With just few days remaining before the curtain
time, the AMP ministry is running in full gear preparing for their
newest presentation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's popular musical "Joseph and
the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
 This full-scale stage production is yet another example of
great talent in the Cincinnati church and of how God has been using His disciples
in our hometown to advance His kingdom in the performing arts.
As many of you know, several of the lead performers come from Cincinnati's
prestigious CCM Musical Theater, Performance and Opera Departments. Their
vocal and musical abilities have been tested many times before. Their
professional experience is marked with great success. Without their contribution
this production wouldn't have been possible.
But the musical - which opens Friday, August 24 - features a large group
of unquestionably gifted dancers, singers, band and choir members, and stage
crew whose names are not found in the CCM directory.
Aaron Breford, the show's director explains: "It has been exciting to see
so many new faces involved with this production. We have the entire choir
and in fact, we have used this production to recruit new choir members. We
also have a children's choir. It is exciting to see the next generation of
AMP disciples warming up. I am very excited about some new faces on stage
as well. In addition to a number of veterans we also have Adam McMillen,
Jessica Miller, Barb Boettcher, Will Underwood (a veteran performer but not
in AMP productions), and Ariel Underwood representing the teens. In addition,
we have Jill Lynch and her talented team of dancers. Behind the scenes John
and Monika Elliot have taken on a lot of responsibility. And Stephanie Gilbertson
made most of the costumes, also new for us. I have seen the AMP involvement
grow across other parts of the church."
We have been very lucky to catch Aaron between rehearsals to share his vision
and talk about the upcoming production.
PK "How is this company different from previous years?"
AB "In a good sense, there are lots more folks involved which is exciting.
On another note, I think we are losing our sense of wonder and gratitude
that we can even accomplish this kind of project. My prayer is to grow but
to keep that sense of wonder and awe."
PK "Since its inception the name of a person playing the title role has been
closely guarded. Can you give away the secret now?"
AB "I think the cat is out of the bag at this point... we are very excited
to have Greg Miller returning to play the role of Joseph. Greg played Jesus
last year in Godspell at the ACR conference. The role of Joseph is really
right for Greg's voice and overall look."
PK " What is the show's concept and what inspired it?"
 AB "The concept for this production is different
from any other production of Joseph that I have seen. Rather than "time-warping"
back to recreate the historical period, I have set this production in a museum...
a very special museum. The narrator who tells the story is actually a docent
of the museum giving a tour to a small group of patrons. The Jacob figure
as well as Joseph and Pharaoh are set up as museum pieces. The rest of the
characters are "average" people who interact with these characters in the
museum. In the traditional cast, one would have eleven actors play the brothers,
others to play Potiphar and his wife and still others to play the Baker and
Butler and all of the other characters. I have combined these characters
so that they are all being played by the same 10 actors. Rather than trying
to recreate the illusion of ancient Israel and Egypt, our production shows
these events through the imagination of these 10 patrons. We also have an
incredible choir and children's choir to give this small cast a big musical
feel. "
"In terms of inspiration, it has been said that "necessity is the mother
of invention." I wanted to do something unique and interesting with the
production and due to the constraints of a conference production, I needed
to work with a small, core cast of players. Based on that premise, this concept
evolved... and is still evolving."
PK "We are lucky to get this major Broadway-style musical. How did you pull
it off? Did you talk with A. L. Webber himself? "
AB "After a production tours, the rights are released for community and
semi-professional organizations to perform. "
PK "Take us through the production process. When did you start auditioning,
planning, rehearsing etc?"
AB "I started talking about Joseph at the cast party for Godspell
last year in DC. Greg had never seen the show but I kept telling him it was
tailor made for his voice. Last May, the Cincinnati Church was devoting the
month to Old Testament figures. One Sunday was committed to the story of
Joseph so I put together a small cutting from the show for that Sunday. After
the service, we discussed the option of doing the entire show as a part of
the conference and everybody agreed that it would be an exciting event for
Saturday night."
PK "Any new lessons learned?"
AB "I have learned a ton of things about managing a project of this size.
Lessons that will make things more efficient in the future."
PK "Plans for the future? "
AB "With our new building here in Cincinnati, I plan to keep that place
hoppin'."
PK "We also checked with Greg Miller, who plays the title role. What do you
think of Joseph as a character?"
GM "The obvious things come to mind, his pride, arrogance with his brothers
(pride will take you for a ride! - Remember that?!), but also his deep
convictions and righteousness in the face of temptation. But he's also sensitive
and emotional as we see how many times he wept during the conclusion of his
ordeal.
PK "How did you prepare for this role? "
GM " Part of this answer is related to the first question, meaning that I've
had to really meditate on the fact that Joseph is in fact a real person,
and to try to fuse Joseph the character in this popular Andrew Lloyd Webber
musical with the biblical truth of this man's life. Sometimes (most of the
time, really) we are so far removed from history that even, especially, bible
stories are etched in our minds almost as fairy tales. For me I must think
about the fact that he was 16 or 17 when sold by his brothers into slavery,
his reality is turned upside down and now he basically has no control over
his fate for 13 years! So he was 30 when we see him at Pharaoh's side! That's
my age, what would I be like right now had I been kidnapped and raised in
another country as a prisoner and a slave? Modern psychologists and other
medical professionals would be diagnosing my mental/psychological disorders
by the dozens, don't you think? There is no way to really understand what
would go through someone's mind in a situation like Joseph's, but I'll do
what I can.
PK "Earlier we asked Aaron of how this company is different from previous
years. You also have a first-hand experience working side by side with this
diverse group of people. Any encouragement for those of us who dream of a
stage adventure but don't have much experience or training?"
GM " If you mean specifically the cast for this show I certainly have some
encouragement! The thing I've been most blown away by is how much the choir
and supporting cast in general has improved. The choir is sounding unbelievable
and the dancers are equally as impressive. It is so inspiring to me to come
back to Cincinnati and see the talents in the church, but it's especially
inspiring to not recognize them! (If you know what I mean!). As far as experience
and training, the enthusiasm, learner's spirit, work ethic, commitment, and
positive attitude that the "nonprofessional" (ha-ha) disciples show will
make up for lack of experience. In the area of training, Adam and Andre have
provided top-notch training for the choir. Both of them could be paid big
bucks (OK, medium bucks, this is the arts!!) for the work they have done.
PK "Any advice for disciples in the arts in general?"
GM "No big secret there,
"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will
give you the desires of your heart"
Psalm 37 (NIV)
God has given the talent and wants us to use
it to serve, yes, but he wants us to be fulfilled and happy as we serve using
those talents. There is always the temptation and pressure to prove to the
world what you can do, to get the recognition and end up using talents for
selfish, sinful gain. 1 John 2:15-17 is a must-memorizer for anyone
in the arts:
"Do not love the world or anything in the
world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For
everything in the world- the cravings of a sinful man, the lust of his eyes,
and the boasting of what he has and does- comes not from the Father but from
the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the
will of God lives forever."
(NIV)
Ouch! Couldn't be clearer. I do believe those
who REALLY have the TALENT to make their living in the arts should do so,
and just like any profession, never allow it to pull you away from God and
compromise the bible's standard.
PK "How did you grow, as an artist and a disciple, in the last several
months?"
GM "Well, since we've had a newborn baby during an already busy summer, I'm
finally beginning to learn more about how important it is to make sure my
marriage and family is the top priority after my relationship with God. That
I must take care of Kyra first, then all the multitasking that we all do
in the kingdom will be blessed and not just stressed! I'm learning that I
can be INTENSE without being TENSE! As an artist I'm learning that I better
take care of myself physically (it's good to rest) or there will be no instrument
to play (as in my voice!).
PK "What would be the greatest reward for you as a performer after this
show?"
GM "A million dollars would be a nice reward. Just kidding. That's actually
a difficult question, the reward is always the audience reaction, so it depends
on who's in the audience. But regardless of who it is I would want them to
go away simply thinking deeper about God and the fact that the bible is anchored
in history, that this is not a cute fairy tale."
PK "Aaron and Greg, thank you both for your time and an interesting conversation.
Best wishes in Toledo."
Following a two day run at Lakota West High School on August 24th and 25th,
"Joseph" will be the featured entertainment Saturday, September
1st at the Midwest Evangelism Conference in Toledo. |
