Bootcamp for JOSEPH

Four years ago, I started working at the Center of Creative Arts in St Louis (COCA). I had been hired to stage manage their summer musical and I was asked to step in and direct when the director suddenly left the production. I met a lot of really great people at COCA, but little did I know how much influence those people would have on my students at ECC.

One of the most important people I met at COCA was Christopher Page, the choreographer of that first summer production (and of the three subsequent shows I've directed at COCA). Chris was a dance major at UMKC that first year and when I decided to direct One on this Island at ECC, I asked him to choreograph the show. He gladly came down and worked with my students and community members on the show which featured African dance, a brand new style for all of us. Chris made a huge impression on everyone and the cast had a great time working with him.

Chris graduated from UMKC and joined the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company, based out of Denver. As a professional dancer, he has an incredibly busy schedule, but he still made time to join the creative team at ECC.

The next year, I asked Chris to choreograph Crazy for You, our 2010 musical. While he and I were working at COCA, he came to ECC and choreographed some numbers and also came over Christmas break to finish up.

This past summer, Chris and I worked on a production of Aida at COCA and I asked him to join my Joseph team for 2011. He agreed to join us for a week for what I started calling a 'Joseph Bootcamp'.

I knew that I was asking my cast for quite a bit- they would be working 14 hour days, dancing until their feet fell off! I was honestly a little unsure as to how they would react- I was asking for a lot! They stepped up and rocked it- we got over 1/2 the show choreographed and done and had a GREAT time doing it.

I think this is closest cast we've had in quite a while- everyone ate lunch and dinner together and bonded over the endless situps and pushups Chris had them do! They also shared a love of Motrin- dancing that much makes you hurt!

We still have 3 months until Joseph open- and I can safely say this is the best Joseph you'll ever see. This cast is amazing, the choreography is incredible and the energy is through the roof- and its all thanks to Chris!