[Mollysmom]

2 of my children were just cast in the kids chorus of Joseph. I am sort of confused; we have the cd and the dvd, and in the cd the children do quite a lot of the songs (16-17 of the 22 i think). However they were given i think 8-9 songs in the script. And some of them, such as one more angel in heaven, i did not even think the kids were in (according to the dvd).
So i am just wondering - how much/little are the children usually a part of this show? And will they just sort of be standing in the background or will i actually see them? I know there are lots of ways to do this show, but please tell me how big the childrens roles were in your production.
Oh, also, they cast about 50 kids. (although about 100 auditioned). That seems a bit much to me, like they will all just be lost in the crowd. Can i expect to really see them much in this production?

[norayouadora]

There are many different ways that directors pick to incorporate the kids into this show. When I was in the children's chorus of Joseph, I thought the director picked a cute way to do it: there were, oh, maybe about 20-30 kids, and during most of the show we were divided into two groups and stood/sat on sets of bleachers on either sides of the stage. We stayed there for maybe about 70% of the show, but we also got to move around and join in during the big song/dance numbers, like "Any Dream Will Do," "Jacob & Sons/Joseph's Coat," "Go, go, go Joseph," "Song of the King," "Benjamin Calypso," etc. Oh, and the megamix as well...

Come to think of it, the children were actually very involved with the action in the show. And in the parts where we were sitting on the bleachers, we were given backpacks filled with simple props that related to the story (for example, they gave us blindfolds for the sequence with Potiphar's wife, because it was supposed to be too dirty for us. ). This was nice because they encouraged us to have our own subtle stage actions/reactions to the plot and definitely made the kids feel more involved. We also got to sing the chorus in nearly every song that wasn't a solo or a limited group such as in "Those Canaan Days."

This was, however, a community theater production. The director was very brilliant and is known around our city for her insane ability to make something out of nothing (you should have seen the local high school's production of Anything Goes that she directed last year!), but still it could be different for a higher-scale company. I really don't know, but all in all I'd say you will probably get to see your kids in some way because directors always try to make kids seen in order to sell more tickets to their grandmas Haha.

[Beagle On Stage]

In the licensed score, the "Choir" is in just about every song, and refers to the children's chorus or the adult women's chorus, or whatever combination of the two you're using. My guess is that the director is choosing to use the kids in some songs and the adults in others, rather than have everyone onstage at the same time (with 50 kids plus a cast of adults, that would be quite a feat).

Congratulations to your kids. It must be a really fun show to be in when you're so young. We actually cut the children's chorus from our production and opted to just use the women for their parts, and it was a little disappointing not to have them. It's just the kind of show that needs to have some kids, you know?

[Mollysmom]

thank you, yes, my kids are very excited. They are 10 and 6 and my 6 year old has a hard time finding auditions that allow kids her age. (She was in Oliver when she was 4, and since then could not find a show that would allow her to audition. Obviously, she does welll when she is given a chance!) I am not sure how this show is being done, but the adults were singing along with the kids songs and vice versa. Which if they actually are having the kids and adults all sing together I am not too thrilled about that becasue, being that there are 50 kids, I am thinking I will barely be able to even find my kids in the crowd! Hopefully the director knows what she is doing. At the least, what i always tell my kids is, every show is good for your resume'!

[Beagle On Stage]

Way true. Especially since they're so young, it will really count that they've been out doing a few shows...it does make a difference to know they've had the experience.

[Jordan]

Beagle babe, I wanna see pics of you in costume

[metaphor17]

when I was a child in Joseph, I was:

1. A child of one of Jacob's sons
2. One of Potiphar's servants
3. The "limbo stick" in Benjamin Calpso
4. Candle-holder in Close Every Door

and probably more random stuff.
we were very involved!

[Theaterfan101]

When I did it we sat on these big stair cases that made a piramide on the edges of the stage. We sat there for the whole show reacting and singing at random points. The only time we left stage was for after One More Angel in Hevan we would leave to go across the stage, or wait off stage, until Clos Every Door, then we would run back across the stage for Go Go Go Joseph. then we would sneak off the stage when the adoring girls sing. We would come back on the stage when the Brothers go see Joseph. Oh yeah, at the begaing of the show (we did field trip performances) the little kids would walk though the audience with an actor playing the teacher and they would try to get the people in the front two rows to leave, when the narrator, who was telling the audience about no flash photography, etc. tells them to take a seat which leads to a big rant about coming all the way from Texas just to see the show. The narrator invites them on stage. By this time the audience is really mad. Then they start singing Any Dream Will Do with Joseph complete with a little "dance". At the end they wink at the audience. It is so cute and the teachers often yell at the "teacher" and stands up and makes a scene. Also six kids go on durning Canan Days bobbing bird heads, a little boy hands Joseph a candle in Close Every Door (who is supposed to be little Joseph), and two kids catch corn on a blanket when the durnig Whose the thief. It is my favorite show I have been in because the kids are on stage more than the adults.

[Eponine93]

The chorus of Joseph is always very involved. It depends on the number but me being in the chorus of Joseph had me onstage more than me playing actual roles in some other shows. As far as choruses go, it has a huge role.