Kids and dads perform in summer shows…Hillbarn Conservatory set to stage “Amaizing Dreamcoat”
By Joan Gross

Eleven-year-old Zach Fineman has had less than two months to learn the role of Joseph in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” being staged at Hillbarn Theatre in June. “My passion is to act, which gives me a lot of confidence,” Fineman said.

Never having seen the musical, Fineman must create his own image of Joseph. “This character, as the spoiled son of Jacob, is a difficult person who thinks he’s better than everyone else. As the story develops, I have to change focus to play Joseph as a better person from his dreams,” Fineman said.

It is also a challenge for Miranda Blackman, 12, of Foster City, to take the part of Rubin, Joseph’s older brother. “After seeing the production at Bowditch Middle School, I thought it would be fun to act instead of watching the musical,” Blackman said.

This young actress finds the part stretches her abilities both in actions and voice, “I want the audience to see me as tough, jealous and mean.”

She has found that listening to the cd has helped her learn the part in such a short time. “In one scene we must memorize the 30 colors of Joseph’s coat. We all have worked together, students and teachers, to help eachother out.” Blackman said.

“Dreamcoat” was the first collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Time Rice. It utilizes a variety of musical styles from country-western to pop to tell the tale of the biblical character, Joseph. The subject matter is appropriate for all ages over three.

Fineman and Blackman are members of the Live Presentation class of Hillbarn’s Spring Conservatory. “Along with some veterans, this class has a number of children for whom this will be their first stage show,” said Leslie Stupple, director.

The classes are tailored to meet the specific needs and ages of students. Skills taught include advanced presentational (improvisation, emotion recall, vocal control, scene study, monologue work) as well as being on stage (voice projection, eye contact, respecting others.) “We encourage an imaginative, creative spirit and a healthy dose of diction,” Stupple said.

This summer, the conservatory at Hillbarn Theatre will be offering two musical theatre/training camps. Each camp culminates in four public performances of a musical. Session 1, June 16- July 3, will present “Bugsy Malone, Jr.” on July 11-13. Session 2, July 7- July 25, will present Godspell, Jr.,” on July 25-27.

“We strive to educate and foster a love for the arts. It’s important that students learn respect for themselves and others to work toward a common goal. We want to build a solid foundation for arts appreciation within the next generation,” Stupple said.

“There are a lot of layers to Dolly. She has a history as a widow, yet shows an optimistic feel toward life, love and people in general. She is very business minded, practical, and enterprising, especially for a woman in 1890. Dolly wants to help0 everyone and seizes every opportunity,” Tomei said. Tomei remembers seeing snippets of Carol Channing on the Ed Sullivan show and listening to the recordings many times. “The first time I saw the show, it starred Jane Powell at the Circle Star Theatre in the Round in San Carlos. I remember it being fun and uplifting,” Tomei said. When she was 7 years old, Tomei started acting in the Children’s Conservatory in Palo Alto. Later she was involved in drama during middle and high school days, Foothill College and summer repertory theatre. Following these early years, she studied acting in New York City at the Neightborhood Playhouse School of Theatre and the Herald Berghof’s Actor’s Studio.

She is best known for her leading roles including Nancy in “Oliver” at Peninsukla Center Stage; Auntie Mame in “Mame” at Capuccino Community Theatre; Nanette in “No, No Nanett” with Broadway by th Bay; and Mama Rose in Gypsy at Peninsula Center Stage. When she was playing Mama Rose, she was honored with a 1994 SF Bay Are Dramalogue Award as Best Actress.

“Ever since I was training at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York, I have felt this exciting process of moment by moment, scenes changing each night, as you are on stage interacting with another actor. I feel a sense of immediate excitement of where I am going, depending on how the other person interacts with me. I especially love dealing with the audience. It is instant love and gratification, especially when you make them happy,” Tomei said.

Besides acting, Tomei has worked as a director, stage manager, designer, teacher and vocalist in countless productions. Since 2001 she has been the artistic director of Hillbarn Theatre. Most recently hse directed “Dracula in 2002, and previously “Forever Plaid” and “1776.”

This is not the first time Russ Bohard of Pacifica has acted in “Hello Dolly.” My first experience was on stage in 1972 when I was cast as a waiter in the Capuchino High School production. I again performed in the musical as a dancing waiter in the American Musical Theatre of San Jose. This time, I was happily surprised as Horace Vandergelder,” Bohard said.

He has notices during the rehersals at Hillbarn that Horace speaks in exclaimation marks!! “Just about every line I speak as Horace is followed by an exclamation mark. My challenge is to add some warm human moment to his befuddled character,” Bohard said.

Having acted as Bill Sykes on the “Oliver” Peninsula Center Stage with Tomei, Bohard is now delighted to be cast opposite her. “She is a strong, talented actress. I have admired every work in which she has performed, and I know how she will ‘wow’ the audience at Hillbarn in this long awaited ‘return’ to the musical stage,” Bohard said.

Maureen Quintana Broome of Newark also previously performed in “Hello Dolly,” as Ernestina in the Piedmont Light Opera production last summer.

This time she will take on the part of Irene Malloy, a widow who is determined to marry again for comfort until Cornelius Hack blunders into her life. “Although I have performing since I was young, this will be my first solo singing role. This show holds a special place in my heart, for the period in which it’s set, the costumes, music and best of all, working with the wonderful actors, directors…

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