Be Like Joe
By Seán Stone And Kyoung-Ae Kang
“Be Like Joe” is a quirky and lighthearted modern fable in musical form that charts the pitfalls of chasing celebrity and public approval instead of pursuing true love and meaningful relationships.
“Our culture celebrates fame as the highest achievable virtue, but this manner of public living comes at a cost,” Stone says. “It causes us to neglect the love we learn and discover for ourselves, rendering us incapable of any other sort of love -- for others, for our world and benevolent love that exists for its own sake.”
In the fishing village of JoeLand, everyone is inexplicably drawn to adore and protect the charismatic young resident Joe, who has achieved rock star status, both figuratively and literally. When a natural force threatens Joe’s safety, the villagers plan to destroy the creature, only to have their efforts thwarted by Julianne, a feisty young environmentalist from the outside. Joe has never encountered someone like Julianne, who speaks her mind and does not adore him automatically.
Their developing relationship uncovers the source of Joe’s ubiquitous appeal and opens the villagers’ eyes to a broader world outside their island home.
“Our culture celebrates fame as the highest achievable virtue, but this manner of public living comes at a cost,” Stone says. “It causes us to neglect the love we learn and discover for ourselves, rendering us incapable of any other sort of love -- for others, for our world and benevolent love that exists for its own sake.”
In the fishing village of JoeLand, everyone is inexplicably drawn to adore and protect the charismatic young resident Joe, who has achieved rock star status, both figuratively and literally. When a natural force threatens Joe’s safety, the villagers plan to destroy the creature, only to have their efforts thwarted by Julianne, a feisty young environmentalist from the outside. Joe has never encountered someone like Julianne, who speaks her mind and does not adore him automatically.
Their developing relationship uncovers the source of Joe’s ubiquitous appeal and opens the villagers’ eyes to a broader world outside their island home.
Creative Team:
Directed by: Seán Stone
Scenic Design: Scott Tedmond-Jones
Costume Design: Jenny Foldenhaur
Lighting Design: Jason Banks
Live Sound Engineer: Alex Brown
Stage Manager: Emilygrace Piel
Photos by ©DP Turner Photography