75 students at Lyndonville bring Joseph to stage this weekend
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Noah Fox plays the role of Joseph in Lyndonville’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
Here he is singing about his coat of many colors. Fox is one of about 75 students in the cast, crew and pit orchestra for the production.
Shows are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday at Stroyan Auditorium, 25 Housel Ave. Tickets are $5 at door or can be purchased online (click here).
Fox, a junior, made his debut in Lyndonville musicals last year when he was The Tinman in the Wizard of Oz.
“There are many emotional songs,” he said about Joseph. “It should be fulfilling for the audience. People are really pouring their hearts out on the stage.”
Elizabeth Whipple, a senior, plays the role of the narrator, helping to explain the scenes and story. She also gives high-energy performances with the cast.
She tells how Joseph is one of 12 sons of Jacob. Joseph is his father’s favorite and Jacob doesn’t hide his feelings for Joseph, giving him a multi-colored coat.
That causes jealousy and anger from Joseph’s 11 brothers. They become more bitter when Joseph has a dream suggesting he will one day rule over them.
Amber Grabowski plays the role of Reuben, one of the brothers. They pretend to be saddened by Joseph’s departure, and tell their father he was attacked and killed. They sing, “One More Angel in Heaven.” 
Joseph wasn’t killed by his brothers. He ends up taken to Egypt to be a slave for the wealthy Potiphar. Mrs. Potiphar, played by Laci Giarla, makes advances to Joseph, who rejects them. However, Potiphar sees the two together, jumps to the wrong conclusion, and throws Joseph in jail.
Joseph wins make the respect of Potiphar by interpreting a dream that helps the country build up supplies and food to withstand a famine.
The cast sings “Go, Go Joseph” as Joseph is encouraged to follow his own dreams.
Maximus Hilton is Potiphar and sings in an Elvis style, “Song of the King.” He describes his dream involving seven fat cows, seven skinny cows, seven healthy ears of corn, and seven dead ears of corn.
In interpreting the dream, Joseph declares that Egypt will see seven years of plentiful harvests, followed by an equal period of famine.
Joseph is the second musical performed by Lyndonville since a partnership ended with Medina after 2022.
Last year Lyndonville performed The Wizard of Oz and that showed Lyndonville, the smallest school district in the county, that they could pull off a full-length musical on their own.
Elizabeth Whipple, the narrator in Joseph, said last year’s show gave the Lyndonville students added confidence they could produce a top-quality musical.
She said she is grateful Lyndonville offers the program with so many dedicated teachers and staff working with the students.
“It’s been so fulfilling for many years,” Whipple said. “It’s a safe space for everyone. The friendships built here will last for years.”
She said Joseph brings a strong message of forgiveness, and to be grateful for what you have before it’s too late.
The cast of 75 is mostly students in grades 7 through 12. Director Jennifer Trupo for the second year has elementary students in the show. There are 17 in grades 5-6 in the chorus.
Trupo said the musicals bring together many students from different backgrounds and interests.
“Theater makes such a big change in people,” she said. “I’m proud of these students. The grow so much and they really love each other.”
