Howard County Summer Theatre Presents an Extraordinary and Colorful ‘Joseph’

Danny Bertaux stars as Joseph

In its 50^th year in delivering high-quality, community-driven musicals in Howard County (MD) the Howard County Summer Theatre (HCST) is presenting the famed Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. And anyone who happened to catch last year’s Guys and Dolls and Hello Dolly! the year before that, for instance, you know what I mean by high quality.

HCST annually produces a classic Broadway musical to enthrall audiences during the warm summers. The 2025 installment is the 4^th time HCST is producing Joseph. This high-tempo, high-octane production is jaw-dropping on so many levels.

A well-staged, brilliantly orchestrated, meticulously choreographed spectacle is performed by a talented and enthusiastic cast. HCST brings Joseph and his coat of many colors to life in a compact whirlwind of memorable, tuneful songs and a story that takes the audience on a journey from the sins of jealousy and revenge to the virtues of forgiveness and reconciliation.

"A well-staged, brilliantly orchestrated, meticulously choreographed spectacle..."

Tom Sankey, the director of the production, is marking his 40^th year with the theatre company. In describing Joseph, Mr. Sankey says, “It’s a story about dreams, resilience, and the power of forgiveness—timeless themes that resonate now more than ever.” 

Mr. Sankey’s light touch and precise direction enables the large cast including 49 elementary and middle schoolers among the 130 total cast and crew to thoroughly enjoy themselves on stage. That joy is clearly evident in every song, movement and dance step.  The performers had a lot of fun, which easily rubs off to the audience sharing in that delight.

With such a large cast, performers not only packed the stage but at times used the auditorium’s interior ramps and aisles as well as the area in front of the stage. And they did so flawlessly and efficiently, thus expanding the spectacle.

Nathan Moe as Pharaoh

Some of the catchy numbers from the Rice-Lloyd Webber team include “Joseph’s Dreams,” “One More Angel,” “Close Every Door,” “Go, Go, Go Joseph,” “Pharaoh’s Story,” “Those Canaan Days,” and my favorite “Any Dream Will Do.”

The music styles are diverse with pop, rock, country-western and even a little calypso thrown into the mix. Kassi Serafini’s astounding and ambitious choreography allowed the dancers to demonstrate a wide array of moves during the production numbers while singing up a storm.

The familiar plot, a retelling of the biblical story, described mostly through song, centers on Joseph, the favored son of Jacob who had bestowed upon him a coat of many colors. His eleven brothers were jealous and sold Joseph into slavery while telling their father he had in fact, died.

Joseph winds up working for the mega-rich Potiphar, but Mrs. Potiphar tries to seduce him and, of course, he gets caught as one does.  Joseph is sent to prison where it is discovered that he has the uncanny ability for interpreting dreams and predicting the future.

The Elvis-like Pharaoh is impressed and releases Joseph from prison making him second in command.  The brothers, after not recognizing Joseph, grovel to him and eventually reconcile when his identity is revealed. Joseph is then reunited with his father.

The show features two narrators Naomi Abankwah and Heather Reed, possessing excellent soprano vocals, who spin the tale guiding the audience through song. Libby Burgess and Emily Saitta assume the roles on alternate dates.

Well cast as the title character is charismatic Danny Bertaux.  Energetic throughout and having a wonderful time with the part, Mr. Bertaux, who performs in most of the songs, demonstrates strong vocal skills and is particularly solid in such numbers as “Joseph’s Dreams” and “Any Dream Will Do.” His rendition of “Close Every Door”—a challenging number to be sure—is one of the showstoppers. Mr. Bertaux, portraying the newly imprisoned Joseph, delivers the emotional song with passion and strength. His pitch-perfect tenor voice is Broadway-caliber.

Chris Wilhelm plays the role of Potiphar to the hilt. His brawny voice is on display in the aptly named song “Potiphar.”  Julie Dauber, as the seductress Mrs. Potiphar on the evening this show was reviewed also performs well in that number. Olivia Dibble plays the role on alternate performances.

Nathan Moe romps through his role as Pharaoh, the Elvis look/act alike.  He runs through a series of Elvis-like antics and cockiness with swagger and performs well with Mr. Bertaux, The Children and Egyptians in “Song of the King.”

Other notable performances are turned in by Rebecca Stryker as Baker and Bill Pond as Butler who were cell mates of Joseph. Todd Hochkeppel does a fine job as Jacob, the father of the 12 sons, displaying the range of emotions as the story evolved.

All the actors playing the brothers are excellent. They sing and dance extremely well and provide much of the drama. While they largely perform as a unit, they each demonstrate their own personality and identity contributing to the charm. Kudos to Justin Moe, Jacob Kempic, Jacob VanderVat, John White, Jed Silverman, Luke Pinsky, Kevin Nolan, Andrew Garcia, Timothy Moon, Henry Maeshiro and Michael Gbadamoshi.

Allison Ciborowski’s operatic vocals are on display in the wonderful production number “One More Angel.”

All the people playing the Israelites and Egyptians as well as the youngsters in the Children’s Chorus are terrific, contributing mightily to the success of the production.  The kids are great.

Douglas Thomas designed the simple but functional set. A great touch is having the children’s chorus seated in two bleacher sections on stage.

Kathy Bondura, the Costume Director, and her team created sensational and colorful period costumes giving the show the look of professionalism not often seen in community theatre. The remainder of the creative team including the outstanding orchestra round out a brilliant production.

Joseph and the Amazing Color Dreamcoat boasts a terrific catalog of songs, superb performances, and visually pleasing costumes and set pieces.  It’s an energetic family-friendly show that because of its fast pace and relatively short length should keep the youngsters interested while learning about the power of dreams.

Everyone involved should take a bow because this is community theatre at its best.  And enjoy the curtain call’s show within the show. Bravo to a job well done and worthy of the raucous standing ovation the show received on opening night.

Running time. One hour and 45 minutes with an intermission.

JOSEPH Show Dates & Times:

8 Performances Only!
June 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, & 28 at 7 p.m.

June 22 & 28 at 2 p.m.

Venue:  Marriotts Ridge High School

Tickets:   Tickets available at the door or online here.
Proceeds from this year’s production will benefit local charities.  A gala to celebrate the company’s golden anniversary will be held on November 6, 2025, at the Ten Oaks Ballroom.

 Photos: Neil Rubino

THE FULL CAST AND CREW ARE SHOWN BELOW.

‘The Little Mermaid’ Makes a Splash at Toby’s

Flounder (Nicky Kaider) and the Mersisters

I’ve heard the rumors, too. But they’re false. The visionary creative team at Toby’s did not plan to submerge the theatre in water to encapsulate the underwater environment that dominates Disney’s The Little Mermaid now playing at the famed dinner theatre of Columbia.

Sure, such conditions would allow the aquatic characters in the show to move about freely in their natural habitat. But with the luscious food at the buffet (seafood and all) getting soggy, the audience drenched if not drowning, and the cast with their mic’s affixed to them getting electrocuted, the show’s run would be limited to one performance, if that.

Rather, a more conventional approach was adopted, and it worked magic. Under the superb direction and choreography of Helen Hayes Award winner Mark Minnick, the perfectly cast, impeccably staged, ultra-colorful, splashy production is a visual spectacle to be sure. With a ton of set pieces and costume changes, the show is well-paced with scene changes occurring seamlessly.

Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most adored stories and the 1989 classic animated film, Disney’s The Little Mermaid netted two Tony Award nominations in 2008. It features music by eight-time Academy Award winner, Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and a book by Doug Wright.

The musical conveys the fairytale love story of a beautiful young mermaid (Ariel) who at first is infatuated with “human things” like a fork and other items discarded at sea and falling to the ocean floor where she resides and then smitten by a human being—a handsome prince (Eric) whom she saves from an accident at sea. Prince Eric hears her lovely voice and he, too, becomes spellbound.

What then transpires and how they ultimately “hook up” forms the essence of the plot and is a joy to behold.

The imaginative set designed by Shane Lowry eschewed filling up the theater with water and instead created a gorgeous undersea atmosphere.  A variety of items—many abstract and translucent—mounted around the walls and suspended objects including jellyfish add texture to the scenery. The use of multiple long strips of waving fabrics to depict the ocean’s surface and waves is a great touch.

Lynn Joslin’s vividly chromatic lighting design amplifies the set. The mixing of hues with a blue-green accent help to depict the underwater action.

Carter Crosby as Prince Eric and Abby Middleton as Ariel

Costume Coordinators Sarah King and Janine Sunday along with Hair and Wig Designer Jayson Kueberth helped turn the fairy tale into reality. The costumes are magnificent and vibrant beyond belief. The aquatic characters including a variety of sea life, such as a flounder, a crab, a couple of eels, other fishes, a flock of seagulls and, of course, a bevy of mermaids replete with extended tails are decked out in innovative attire that are sure to please the young children (and adults) attending the show. The costumes for the sailors above the surface, King Triton, the villainess sea witch Ursula, and the ensemble are similarly outstanding, lavish, intricate and imaginative.

Mr. Minnick’s choreography is detailed and fluid working the in-the-round stage to near perfection.  Group numbers, such as “Daughters of Triton,” the clever “Positoovity,” the hilarious “Les Poissons,” “She’s in Love” and the showstopper “Under the Sea” are expertly performed.  This is no small achievement given the bulky costumes worn by the cast members, and the precise execution avoids collisions.

More top-notch choreography is on display in “Sweet Child” and “Daddy’s Little Angel.” Here, two green-clad eels, Flotsam (Shane Lowry when he’s not designing the gorgeous set) and Jetsam (Joey Ellinghaus) who are loyal subordinates of the sea witch Ursula perform while on rollerblades.  Using synchronized strides and shifting upper body movements, both gracefully and deliberately slither around the stage in artistic, electric performances. Mr. Ellinghaus nailed the same role some seven years ago and apparently has not missed a step.

Alan Menken’s score is melodic and delivered exceptionally by Music Director Ross Scott Rawlings and his 6-piece orchestra. Catina McLagan conducts at other performances.

"...the perfectly cast, impeccably staged, ultra-colorful, splashy production is a visual spectacle..."

Abby Middleton, reprising her role as Ariel, the youngest mermaid daughter of King Triton (Adam Grabau), the ruler of an undersea country, does a laudable job in conveying her yearning for Prince Eric (Carter Crosby). Possessing a sweet melodic soprano voice, Ms. Middleton excels in one of the show’s popular songs “Part of Your World” and in other solos like “The World Above” and “If Only.”

Her onstage chemistry with Mr. Grabau as her father King Triton and Mr. Crosby’s Prince Eric offers believability to this make-believe tale.

Ariel’s love interest, dashing Prince Eric, is played outstandingly by dashing Carter Crosby.  Mr. Crosby is the prototype of a Disney prince and played the role adroitly. His movements about the stage and his demeanor throughout the production also exhibit his fine acting skills. Mr. Crosby’s romantic ballad “Her Voice” and “One Step Closer” where he teaches Ariel to dance are beautifully performed with rich, clear vocals. 

This performance was reviewed the evening following the No Kings nationwide protests.  In this case, we will make an exception with King Triton. Adam Grabau hits the mark as the widowed King Triton, the strict but caring father of his youngest daughter Ariel. Attired in a nautically themed lavish costume including a wild, eye-catching crown and carrying a lit trident, the King opposes Ariel’s ascent to the surface and her collection of human things as he views all humans as fish-eating threats to his undersea kingdom. But in the end, the king chose the love for his daughter over retaining power.

Ursula (Lynn-Sharp Spears with Jetsam (Joey Ellinghaus
and Flotsam (Shane Lowry)

Commanding on stage, Mr. Grabau’s muscular baritone is displayed in “If Only (Triton’s Lament)” and later he is featured in a quartet with Mr. Mr. Crosby, Ms. Middleton and Elijah Henderson as Sebastian in “If Only (Quartet”).

Mr. Henderson as Sebastian, a crab, is comical and campy. A veritable scene-stealer, Sebastian is a servant of King Triton and is assigned to watch over Ariel and helps Ariel charm Prince Eric.  His spot-on tenor is evident in group numbers “Under the Sea” and “Kiss the Girl.”

The aforementioned evil Ursula is played mischievously by Lynn Sharp Spears (a great name for the theme of this musical).  She lures Ariel into trading her beautiful voice for legs so she can rise to the surface and reel in Prince Eric. Ms. Spears effectively delivers the song “Poor Unfortunate Souls” and the reprise of that number towards the end in a dramatic, action-packed scene.

Jeffrey Shankle as Scuttle, a gull, does his usual strong performance in this comic role. Scuttle can’t quite get his facts or his words quite right, but Mr. Shankle sings well in the group number “Positoovity” and again in “Positaggity.”

Consistently amusing Toby’s audiences, David James portrays Grimsby, a loyalist to Eric. His mission is to see that Eric fulfills a promise made to his deceased father—a king—that he will marry a princess. Mr. James performs admirably in the group numbers “Beyond My Wildest Dreams” and “The Contest.”

Nicky Kaider, who was sensational in Toby’s presentation of Jersey Boys, energetically plays Flounder, Ursula’s companion and who accompanies her on searches for human artifacts.  With graceful movements around the stage joyful dialogue, Mr. Kaider performs proficiently with the Mersisters—Ariel’s siblings—in a wonderful song and dance number “She’s in Love.”

And then there is David Bosley-Reynolds as the comical Chef Louis. In a hilarious scene, he tries to capture Sebastian and cook him for dinner. During the action, Mr. Bosley-Reynolds sings “Les Poissons.” Mr. Bosley-Reynolds possesses a magnificent theatre voice with great projection and articulation in both song and dialogue.

Rounding out the excellent cast are the Ensemble performers Jaylen Fontaine, Patricia “Pep” Targete, Rachel Cahoon, Kiana King, Margaret Kelly, MaryKate Brouillet, Walker Vlahos, Alexix Krey-Bedore, Brandon Bedore, Vince Gover, and Benjamin Campion.

What makes Toby’s productions so consistently high quality is the ability to cast the right people into the roles involved with each musical. There are a number of factors that go into this, such as performers’ availability, talent levels, etc. But Mark Minnick and his associates have found a way to succeed over the years.

With Disney’s The Little Mermaid, under Mr. Minnick’s direction, the talent is there to make this lighthearted show enjoyable for all ages. You will love this show and buffet hook, line and sinker.

 Running time. Two hours and 40 minutes with an intermission.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid runs through August 17, 2025, at Toby’s the Dinner Theatre, 4900 Symphony Woods Rd., Columbia, MD 21044.  Tickets may be purchased by calling the box office at 410-730-8311or visiting Tobysdinnertheatre.com. Next up: Saturday Night Fever, August 22 through November 2.

Photos Jeri Tidwell Photography

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