From now until opening night on Nov. 3, the Livingston Post will be profiling cast members of the Community Theatre of Howell’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
There aren’t many roles in musical theater that are as demanding as that of the Narrator in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”
True to the character’s name, the Narrator helps tell Joseph’s story from start to finish – and seeing as how the entire show is sung, that isn’t an easy task for any performer. She has to be at turns funny, poignant and charismatic.
And Sarah Brown is loving every second of it.
As one of two performers sharing the role of the Narrator in CTH’s current production of “Joseph,” she treasures the challenges that come with the role.
“I love the role of the Narrator, because I LOVE a good challenge,” Brown said. “This role is incredibly vocally demanding. The vocal range is quite large, and I sing throughout the show’s entirety. It’s a vocal marathon. I’ve learned how to pace myself, give myself time to rest when I need it, and engage in healthy vocal habits to keep my stamina up.”
Brown is a theater veteran who is appearing in her second show with CTH.
“I auditioned for ‘Young Frankenstein’ in 2013, with a little pressure from my CTH veteran friend, Mark Mazzullo,” Brown said. “He said, ‘Sarah, you need to audition. You would have so much fun!’ So, I put my trust in him, showed up to the audition, and ended up getting the role of Inga. It was such an amazing experience. I’ve been in over 30 productions, but ‘Joseph’ marks my second show with CTH.”
In addition to Inga, she said her favorite roles include Mina in “Dracula the Musical” and Janet Van de Graaf in “The Drowsy Chaperone,” both at The Dio Theatre in Pinckney.
Brown lives in Howell with her husband Scott and their two kids, 6-year-old Abby and 18-month-old Alex. Abby is appearing in “Joseph” with her mom.
With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is based on the Biblical tale of Joseph, found in the book of Genesis.
“I love the beautiful, memorable melodies in this show,” Brown said. “I’m a huge fan of most everything that Andrew Lloyd Webber has composed. His music is nothing short of amazing, and ‘Joseph’ is no exception. There is very little speaking in this musical, so the score drives the show.”
With opening night just a week away, Brown said she’s enjoyed everything about this CTH experience.
“I love how everyone takes really good care of each other,” she said. “Being a team is essential to putting on a great show. CTH is nowhere close to a one-man band. There is not one single person who is more important than another. We all work tightly together to create a beautiful product.”
She’s created a million great memories in this show, but she said that one experience stands out.
“Everything about this experience has been truly wonderful, but I must say, the most amazing part of this journey has been sharing it with my 6-year-old daughter, Abby,” Brown said. “This is the first show we’ve done together. All of the experiences we’ve shared along this journey will stay with me forever. Everything – from driving to rehearsals while singing ‘Joseph’ songs at the top of our lungs, to going over our dances at home, to sharing bedtime stories about our favorite part of rehearsal, to sharing a dressing room – they are all moments that I will treasure for the rest of my life.”
The Community Theatre of Howell’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” takes the stage Nov. 3-5 and 10-12 at the Howell High School Freshman Campus, 1400 W. Grand River Ave. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday each weekend.
Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, available at Finding Roots in Howell, Kahuna Coffee in Hartland, Maria’s School of Dance in Fowlerville, Big Acre in Brighton, and Ed Bock Feed and Seed in Pinckney. Tickets are also available by calling 517-545-1290, or online at cththeatre.org. You can buy tickets by clicking here.
Photo by Richard Lim Photography. Click here for more information.
