Joseph Opens at High School to Great Reviews of Students, Teacher

The chatter was near constant, laughter was frequent and anticipation was palatable backstage on opening night of the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat show at Newtown High School Thursday night.

“Are you guys excited?” Jane Matson, the school's choral director asked a group of students. “I’m excited.”

The spring musical, which has showings Friday, Saturday and Sunday, features dozens of students from across the district. It already has drawn high marks for the quality of the singing, dancing, music and overall production.

Perhaps the biggest cheerleader is Matson who is in her first year teaching at the school. She said the student talent is strong and among one of the highlights for audiences.

“You should be looking for people who are going to be on Broadway 10 years from now,” Matson said. “From the first day I walked in here, I was impressed by the talent. And they really care. That’s very important.”

Matson said the emphasis this year has been on a true ensemble cast where students have multiple opportunities to shine on stage.

“People are featured all over the place,” she said, adding part of her job is to match a student’s strength with a role in the production. “I want everybody to have a lot of stage time and take ownership.”

The mix of boys to girls also is more balanced than it has been in the past, adding to the dynamic of the production, Matson said.

“It’s really nice to have that balance,” she said.

However effusive Matson is in her praise of the cast and crew, her students are equally enamored with her.

“She makes everyone feel important,” said Olivia Koziol, who is part of the ensemble.

While in the past, productions would feature a select group of students with much of the rest waiting off stage, this year’s show is completely different. Matson has made it a point to develop a rapport with all of the students, Koziel said.

“She doesn’t have favorites,” Koziol said of Matson. “She likes all of us.”

The result is a high quality ensemble production that drew about a couple hundred people on opening night Thursday.

The production also features a student orchestra conducted by band teacher Kurt Eckhardt

The show will run for three more shows, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 18, and Saturday, March 19; and 2:30 p.m., Sunday, March 20. All shows are at the high school.

For more information on tickets, see this website  or email nhsjosephtickets@aol.com or call 203-364-4455. Prices are $12 adults, $8 students and senior citizens

The following is a list of students who are on the cast:

Katie Cummings, Katie McMorran, Brenna Calderara, George Primavera, Ben Stoller, Kevin Rovelli, Don Morrissey, Ishaar Gupta, Jake Eventoff, Matt Madden, Luke Shearin, Dan O’Connor, Chris House, Chris Hunter, Taylor Varga, Austin Isola, Maddie Dorso, Mark Malia, Michelle Spanedda, Jake Tolson, Josh Goldman, Joseph DeVellis, Jeff Haylon, John Mudgett, Neil Davis, Vinny Brophy, David Swigart, Alex Taylor, Carolyn Fagerholm, Melanie Curtis, Claire Bassett, Morgan Winters, Alyssa Kneski, Keri Chernoff, Laura Hunter, Meghan Condon, Megan Watts, Taylor Smith, Ava Rojo, Autumn Jones, Nora Murphy, Olivia Koziol, Kayla O’Leary, Emily Anderson, Alessandra Delia, Sarah Poarch, Kyra Smith, Alison Kron, Mattie Kelly, Lexi Tobin, Kirsten Liniger, Samantha Chanko, Morgan Danuszar, Rachel Peterson, Claire Alexander, Sarah McMahon, Lindsay McLoy, Lauren Harrison, Gabrielle Milano, Lexi Black and Sarah Potter.

Crew members are Matt Baldino, Brittany Boggs, Kate Butera, Elizabeth Charash, Taylorann Chiarito, Colby Chilson, Connor Chilson, Danny Cummings, Abby Fagerholm, Julia Frattaroli, Lindsay Fuori, Caitlin Gibney, Mitchell Girgasky, Inez Indraswari, Michelle Isabella, Matt Janco, Adam Koziol, Kevin Liniger, Kate Martinelli, Sally Martinelli, Nicole Mendonca, Britt Pearson, Jane Sclafani, Nick Shannon, Brian White, Sarah Desrosiers, Kevin Liniger, Colby Chilson and Danny Cummings.

Members of the children’s choir are Olivia Elkins, Gianna Terracino, Michael Arena, Chris Poupon, Samantha Edwards, Anthony Lynch, Devon Pope, Jared Dunn, Emma Stierle, Julia Clark, Stephanie Cobb, Julian Coyle, Claire Dubois, Emilia Getzinger, Kylee Raiano, Grace McEnearney, Thomas Armstrong, Carolina Stubbs, Teresa Forlenzo, Ethan Cox, Rachel Goldman, Madison Findley, Emma DeFlumeri, Victoria Madden, Portia Baudisch, Juliana Koziol and Jake Raiani

Correction: Olivia Koziol was misspelled in an earlier version of this  article.