Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: Stories from the Set

Royce In | November 14, 2022

Illustration courtesy: Taryn Kim

Musicals are back…the normal way! With the long-awaited return of in-person theater at SFS, students, teachers, and parents flooded the seats of the Lyso overflowing with excitement. This year’s musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was the gateway to a new generation of energetic and committed actors on set. As director Mrs. Moon puts it, this year’s musical has “a lot of new” with the departure and arrival of many talented actors and musicians. Despite facing a few hurdles in the aftermath of the pandemic, our high school actors and actresses managed to pull off a show-stopping performance with grace and passion.

This year’s actors faced a daunting challenge of performing with a smaller cast size. Students were “hungry in developing their ability” and were “an agent of change,” often covering many different roles for the production, Mrs. Moon points out. Students in this production prepared “for every audience” and were determined to restart after the two years of empty theaters with a bang. Along with this extra effort, cast members also fought against the muffling of voices through masks which made speaking and singing a lot more difficult than usual. Performers had to learn the art of “acting with eyes” to project emotion rather than voice, a turnaround from tradition. Even with all these challenges along the way, the dedication of the director, cast members, and behind the scenes workers brought the SFS community together for another highly acclaimed performance.

This year’s audition process began with heavy anticipation. As a senior, Erin Son, who played the narrator for Joseph, “cherished the moments that [she] can enjoy even while it would be the most nervous moment.” Beginning her acting career at SFS in 7th grade, this final musical was a goodbye to her middle and high school performing career. The scenes where she was able to “[deliver] the story for the character” were valuable experiences in her theatrical career and ones she hoped to replicate in the production.

Lead actor Tyler Yoon, who played Joseph, states that Mrs. Moon “has a way of making you feel at ease,” even during auditions. For many cast members, the auditions were their biggest challenge. Being able to portray their skills in their best possible condition brings about a mix of pride and disappointment, as well as incredible nerves and anxiety. However, it also “doesn’t hurt to mess up,” according to Tyler, who played comedy and character roles before trying out for the musical. Even without any experience, in Mrs. Moon’s eyes, “whoever comes is meant to be” and she works her hardest for every production to match her visions.

After months of preparation, though, came the final performances, the end of a cycle that required so much effort from everyone involved, including those in the pit band to members of Crusader Live working behind the stage. This year’s performances were different for all cast members, especially those who performed for a live audience for the first time. For Erin, “the energy comes from the audience” and “being a lead in front of an audience comes differently.” The presence of a crowd feeds actors on stage with the energy to perform and showcase their best talent.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was the perfect embodiment of a redemption story. With Mrs. Moon’s goal to “[liberate] through forgiveness,” the community and actors united to create a highlight of the year. As Mrs. Moon’s final year here at Seoul Foreign School begins, the cast and students are eager to be a part of such a memorable performance.