National tours of Legally Blonde, Young Frankenstein and A Christmas Story, as well as many Off-Broadway international productions.Nicholas Ward returns to Ogunquit to play Judah where he was last seen in Smokey Joe's Café. He has performed in the National and International tours of Show Boat, Porgy and Bess, Ragtime and Little Shop of Horrors.
Ogunquit Playhouse Associate Producer Jayme McDaniel helms the production as director and choreographer. His history with the Playhouse commenced in 2001 when he appeared in 42nd Street, and again in 2009 when he directed and choreographed Singin' in the Rain for which he received an IRNE nomination. He has been the director and choreographer for many productions in regional theatres throughout the U.S. including Joseph… Grey Gardens, Chicago, The Merry Widow, White Christmas, Sound of Music, Yankee Doodle Dandy and many others, as well as an associate director and choreographer on Broadway for Laughing Room. He most recently made his international choreography debut with Rebecca: the Musical in Seoul, Korea.
Music Director Eric Alsford has worked on previous Ogunquit Playhouse productions including Cats, Footloose, Chicago and George M. He served as the music director for the national tours of Nunsense and Mamma Mia as well as the Off-Broadway productions of That's Life and Naked Boys Singing and for many regional theatres across the country. He is the recipient of South Florida's Carbonell Award for best musical direction for productions of Floyd Collins, Aida, Miss Saigon, and The Adding Machine.
Single ticket prices range from $39 to $78 per show. For tickets call the Box Office at 207-646-5511 or online at OgunquitPlayhouse.org.
Following Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Ballroom with a Twist is back by popular demand for one week only, August 27 to August 31. West Side Story, on stage from September 4 to September 28, soars as the greatest love story of all time and remains as powerful and timely as ever. Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story returns by popular demand to close the season from October 2 to October 20!