Joseph and his brothers to grace the Groton stage

For its 17th musical production under the direction of Annette Twitchell, the Groton Jr./Sr. High School (GHS) Drama Club will present “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” on the GHS stage.  

Written by the famed duo of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, “Joseph” is one of the most enduring shows of all time. The show is a reimagining of the biblical story of Joseph, his 11 brothers, their father Jacob and the coat of many colors. 

“In the wake of last year’s success with ‘Les Misérables,’ I was looking for a show that would be vastly different from it,” Twitchell said. “I was looking for something colorful, upbeat and fun.”  

It appears that Twitchell has hit the mark with her choice, as those qualities were lauded by a number of the cast members at a recent rehearsal. 

In the lead role of Joseph is GHS senior Sam Young. He has been in drama club since seventh grade and described his feelings as “surreal to have it all come to a close.” 

“It’s like a fairy-tale kind of ending to be playing the main character,” Young said. “I have been honored to have so many roles, and now it’s the end of an era.” 

Young is looking forward to the audience enjoying the show. He thinks it is a fun, colorful and upbeat story. 

“People can learn from it,” Young said. “It says a lot about a family overcoming hardships and rolling with the punches to see the green grass on the other side. Anyone can enjoy it!” 

Leanna Jackson, a senior, will play the key role of Narrator. She said she is sad this will be her last show and that it will be difficult to leave the people who are now like family to her. 

“I think that this show has so many fun and exciting costumes and dancing, and it is just an upbeat and entertaining show to watch,” Jackson said. “It will make people want to get up and start dancing and singing with the cast. It is just a fun show all around, and the cast and crew have put in so much hard work.” 

Donovan Mitchell, also a senior, will play dual roles of Pharaoh and Levi. He said he “developed a family in drama club” and that it hasn’t hit him yet that this is his last show. 

“I want to go out with a bang and leave it all on the stage,” Mitchell said. “This show is super great, with many different genres and blends of music with a powerful story.” 

Darian Mitchell, who is Donovan’s twin, spoke to the fact that some Groton students have had a difficult year. He feels this upbeat musical can really help lift their spirits.  

“Some of these kids lost family members this year,” Darian said. “I tore my ACL early on and couldn’t play football or anything, so I really gave this my all. Since ninth grade, I always dreamed of getting to this point, and it’s been a wonderful experience.” 

Darian, who will play Judah, added that the drama club has built character qualities in him, such as determination and motivation, that he does not think he would have learned otherwise. 

Playing the role of Reuben, Braedy Dilger is a senior, and he described his feelings as “bittersweet after an incredible four years” on the GHS stage. He believes the experience has made him “not just a stronger performer, but also a stronger student when it comes to building character and learning more discipline than in an average classroom.” 

“This show is much more happy and jovial than ‘Les Mis’ was and contributes to everyone’s energy,” Dilger said. “It’s meant to make everyone happy, and we all need that in our lives.” 

Mathias Brehm, who plays Simeon, and Dianna Niño, who plays Mrs. Potiphar, are the other two seniors in the cast, and both have similar stories.  

“I’m going to miss acting, singing, being part of the funny stuff and even Mrs. Twitchell yelling at us,” Brehm said. “This show has varied songs and scenes and is very unique. People don’t want to miss it!” 

Niño said she always wondered what being a senior in the last show would feel like, but that it doesn’t feel real to her yet. 

“We’ve put a lot of work into this, and it means a lot to us,” Niño said. “I love it! It’s very funny, and I think everyone will love it and be laughing.” 

In addition to these seniors in the show, there are 18 other actors and close to 30 students in the high school and elementary school choirs.  

Peyton Conger, who made her stage debut in first grade as Jemima in “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” in 2018, has been in every show since, other than “The Little Mermaid.”  

“This show is full of energy and good music,” Conger said. “It makes me happy, and I love the people I get to work with.” 

Making his debut just last year in “Les Misérables,” Trey Dwyer is the youngest in the cast this year. He is in fourth grade. Juliette Competillo is also in fourth grade, and this is her first step onto the GHS stage in the children’s chorus.  

Dwyer said the show “is fun, but tiring and funny and entertaining. People will enjoy it because it’s funny.” 

“The play is very fun, and it’s very cool being in it,” Competillo said. 

“The hurdles have been many in making this production a success,” Twitchell said. “We may have known the story that inspired it, but the musical version of that famous tale is complicated, to say the least. We have worked hard, and I am so pleased with what we have accomplished together as a team.”  

The show will run March 16-18 at 7 p.m. nightly in the GHS auditorium, 400 Peru Rd. For tickets, call (607) 898-5803, email Kelly Bishop at ghs-tickets@grotoncs.org or purchase at the door. Cost is $8 for general admission and $5 for children under age 10. 

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at (607) 227-4922.  

In brief: 

GPL Book Club 

The GPL Book Club will meet in the Groton Public Library Thursday, March 16 at 7 p.m. The current book is “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett. For more information call (607) 898-5055 or email director@grotonpubliclibrary.org. 

Library trustee positions open 

The Groton Public Library has three vacant positions on its board of trustees. Interested candidates must reside in the Groton School District for at least three months and be at least 18 years of age. Trustees are expected to attend monthly board meetings and other meetings as required.  

Please send letters of interest to Groton Public Library, Attn: Trustee, 112 E. Cortland St., Groton, NY 13073. 

Youth football and cheer camp 

Groton Youth Football and Cheer will hold a special camp for students who are missing football or cheer and want to keep their skills from getting rusty or for those who want to give it a try.  Camps will be held Monday, March 20 through Thursday, March 23 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Football for six to nine year-olds will be in the Groton Jr./Sr. High School middle school gym and for 10 to 12 year-olds in the high school gym. All levels of cheer will be held in the large gym at Groton Elementary School. 

Preregister free of charge at https://leagues.bluesombrero/grotonfootballandcheer. Email Brennysmom1@yahoo.com with any questions.