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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

‘Joseph’ Review – Sinclair Community College – Favorite Son, Favorite Coat

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Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s delightfully breezy musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, based on the biblical tale concerning family, faith and forgiveness, receives a joyful, surprisingly moving presentation under the direction of Kimberly Borst at Sinclair Community College.

David Shockey as Joseph in Sinclair Community College’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” (Photo by Patti Celek)

In the deceptively demanding titular role requiring the utmost in personality and vocals, tenor David Shockey certainly masters the art of charmingly arrogant bravado. In his capable hands, there’s no question that Joseph adores being the center of attention and overzealously embraces his unique gift for interpreting dreams, attributes contributing to his downfall at the hands of his 11 treacherous, non-fashionable brothers. In addition to creating an arc believably grounded in various stages of distress from torture to slavery to imprisonment, Shockey sings terrifically throughout. In fact, he sincerely fuels the emotional drama of the gorgeous ballad Close Every Door and provides a wonderfully touching rendition of the heartwarming finale Any Dream Will Do, giving beautiful credence to Joseph’s enduring hope of one day reuniting with his father Jacob (CJ Suchyta).

Callista Kinney (center) with members of the Women’s Ensemble and David Shockey in Sinclair Community College’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” (Photo by Patti Celek)

Furthermore: Soprano Callista Kinney, a memorable Glinda in Brookville Community Theatre’s The Wizard of Oz earlier this season, sings with ease, grace, humor, and passion as the Narrator with a lovely rendition of Pharaoh Story among her many standouts; Joseph’s energetic, dastardly, kooky, and close-knit Brothers, enjoyably coalescing to the hilt for the Parisian-inspired Those Canaan Days, compatibly consist of Russell Paquay (strongly leading Benjamin’s Calypso as Reuben), Patrick Greco (Simeon), Chase Niemitalo (Levi), Kofi Gunter (Napthali), Rafael Santillan (Issachar), Gabriel Hrin (Asher), Matt Poliachik (Dan), Connor Gray (Zebulon), Mark Kreutzer (Gad), Micah Koverman (Benjamin), and Kasaahn Johnson (Judah); Raushawn Parker appears opposite Shockey as the dutiful Guard; The Women’s Ensemble/Wives are effectively portrayed by Rachel Charles, Riley Karr, Zoe Miller, Mackenzie Moore, Alexis Paige, Kylee Pauley, Trinity Rice (the striking soprano of One More Angel in Heaven), and Lilly Robillard; and the adorable, impressively focused Children’s Choir, unexpectedly given a great deal of interactive stage time especially in Borst’s contemporary-centric Prologue, consists of George Giese, Sasha Greco, Maria Greely, Sadie Hornick, Kaydence Kinney, Carmen Medina, and Rachael Updike.

In dual roles, Santillan excellently exudes expressive, masculine flair and fury as sophisticated Potiphar, Pauley seductively lures as Mrs. Potiphar, Gunter and Paquay respectively bond as the inquisitive Butler and Baker, and Greco playfully evokes the spirit of Elvis Presley in the aptly titled Song of the King.

Patrick Greco (Pharoah) leads “Song of the King” in Sinclair Community College’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” (Photo by Patti Celek)

In addition to an inspired use of the orchestra pit as a storytelling device, Borst assembles a first-rate production team. Choreographer Jessica Eggleston, creating flavorful movement even in the smallest, synchronized instances within Joseph’s Dreams, The Brothers Come to Egypt and Who’s the Thief?, particularly supplies nifty odes to Bob Fosse’s Chicago (Potiphar) and Michael Bennett’s Dreamgirls (Pharaoh Story). Music director David Brush’s solid if muted nine-piece orchestra keeps the dandy score pulsating. Scenic designer Terry Stump’s scaffolding and staircases efficiently aid the action in look and scale. Kevin Alberts’ outstanding costumes including the snazzy titular coat are courtesy of Utah Shakespeare Festival and coordinated by Kathleen Hotmer. Jessy Henning’s vibrant lighting is exemplary, especially the spine-tingling radiance of Joseph’s Coat. Dan Brunk’s sound design and William Bierley’s property design are also noteworthy.
Perfect for families, Joseph stands as a feel-good testament to Webber and Rice’s tuneful legacy plus a valid reason why Sinclair should do more musicals.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat concludes today at 7 p.m. in Blair Hall Theatre, Building 2, of Sinclair Community College, 444 W. Third St., Dayton. Act One: 40 minutes; Act Two: 30 minutes. Tickets: $18 for adults; $15 for students and seniors. For tickets or more information, visit Sinclair.edu/tickets

Highly Favored While Hated

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Playhouse South staged Dayton’s first community theater presentation of Jonathan Larson’s “Rent” last season, but currently embraces more traditional tastes with its production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” a breezily sung-through Biblical opus which opened Friday, March 25 in the Clark Haines Theatre of the Kettering Board of Education Building.

Brett Norgaard supplies sincere innocence, sensitivity and understatement as the titular prophetic boy wonder colorfully cloaked by his adoring father Jacob (Richard Young) and absolutely despised by his jealous brothers. Norgaard’s shy timidity and underdog persona serves him well as Joseph’s topsy-turvy journey from slavery to imprisonment to prominence inherently stirs emotions that pull the audience in, particularly during the poignant “Close Every Door,” one of Lloyd Webber’s finest ballads. He is also winningly partnered with Emily L. Fultz, whose lovely soprano and comedic sensibility warmly resonates while guiding the action as the Narrator.

Additionally, Webber and Rice’s tuneful score, incorporating calypso, country and western, rock and roll, and a Parisian and jazz-tinged waltz, is enjoyably upheld by the committed featured players. Brian Kester (Reuben) and Jim Brown (the Elvis-esque Pharaoh) are noteworthy for their respectively entertaining renditions of “One More Angel in Heaven” and “Song of the King.” The male ensemble also includes Rob Breving (Simeon), Tim Kushmaul (Levi), Kurt Cypher (Napthali), Daniel Sherrell (Asher), Jamal Cann (Dan), Bobby Gray (Zebulon), Jim Spencer (Gad and Potiphar), Jordan Gray (Benjamin) and Charlie Williford (Judah). The female ensemble is humorously led by Angie Thacker (Mrs. Potiphar), Cheryl Kayser (Butler) and Sande Scott (Baker) and also consists of Ashley Davis, Sherry Fox, Pauline Humbert, Jordan Norgaard, Livi Poghen, Katlyn Tilt and Mackensie Vonderbrink. The cute Children’s Chorus, who specifically heighten the lilting beauty of “Any Dream Will Do,” features Samantha Auditore, Zach Auman, Alli Brown, Emily Cypher, Raine Dedominci, Emily Imhoff, Gabrielle Kovachich, Nicholas Plummer and Jackson Smith.

Further, director Jennifer Skudlarek creates a sufficient sense of community while ensuring the larger musical numbers – such as “Joseph’s Coat,” “Go, Go, Go Joseph” and the hoedown reprise of the aforementioned “One More Angel in Heaven” – are delivered with energy. Music director Lorri B. Topping steadily leads the on stage orchestra.

This “Joseph” lacks the pizzazz of previous mountings of the show in our area over the years, but is certainly another artistic step in the right direction for Playhouse South.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will continue through April 9 in the Clark Haines Theatre of the Kettering Board of Education Building, 3700 Far Hills Ave., Kettering. Performances are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Act One: 42 minutes; Act Two: 40 minutes. For tickets or more information, call (888) 262-3792 or visit www.playhousesouth.org. In related news, Playhouse South’s 2011 season also consists of A Piece of My Heart (May 13-21), Into the Woods (Aug. 12-21), Fame: The Musical (Nov. 4-19) and In the Spotlight-2011 (Dec. 9-10).