By Naomi Palmer 

   Are we in Egypt or Arizona? This year’s spring musical takes its audience back in time to watch the story of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” After working on the musical for several months, the cast finally had the chance to showcase their work from April 22-24. 

   Director Mr. Sanderson said he chose the show because “it’s just a really fun show.” He says, “I always wanted to do it and I just thought it would be a really good fit for Tempe Prep at this particular moment in time.” 

   Mr. Sanderson says that the difficult times of COVID-19 also influenced his decision in picking a fun and upbeat musical. The drama department was forced to cancel the 2020 production of “Into The Woods” due to the pandemic and this year, every cast member was excited to bring a spring play back.

   Junior leads Nigella Humphrey, Hannah Frazier and Clark Campbell spent many days after school rehearsing their songs and working on different acting choices they wanted to incorporate into their performance. Nigella said she auditioned because she was “really looking for something as a change.” She says, “Once I applied it was a really good thing because I got to meet new people and learn musical theater.”

   Cantamus also made a guest appearance, helping to fill the auditorium with the sound of the musical’s soundtrack. Cantamus Director Aimee Stewart worked with the choir at its rehearsals to help perfect the music and spent time after school with the cast to go over it, as well. 

   Hannah says, “Apart from rehearsals with our awesome music director Mrs. Stewart, we had special choreography rehearsals with our choreographer, Ms. Chelsea Sweaney.” The crew consisted of stage hands Yanina Zygoqicz, Evelyn Tole, stage managers Allison Buckwalter and Manuel Ortiz, and costume designer Naomi Palmer. 

   This year’s musical was the first to be performed in the new Evdokimo Auditorium, which provided both cast and crew members with a multitude of resources, such as a booth, a sound and lighting system and dressing rooms. A wooden set was also designed and put together by friends and family of the musical’s cast.

   Hannah says that despite many of the cast members never performing in a musical before, the cast “managed to pull together a great, entertaining show.” She says, “I feel so lucky that I got to be a part of that.”