Calgary Herald

Young actor feels more tuned in to role of Joseph

- LOUIS B. HOBSON

For Daniel Fong, playing Joseph in Rosebud Theatre’s summer musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolo­r Dreamcoat feels like a real homecoming.

“I played Joseph eight years ago at St. David United Church in Calgary. It was the first role I played outside of high school. It’s such a joy to come back to the role,” says Fong, who graduated from Sir Winston Churchill High School.

“When I first played Joseph, I was so young and enthusiast­ic. I was Joseph at the beginning of his journey. As you grow older and experience life, you kind of lose a bit of your own innocence, just as Joseph does through his journey in the story.”

Fong admits that eight years ago he just threw himself into the role and had no fear. This time, he had to search for the sense of wonder that came so naturally to him as a young teenager.

“I am bringing my life experience­s and the skills I’ve learned as an actor to the role and they help me understand the themes in the story, especially those of forgivenes­s.

“My first time around, I didn’t really understand what it means to forgive people. I could say the lines and sing the songs but I hadn’t experience­d things that required me to forgive others. I have had those experience­s now so I feel I can do so much more justice to the second part of Joseph’s journey.”

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote Joseph/Dreamcoat 50 years ago when they were studying together at Colet Court School in London. Rice was 20 and Lloyd Webber was 17. They based their musical on the story of the coat of many colours from The Book of Genesis. In it, Joseph’s brothers are jealous that he is their father’s favourite son so they sell him into slavery in Egypt. Joseph has prophetic dreams and his dreams warn the Pharaoh of an impending drought, thus sparing Egypt from the famine other countries suffer.

It remains one of Rice and Lloyd Webber’s most popular collaborat­ions.

Fong feels the appeal of the musical, which plays in Rosebud until Sept. 1, lies “in its heartfelt story that is so universal and timeless.

“People also love the amazing songs Rice and Lloyd Webber created. They change musical genres to follow the journey Joseph takes to Egypt. There’s a country song, a 1920s Parisian number, some great ballads, a Calypso song and even an Elvis style rock number for the Pharaoh.

“These songs make each step in Joseph’s journey so unique and so

much fun.”

Before beginning rehearsals for Joseph/Dreamcoat, Fong was part of the Heritage Park and Quest Theatre’s Canada 150 project, Journey of a Lifetime, which toured cultural museums from Halifax to Victoria for six months.

“My life since that production of Joseph eight years ago has been a remarkable journey. I have had some great roles in theatre and the Journey of a Lifetime tour was an amazing sightseein­g tour of Canada.”

Fong last appeared at Rosebud in The Skin of Our Teeth and was seen in Calgary in such shows as In the Heights, Fortune Falls and The Circle.

He is joined in Rosebud’s Joseph/ Dreamcoat by Cassia Schmidt as the narrator, Mike Thiessen as his father Jacob, Tenaj Williams as his brother Judah and David Snider as the Pharaoh. Morris Ertman is directing, with Bill Hamm as musical director, Deanne Bertsch the choreograp­her, with costume and set designs by Hanne Loosen and Morris Ertman.

As you grow older and experience life, you kind of lose a bit of your own innocence, just as Joseph does

 ??  ?? Daniel Fong stars as Joseph in Joseph & the Amazing Technicolo­r Dreamcoat playing at the Rosebud until Sept. 1.
Daniel Fong stars as Joseph in Joseph & the Amazing Technicolo­r Dreamcoat playing at the Rosebud until Sept. 1.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Canada