Abby Nadeau
Community Editor

Starting June 15 the Youth Performing Arts at Forest Hills United Methodist Church will perform ìJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.î

The humorous performance is based on the Book of Genesis and tells the story of Joseph. Joseph can interpret dreams and owns a beautiful coat. His eleven brothers, who are insanely jealous, sell him into slavery. The musical moves from Josephís time in slavery to the right-hand man of the Pharaoh of Egypt.

Vanessa Novak, director of YPA, chooses two plays a year to perform for the community.

ìWe decided to do Joseph this year because this YPA group is so talented and we wanted to do a show where we could highlight as many of the youth as possible,î Novak said.

The youth involvement has made ìJosephî the biggest YPA performance yet.

ìThis is the biggest cast in YPA history,î Novak said. ìWe have about 70 youth involved with the show with ages ranging from 12 to 18.î

One feature that makes YPA unique is that their cast comes from all over Minnesota.

ìThey come from not only the Forest Lake area, but the surrounding areas,î Novak said. ìYouth from over 20 metro area churches are involved. Itís a cross denominational, Christian based acting group that acts as another outlet for local youth to develop their artistic talents.î

YPA is run completely by volunteers.

ìNothing would be made possible if it werenít for the efforts of the YPA artistic team, YPA board members, and the parents of the youth,î Novak said.

ìJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoatî will run June 15 - 18 and June 22 - 25 at 7 p.m. and matinees at 3:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets are free, but a free-will donation will be taken at every performance. Reservations are recommended.

All performances will be held at Forest Hills United Methodist Church on TH-97, just east of the Forest Lake High School.

ìJosephî is sponsored in part by The Hallberg Family Foundation.

For more information or to make reservations contact 651-464-6870.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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