SEQUIM — Seeing a pressing need at the Sequim Food Bank and a bible study led Christy Rutherford back to some familiar territory — and another production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
“It’s a fun story; it’s a blast to put together and a blast to watch,” said Rutherford, a veteran of community school-related plays.
“Joseph” opened this past weekend, with remaining shows set for 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. today and as well as Oct. 28-29 at 7 p.m. at the Sequim High School auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave.
This musical, with music written by Andrew Lloyd Webber (“Phantom of the Opera,” “Cats,” “Evita”) and lyrics by Tim Rice (“Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Evita,” “The Lion King”) tells the character of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis.
Rutherford, who has directed Sequim High School productions for 18 years, said this is her fifth time staging “Joseph” —twice with the school, three times as a community play — as its artistic director.
She said she feels right at home at the SHS auditorium and teaming up once again with Robin Hall, a close friend and longtime colleague who directs this production.
“I was thinking about our food bank,” Rutherford said, adding that the numbers the banks serves has increased each year “even more than during the height of the pandemic.”
At the same time, a Sunday school reading of the Old Testament led Rutherford back into the story of Joseph, whose jealous brothers sell him into slavery in Egypt. He correctly interprets the dreams of Pharaoh, however, and rises to second in command in Egypt, eventually saving the nation during a famine after advising Egypt’s leader to store surplus grain.
“I put them together in my mind, [seeing the production] as a fundraiser for the food bank,” Rutherford said. “This is a story about a food bank, basically.”
It’s been about seven years since the last Sequim production of “Joseph,” Rutherford said.
“A lot of the people haven’t seen it, and those who did seemed to like; it just seemed like the right time,” she said.
Tickets are available at the door: $10 for adults and teens, $8 for children 12 and younger. Cash or check is appreciated. Attendees are also asked to bring non-expired canned goods to donate at the play (cans of tuna in particular).
All proceeds above the cost of the production is going to the Sequim Food Bank.
The narrator for “Joseph” is vocalist Amanda Bacon, with Jarom Packer in the lead as Joseph.
Bud Davies plays Pharaoh, with Scott Brooksby as Jocob and Potiphar, Midge Zuerner as Jacob’s wife and Merrin Pack playing Potiphar’s wife. William Hughes plays the Ishmaelite/guard.
Joesph’s 11 brothers are played by Malachi Byrne, Mark Adrian Dulfo, Hunter Gilliam, Jeff Hall, Jimmy Hall, Calem Klinger, Shane Leiniger, Gary Ristick, Gabe Smith, Dave Stoeckl and David Updike.
Wives/dancers include Alyssa Austin, Melanie Byrne, Debbie Gilliam, Ahrya Klinger, Ava Peterson, Kaileigh Ryan, Anastasia Updike, Laura Updike, Sariah Weller and Amy Young-Stoeckl.
“[The actors] love the music, they love the dancing. And they love Robin, who is so much fun,” Rutherford said.
The production includes 10-12 local youths as well.
Kristina Wight-Leininger leads the choreography and dancing, with Nikki Mischke in an assistant role.
Kenda Simonson is the sound technician, with Gabi Simonson assisting, and Cindy and David Kelm work the spotlights.
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Michael Dashiell is the editor of the Sequim Gazette of the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which also is composed of other Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News and Forks Forum. Reach him at editor@sequimgazette.com.
