Theater group "Acting Out!" performs 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'

The show opened with a five minute musical introduction ranging from suspense to mourning, taking one through the musical before even one actor is on stage. The music, consisting of sounds from a classical piano as well as an electric guitar, fades out and the lights come on.

Sara Harrer, the narrator of the musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and Southeast alumnae, started the show by singing to a group of children about the story of Joseph and his dream-telling from the Book of Genesis.

She sang of his journey from being his father's favorite son to being sold into slavery by his brothers. Then Joseph appeared, with the spotlight on him as he descended down the stairs to the stage.

The musical took the viewer on a modern journey of the story by using music genres such as country, reggae, rock and roll and French ballads. It was directed and produced by Kasey Cox of Jackson, who created "Acting Out!," a theater group in Jackson that consists of young children to older adults and many Southeast students.

The group produces three shows a year, including this year's musical, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

"My favorite part of the play was when the Pharaoh of Egypt showed up dressed like Elvis," Heather Brugman said.

Sunday was the sixth and final show and Brugman was there for all of them.

"Every time I love it a little bit more," Brugman said. "I'm just so proud of all of them that I feel like a mom to almost every one of them and I get a little teary eyed because I'm just so proud of them all."

Brugman said she watched it the first night to soak it all in and after the second night she started enjoying it more and more.

Brugman's son was in the children's choir and has been involved in "Acting Out!" for over a year.

Cox said that the show was sold out almost every night and her Facebook page is bursting from people commenting that they love the show.

"It was super stressful at times," Cox said. "But overall it turned out perfectly. I couldn't be happier."

"Acting Out!" is moving on to "Night of the Living Dead" that will play at 7p.m. from Oct. 24-26 at the Jackson Band Shell.

"If anyone is interested in participating in "Night of the Living Dead" as a zombie, they just need to email me and I will send them more information," Cox said.

"Night of the Living Dead" will be the last show of the 2013 season. The group is looking for people to be zombie extras. The group is accepting anyone ages 15 and older. Contact Cox for more information by email at kaseyacox@gmail.com.