For those of you who have enjoyed their musicals over the years, the CAUSE (cooperation of the arts for the underprivileged in society and the environment) foundation is bringing to stage, a reinvention of their first production, Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat. This year is special for the CAUSE foundation as it is their tenth year of making musicals.
"We just decided to do Joseph... again simply because it was our first production," says Leila Alvares, president of the foundation and director of the play. Leila has directed all the past musicals by the group and says nothing much has changed in the past decade.
"The response we had for the first production was great! We ran full houses even then. So I guess people always loved musicals. But that's just one aspect that hasn't changed.
The other part is that I still don't have money to make these musicals. (laughs). What I mean is that for some reason, we don't have sponsors even now. I don't know if I'm going about it the wrong way but that's one thing that hasn't changed," she says, echoing the grievance of most theatrepersons.
And why don't they attempt original productions? Says Leila, "There's so many good musicals out there. So I want to tell those stories first instead of trying to create something on my own which may or may not even be as good."
Ten years into making musicals, which require a multi-talented cast that can sing, dance and act, has Leila found a change in the talent in the City? "There's always been talent in the City. From my first production to now, I have always had a great cast. I think there is loads of talent out there, just that people haven't tapped into it."
Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat is a spoof on the original Biblical story of Joseph and his meteoric rise to fame in the Pharoah's court in ancient Egypt despite his 11 brothers' evil plan to get rid of him. It has songs from a wide range of genres and is filled with dances, bright costumes and sets.
The musical stars Jude Lazaro as Joseph, Prem Koshy as Pharoah and Debra Pais as the Narrator. A major part of the proceeds of the show will go towards a charity identified by CAUSE and to treat stray animals. Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat will be staged on from August 3 to 6 (Friday to Monday) at Chowdiah Memorial Hall.
All the shows are at 7.15 pm. Tickets priced at Rs 100, Rs 200 and Rs 300 are available at Supermarket (Brigade Rd), Fab India, Rendezvous (Frazer Town) and at the venue on the days of the show.
