The cast members of Litchfield Community Theatre’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” are less than a week away from opening night. The show is coming up on July 25th, 26th and 27th at 7 p.m. and July 28th at 2 p.m. in the Bernie Aaker Auditorium.
Director Tim Nelson says a huge cast is involved and it’s a big undertaking, but well worth it and they are having so much fun. He says they did a run-through with costumes on Wednesday and everything is coming together well.
Nelson says the cast includes Litchfield native Adam Stern as Joseph, Chris Ness of Willmar as Potiphar, Rick Beecroft as the Pharaoh and narrators Ali Lundin, Sara Dollerschell and Mila Hanson. He says the show is all singing and moves along quickly and every piece of music is a different style.
Nelson says he trucked a load of props and costumes from California as he had recently done “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” there so there is a huge pyramid on the stage and the entire cast appears on it dancing and singing for various scenes. He says you won’t want to miss this show and tickets are on sale at litchfieldcommunitytheatre.com or at the Litchfield Community Education office.
Litchfield Community Theatre Board President Rick Beecroft is in the role of the Pharaoh so he gets to do his impression of Elvis. He says “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” was produced by Litchfield Community Theatre in 1998 as Ben Bryant Reckdahl starred as Joseph and all of the shows sold out. Beecroft says they are so fortunate to have Tim Nelson directing and to have so many talented performers in this show.
Beecroft says the people involved in the production have their normal lives, so they have had to adjust their schedules for a couple of months this summer to allow for the lengthy rehearsals. For more information about “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” call 693-2354.
A Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Deputy was involved in a one-vehicle crash Thursday evening at 6:21 as a squad car went off the roadway and overturned on Kandiyohi County Road 4 – east of Atwater – just south of 1st Avenue East in Gennessee Township. The vehicle was southbound at the time of the crash.
The deputy was extricated by EMS personnel and airlifted by Life Link III Air Ambulance to the St. Cloud Hospital. The deputy had non-life-threatening injuries and is in stable condition. Also responding to the scene were the Atwater Fire Dept., Atwater Ambulance, Kandiyohi County Rescue Squad and CentraCare EMS. The Minnesota State Patrol is investigating the crash.
The Songs of Summer Festival is coming up on August 16th at Memorial Park on Lake Ripley in Litchfield. Gates will open at 4 p.m. with Michael Shynes performing at 5 p.m. and the Fabulous Armadillos taking the stage at 7:30.
Sarah Jones says Memorial Park is a new location this year as construction is taking place on their former site, but if it rains, they will move the event to the Litchfield Civic Arena; and it’s a free event, but freewill donations will be accepted. She says you’ll want to bring extra cash to support the vendors who will have all kinds of items to eat and drink, but they will accept Venmo for those without cash.
Jones says she’s new to the Songs of Summer Festival Board, but has been having such a great time serving on it. She says this is a family-friendly event.
Jones says their new purple t-shirts will be sold at the event on August 16th, along with can koozies in numerous colors. She says you can check their Facebook page on any updates – especially if they have to change locations due to the weather.
Amanda Nelson says they will have all kinds of vendors serving different types of food and beverages. She says several of the vendors will be local non-profit organizations.
Nelson says the Songs of Summer Festival helps to raise funds for non-profit groups that enrich the lives of young people in our community. She says the board members are selling raffle tickets for $20 each and they are only selling 500 tickets this year. You can find a list of board members and other information at songsofsummerfestival.com.