GET OUT

Chandler teens star in Limelight’s returning ‘Joseph’

BY KATY SPRINGER GETOUT Contributor

When Limelight Performing Arts produced “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” in 2016, the show earned a slew of honors including the National Youth Arts award for “Outstanding Production.”

Six years later, the theater is bringing the show back to the Mesa Arts Center.

The musical will be on stage Aug. 4-14 and will feature an epic cast of nearly 50 performers ages 6-21 – including 12 kids and teens from Chandler.

Set in biblical-era Canaan and Egypt, “Joseph” brings the age-old story of Jacob and his sons to vibrant new life. WhenJacob gives Joseph a magnificent coat of many colors, his 11 brothers become so consumed with jealousy they sell him into slavery in Egypt. But because of Joseph’s prophetic gift for interpreting dreams, he ascends from lowly house slave to Pharaoh’s key advisor – and soon redeems the brothers who betrayed him.

Despite its weighty themes, the production is upbeat and full of comic relief.

With lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, it features colorful characters and costumes, modern choreography and a range of music and dance styles – from country western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and a Pharaoh who sings Elvis.

“It’s colorful, inspiring and hilarious,” said Marie South, who, along with Limelight’s artistic director, Emma England, is directing the show.

Westley Caryl, 14, is having a great time with his character.

“I play the role of Judah, who is one of the younger brothers,” he said. “He is very laidback and silly, but not the

Chandler cast members in Limelight Performing Arts’ presentation of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” include, from left: Maddie Gillispie, Mia Mcfarland, Josh Boenzi, Camryn Taylor, Meredith Woodward, Kayla King, Alex Hinkle, Violet Mclen-

nan, Zoey Harr, and Claire Willes. (David Minton/GetOut Staff Photographer)

seeMUSICAL page 34

Mesa metal band excited about upcoming show

BY ALEX GALLAGHER

Staff Writer

The Mesa metal band Bury The Darkness has been pretty busy these days.

Band members – all Mountain View High School alumni – spent their free time between full-time jobs rehearsing recording four new songs and working on the launch of a clothing brand — all of which the band plans to unveil when it hits the stage at the Rebel Lounge on Aug. 12.

“It’s going to be our grand unveiling. We’ve been quiet in terms of releases and everything like that since April of 2021 but the work has not stopped every single day,” said guitarist Marc Rosenfeld.

“We’ve been working,” he said. “We’ve made insane connections with local musicians and we have been in the studio every single weekend because we all work full-time jobs. Every day off has been spent somehow working on the band or the clothing brand.”

The band also has cruised around the Valley marketing itself the old-fashioned way by putting up posters and dropping off physical tickets to fans for the Aug. 12 gig.

Rosenfeld sees it all as a way to achieve his and bassist Brandon Bentley’s lifelong dreams.

“We want to do this for our jobs,” added Brantley, who met Rosenfeld at Mountain View and graduated from Arizona State University last year. “I went to college; I worked that nine to five office job and hated my life. So, I’m just putting in put in all the work I can to make it where I never have to go back to that.” Because of this, the band sees its first hometown show as the time to go all-in on its new music and clothing line.

“Our brand-new clothing line Burned Alive clothing is going to be announced at that show and we’re going to have three different shirts on sale,” Rosenfeld said. “Just like the band, It’s a melting pot of things we like, like heavy culture, alternative culture, music and streetwear with a little splash of like, ex-

Bassist Brandon Bentley, vocalist Jared Harper, drummer Devin Bowers and guitarist Marc Rosenfeld all attended Mountain View High School and are set to make their hometown debut with their band, Bury The Darkness, on Aug. 12. (Hannah Left Wright Photo)

brightest out of his brothers.”

Zoey Hart, 15, is part of the ensemble. She says “Joseph” is not your average production.

“There are no scenes, only singing and dance numbers, which isn’t super common in musical theater,” said Hart. “The hardest part for me is making sure I remember every single detail because if you forget the smallest piece of information, it can make or break the show.”

The 90-minute production certainly is demanding, as every word in the musical is sung, every scene is choreographed, and every performer plays a key part in bringing the story together.

“The ensemble is central to this production,” said South. “Most productions rely on a couple of leads to carry the show, but ‘Joseph’ isn’t like that. Every person on stage is important to the story, and that means every one of our performers needs to be a true triple threat.” “Joseph” isn’t average in other ways, too.

“We threaded color through every aspect of this show,” said South. “For example, many of our set pieces look beige on the surface, but they’re lit from within and bring out that technicolor quality when we turn the lights on.”

Ashlynn Taylor, 15, plays one of the narrators.

“Playing the role of narrator requires a lot of memorization,” she said. “There are three narrators, and we often sing in three-part harmonies, which can be challenging to learn.”

But the performers are up for the challenge – and they’re having fun along the way.

“I’ve always enjoyed the rehearsal process,” said Ava Wright, 15, one of the narrators in “Joseph.” “I have always found it so satisfying to slowly watch all of our time and effort make its way to finally being ready for opening night.”

Of course, no production of “Joseph” would be complete without a Children’s Choir.

“I wanted to be a part of Joseph because it is performed on a big stage and tells the real bible story in a fun way,” said 11-year-old Alyssa Sherwood. “The Children’s Choir gets to be on stage a lot of the show and has some special parts.”

The group of youngsters is critical to the production, as they add new layers to every scene and song.

The directing team and cast are eagerly anticipating the audience’s response.

“At the heart of this show is a powerful message of love and unity that will resonate with children and adults,” said England. “The cast’s hard work and incredible passion will be evident in the top-notch quality of this performance.”

Added Caryl, “I think the audience will love the big dance numbers like the hoedown or ‘Song of the King.’ Even just in rehearsal, you can tell that these are complete showstoppers.”

Chandler thespians in the production and their roles include: Westley Caryl, Judah, 14; Madeline Gillispie, ensemble, 16; Eli Greenberg, children’s choir, 9; Zoey Hart, ensemble ,15; Kayla King, Potiphar’s wife, 18; Violet McLennan, narrator, 12; Remington Rathbun, ensemble, 18; Whitney Sherwood, children’s choir, 9; Alyssa Sherwood, children’s choir, 11; Ashlynn Taylor, narrator, 15; Camryn Taylor, apple dancer/ ensemble, 15; and Ava Wright, narrator, 15.

Tickets for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” are $16 plus box office fees and are available at the Mesa Arts Center box office, at MesaArtsCenter. com keyword “technicolor,” or by visiting ll-pa.org. Group discounts are available.

If you go:

What: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Who: Produced by Limelight Performing Arts When: Aug. 4-14 at the Mesa Arts Center Tickets: MesaArtsCenter.com, keyword “technicolor” or ll-pa.org

BURY from page 33 treme sports as well — since I used to skateboard when I was younger.”

In addition to launching a clothing line that Rosenfeld and Brantley have been working on since devising the idea over breakfast on New Year’s Eve of 2021, the band is anxious to give fans a tease of its upcoming four-song EP. Rosenfeld has been counting down the days until he can jump on stage and play the songs that he and his band have devoted every second of free time writing and recording.

“Every day I dream about it,” Rosenfeld said. “I keep thinking that this is going to be our biggest show to date.”

PLAN YOUR DREAM VACATION – FREE DATE CHANGES

FROM $2,549 $2,299 *

FROM $2,049 $1,799 *

FROM $1,949 $1,699 *

FREE ONBOARD CREDIT

BEST OF HAWAII FOUR- ISLAND TOUR

12 days, departs year-round Oahu • Hawaii Island • Kauai • Maui — Enjoy a fully

guided 4-island Hawaiian vacation with centrally located lodging in Waikiki on Oahu, and beachfront lodging on the “Big Island” of Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui. Guided throughout by our friendly Tour Directors—your local experts. Includes 3 inter-island flights.

GRAND ALASKAN CRUISE & TOUR

12 days, departs May - September 2023

Vancouver • Ketchikan • Juneau • Skagway • Glacier

Bay • Denali Anchorage • and more — Visit Denali

National Park and Glacier Bay National Park on the same incredible trip! Cruise through the Gulf of Alaska and the Inside Passage as you discover the best of the Frontier State by land and by sea.

CRIMSON CANYONS & MESAS NATIONAL PARKS TOUR

10 days, departs April - September 2023

Las Vegas • Grand Canyon • Bryce Canyon • Zion • Capitol Reef • Arches & Canyonlands • Grand Junction •

Denver and more — Prepare to be awed as you experience the stunningly red rocks of these 6 iconic southwestern national parks. Travel through deserts, forests, mountains, and to the very edge of the Grand Canyon on this breathtaking tour.