CDS Student Performing in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
For Cody Black, the past few months have been both a whirlwind and dream come true. Last summer, the Grade 8 CDS student auditioned for the brand-new Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which recently opened in Toronto at the Princess of Wales Theatre. After numerous call backs, Cody received news in September that he had landed a role in the children’s cast, specifically one of Joseph’s 12 brothers, Gad.
As a London Palladium production of Joseph, it involves an entirely UK cast with the exception of the children’s cast, made up of local students from around the GTA. After five weeks of full day rehearsals six days a week, the show just opened last week.
According to Cody’s mother Riva, there are two teams of eight kids per show, and these teams alternate performances both on stage and backstage. This rotating schedule means that Cody must be at every performance. Ten days into this three-month commitment, he is having the time of his life.
Cody’s acting career began at the tender age of six, when he became enamored with musical theatre while watching his older sister take voice lessons. After asking if he could start singing too, his voice coach encouraged him to audition for the role of Tiny Tim in Soulpepper Theatre’s performance of A Christmas Carol. Jumping with both feet into his first professional production, Cody soon had an agent and started doing more, including other Soulpepper and Coal Mine Theatre performances and some TV and film.
Having arrived at The Country Day School in Grade 7, Cody’s debut on the CDS stage was as Melburn the Koala (among other roles) in last year’s world premiere and original musical, Searching for Greta.
This Friday, December 23rd, Cody turns 13 and will spend his birthday performing on stage with a large number of family members in the audience cheering him on. We wish him continued success with his Joseph run and look forward to seeing what he does next!
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
