"You will never get bored watching this show," said Gerson Malave, describing "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." The musical will be performed at Susquehanna Stage, 133 W. Market St., Marietta, from Friday, May 13, through Sunday, May 22.

The show is a youth and teen production and features a cast of 37 students from the region. Gerson, a senior at Donegal High School, portrays Joseph. "This is an uplifting and fun show," he said.

Katie Pilsner, a senior at Manheim Central High School, plays the Narrator. She noted that the story of the musical is taken from the Bible. "The story is about Joseph and how he gets this fabulous coat that makes his brothers jealous," she explained. "They ultimately end up selling him into slavery, and Joseph goes through tremendous obstacles, but he eventually overcomes them."

Katie said playing the Narrator is challenging, but fun. "This is my favorite show, and it's my dream role," she stated. "I've loved this show since I was a kid."

Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, "Joseph" is told entirely in song, which makes it a unique experience for the performers, said Elliott Evans, who portrays the Pharaoh and Jacob. The character of the Pharaoh is especially challenging, he said, because it's performed as an Elvis tribute. "I watched a lot of videos of Elvis and studied him to get the part just right," noted Elliott, a ninth-grader at York Catholic High School. Like Katie, he says the show is his favorite musical. "The music is so catchy," he remarked. "There are so many different styles of music in this show - country, disco, pop, jazz."

For Gerson, playing the title character has prompted him to stretch his acting muscles. "There are very emotional parts in this show, like the song 'Close Every Door,' when Joseph is in prison, and then it immediately goes into a very upbeat, fast-paced song, 'Go, Go, Go Joseph,'" he said. "It's been challenging to be able to make that emotional switch quickly."

Katie noted that the show features some deep themes that will get audiences thinking. "This show is about family and love and redemption. It's overcoming everything that's thrown at you," she commented. "At one point, the Narrator sings, 'And it could be you,' and I think anyone who watches this show or reads the Bible story can put themselves in Joseph's shoes and can realize that they also can overcome any obstacles they face."

Overall, Elliott said, audiences can expect to be entertained. "This show is a blast," he stated. "It's just a fun show."

Performances of the show will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday both weekends. For more information on "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.susquehannastage.com.