Bible story coming to stage

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Naugatuck Teen Theater choreographer Jean-Marie McGrath, front, practices dance moves with, from left, Allison Bolduc, Anna Conforti, Sydney Lauer and Skyler Vartush for the theater’s upcoming performance of ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat’ on Oct. 18 at the St. Michael Church parish hall in Naugatuck. –LUKE MARSHALL

NAUGATUCK — The Naugatuck Teen Theater is bringing a story of betrayal, forgiveness and religion, all told through song and dance, to the stage.

The theater will present Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat” the next two weekends.

The play is based on the “coat of many colors” story from the book of Genesis in the Bible. The play follows Joseph as his brothers sell him into slavery in Egypt, as he rises in favor with the pharaoh, and his ultimate return home.

“It is a really fun show. The music is great. It has a huge range of music to it. It’s one of my favorite shows for sure,” said Dan Wagoner, who is directing the production.

Jessica Sember of Naugatuck, who plays one of the two narrators, said the cast has put a lot of effort into the production.

“We all worked very hard for this show. It is a lot of effort because it is all music and dance, there is no spoken word in it. So, it is just continuous dance and song,” Sember said.

Sember said this type of production is just what the theater wanted to do.

“It is a nice change of pace. I think this is what this theater needed now. It is a very uplifting show. It is a very high-spirited show. I think it will bring in more people than usual,” Sember said.

Matthew Keating of Waterbury, who plays Joseph, said the show gives him the chance to interact a lot more with the rest of the cast than the last show he was in at the theater.

“Last year, they had a show called ‘Working’ where you didn’t interact with people. It was just monologues to the audience. [This show] is definitely different to get used to, but it is cool because everything is upbeat,” Keating said.

Lexi White of Middlebury, who plays the other narrator, said the show is unique because it gives the audience a chance to see how a person becomes a major character in the Bible.

“You will find, when you watch the show, it is very interesting because it is the story of how Joseph becomes Joseph and becomes very religious,” White said.

Wagoner encouraged people to come see the show because it’s family friendly and a great way to support local youth.

“There is just a really talented group of kids from the surrounding areas, including Naugatuck. It is a really good way to support your local kids,” Wagoner said.

Sember said the audience will love the show because of the talent of the actors and the depth of the characters.

“There is so much energy, there is so much character in every single person, even if someone is in the ensemble,” Sember said. “I think that is what makes this so enjoyable because everyone is doing something. Everyone has a character and a motivation. I think, overall, it just makes it entertaining to watch.”

The show runs Oct. 27, Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 at 8 p.m., and Oct. 28 and Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. at St. Michael Church, 210 Church St. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and $7 for students. For information, visit www.naugatuckteentheater.com.