Bishop Fenwick High School's "Joseph" was a Joyful Production

We all dream a lot.

Bishop Fenwick High School performed “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” as its fall production. It tells the biblical story of Joseph and his extraordinary gift for interpreting dreams. Through a series of surprising twists, Joseph rises to power in Egypt, ultimately reuniting with his family.

This was my first time seeing “Joseph.” I wasn’t interested in it for its story, but that judgment was before seeing it. Bishop Fenwick High School’s marvelous production didn’t just tell a story - it radiated joy, sincerity, and a sense of community across the whole auditorium. Keep dreams alive.

Stephen Colwell (‘26) takes the stage as Joseph in a truly impactful performance. He poured his heart into this role, and his singing voice was phenomenal, especially in “Close Every Door.” Joseph encounters quite a grueling journey, but his faith in humanity never ends.

Playing Joseph was Colwell’s dream role. He said that playing Joseph challenged him in ways he never imagined; vocally, emotionally, and spiritually. “I got to tell a story about faith, resilience, and hope. Doing that every night reminded me why I love theatre so much,” Colwell said.

Bishop Fenwick’s “Joseph” featured a tremendous cast in supporting roles, featured dancers, and a children’s choir. As I have said, no small part exists in the theater. What made this production so amazing was the spirit of the cast.

Genevieve Doucette (‘26), Angelina Civiello (‘26), and Allison Boe (‘26) were our narrators. They had a great dynamic, sparkling attire, and lovely singing voices.

Nondas Lagonakis (‘26) was a standout as the Pharaoh/King. Since I have never seen the production, the pharaoh is an intentional Elvis Presley impersonation. Lagonakis had the hip swivels and rich vocals.

Lucia Carleo (‘26) brought Jacob to life, infusing a patriarch and gentle warmth. Whether playing narrators, one of Joseph’s twelve brothers, or Egyptians, the ensemble made the world of the show feel alive and colorful.

The productions storytelling was vibrant and engaging, blending humor and heartfelt moments. You could feel it in the dancing, the singing, and the choreography by Ts Burnham (‘18) and Sarah LoPresti.

A dedicated technical crew helped bring this colorful tale to life. The costumes by Tricia Freitas are fun, mixing with the era or sparkly apparel. According to sources, there were over one hundred costumes in the show! The iconic “coat of many colors” was a beautiful cape that surrounded the stage.

I didn’t realize that “Joseph” was entirely sung, with very little dialogue. I didn’t know that a couple of songs originated from this musical. A live orchestra accompanied the ensemble. The cast’s voices echoed beautifully throughout Bishop Fenwick’s large auditorium.

The musical has always held a special place in director Dr. Kellie Tropeano’s heart. She put so much heart, trust, and focus into this musical, and that determination emulated a stellar piece of theater that took the audience's breath away.

“It has truly been some of the most exciting work I have done with students,” she said.

High school is a prime time. Seeing this show brought me back to my high school drama club days. I was tearing up (along with several others) when cast members said goodbyes and gave flowers to seniors or teachers.

As the message abides, dreams matter. What makes this show so important, especially for young performers, is that it encourages us to keep believing in our dreams. It’s a lesson that resonated in every generation, but perhaps even more so today.

The whole theater rose in a standing ovation at the end. Thank you to Bishop Fenwick High School for introducing me to this musical. Now I can’t wait to see it again. “Joseph” was an illuminating experience that uplifted joy across the theater.