Photo Credit: Rose Center Theater

Written by Daniella Litvak

The comparisons between Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Jesus Christ Superstar practically write themselves. Both are musical interpretations of Biblical stories created by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.   Yet, as I was watching Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Rose Center Theater, I found myself comparing it to a different Lloyd Webber musical, The Phantom of the Opera. Where The Phantom of the Opera has an omnipresent feeling of heaviness, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has a constant, upbeat energy. If The Phantom of the Opera is a dense, chocolate cake of a musical, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (hereinafter referred to as “Dreamcoat”) is a light and fluffy meringue.

Story:

Dreamcoat retells the story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis. Jacob had twelve sons. Joseph is his favorite, so Jacob gifts him a beautiful coat of many colors, which arouses jealousy from Joseph’s brothers. Further angering Joseph’s brothers is Joseph’s affinity for prophetic dreams, wherein Joseph foresees himself ruling over his brothers. Fed up, his brothers sell Joseph into slavery, and Joseph’s fortunes will change several more times before the show is over.

Even the sad songs in Dreamcoat are upbeat. This gives the show a breeziness that makes it move fast. Dreamcoat definitely leans into the lightheartedness. It is unabashedly anachronistic, which gives the show license to play with a variety of music styles: calypso, rock, and French ballad. Dreamcoat can lean towards style over substance, but it is also fun.

Acting:

As Joseph, Mikey Smith sets the tone. He’s as ebullient as Joseph’s Dreamcoat but also brings heart to songs like “Any Dream Will Do” and “Close Every Door.”  Vincent Aniceto is a scene-stealer as Pharaoh, who has more in common with the king of rock and roll, Elvis Pressley, than with the kings of ancient Egypt. The singing could be muddled at times. However, the whole cast – and it is a large cast – was impressive when it came to body language, dancing, and movement.   The dancing and gymnastics displayed onstage were a delight.

At first glance, Joseph’s Dreamcoat did not seem as amazingly technicolored as one might expect, but when the Dreamcoat flared while Joseph spun around, the colors could be seen and appreciated. The costuming, in general, featured a lot of bright colors, including plenty of gold for the Egyptian looks. The costumes Joseph’s brothers wore provided fun sight gags.

Set Design:

The set design was equally bright and colorful. The digital backdrops had a cartoon feel that complemented the other aspects of the show.

Overall:

Dreamcoat is recommended for ages five and up and is a good show for younger audience members. The story moves quickly and never gets bogged down. The songs and the performances are energetic.   There’s a lot happening on stage that will keep their attention occupied.

Review

8.3 Overall

9.5 Users (2 votes)

Story8

Acting8

Set & Design8.5

Costumes8.5

Entertainment8.5

What people say... 2 Leave your rating

KidsAct

JOSEPH’S DreamCoat AMAZING

The STORY is BIBLICAL - the ACTING is REAL - the MUSIC is INFECTIOUS - the DIGITAL BACKDROP PROJECTIONS are AMAZING - the CHOREOGRAPHY is TERRIFIC - the COSTUMES are DAZZLING and IMPRESSIVE - the DIRECTION is BRILLIANT. The youngsters who perform in this show work seamlessly together to present a very enchanting story. The adult actors are masters of their craft, and all exude animation and confidence.

February 25, 2024, 6:34 am

Story10

Acting10

Set & Design10

Costumes10

Entertainment10

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1

MLLEQ

Go see Jo!

Very fun and entertaining! The songs are very catch, Joseph and Narrators have amazing vocals. Highly recommend .

February 22, 2024, 8:38 pm

Story9

Acting8.5

Set & Design9

Costumes8

Entertainment10

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Good Show! OCR Recommended! Feb 16 – March 3, 2024.