UF School of Theatre + Dance alumnus Thaddeus Pearson (BFA Theatre Performance with an emphasis in Musical Theatre ’11) is working as a swing on the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Based on the biblical story of Joseph, the show, which features music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is directed and choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, is about trials and triumphs told through a wide variety of musical genres.
Working alongside American Idol’s Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo and in the dynamite cast has been a dream come true for Pearson.
“Tour is a beast," said Pearson, who was previously touring as Tony in West Side Story. "When you are working with the people that you live with, it becomes a pseudo-family.”
Covering almost every role, primarily Joseph and the Pharaoh, has proved to be a challenge, as Pearson only gets a few hours’ notice before having to take the stage. However, when he does perform he says it feels as special as opening night every time.
Pearson, who earned his Actors' Equity Association card through this production, credits UF’s “top-of-the-line facilities [and] faculty that are constantly striving for excellence” for building a strong foundation that gives him an edge in the acting business.
“I would not be the performer I am today without the experience that I gathered being a part of the productions at UF,” said Pearson.
