This put up might comprise affiliate hyperlinks. That means in the event you click on and purchase, I could obtain a small fee (at zero price to you). Please see my full disclosure coverage for particulars.
Broadway’s Kelli Rabke and Chris McCarrell shine on this close to excellent model of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, taking part in via June 25, 2023.
What is the Story of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat?
Loosely primarily based on the Old Testament story of Joseph, who’s famously identified for his “coat of many colors” (Genesis 37:3), Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical was initially written as a 15-minute “pop cantata” in 1968 for a London all-boys preparatory college. It had its skilled debut on the West End in London, England, in 1973, and continues to be one of many duo’s most well-known and well-loved musicals typically performed at native theaters and in colleges all through the United States and United Kingdom.
In Genesis, Joseph is the son of Jacob (“Israel”) by his favourite spouse, Rachel, and one in all twelve brothers. He was given a coat of many colours by his father (Genesis 37:3), which was symbolic of his favor.
When Joseph was seventeen years outdated, he shared along with his brothers two desires he had whereby his household bowed all the way down to Joseph himself. These desires angered his brothers and made the half-brothers (apart from Rueben) plot his demise. [In the musical, there is no differentiation between the half-brothers and Joseph’s maternal brother, Benjamin, and Rueben is just as culpable as his brothers, leading the rousing chorus of “One More Angel in Heaven”.]
Ultimately, Joseph was bought to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard (within the musical he’s a millionaire who did nicely within the shares), the place he rose to the function of Potiphar’s family’s superintendent. Potiphar’s spouse unsuccessfully tried to seduce Joseph. Angered by his working away from her, she made a false accusation of rape, and he was thrown in jail.
Two years after deciphering the desires of Pharaoh’s Cup-Bearer and Baker, the Pharaoh had puzzling desires that stored him awake. When the Pharaoh’s advisers did not interpret the desires, the cup-bearer remembered Joseph and he was summoned. He interpreted the dream and suggested the Pharaoh, being elevated to Vizier of Egypt.
In the second yr of famine, Joseph’s half brothers have been despatched to Egypt to purchase items. In the Bible, Joseph’s full brother Benjamin was stored at residence by a frightened Jacob who was afraid one thing comparable would occur to him. Once Benjamin arrived in Egypt along with his brothers, Joseph hid his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack and instructed his steward to arrest him. Judah begged the Vizier (Joseph) to let Benjamin return to their father and take him as prisoner as an alternative.
Seeing how his brothers had modified, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and twenty lengthy years after he final noticed his father, he lastly was reunited with Jacob (Genesis 46) within the land of Egypt and the Israelites settled in Goshen the place a few years later the story of Moses would choose up.
Kelli Rabke is an Absolute Treat in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Thirty years after performing in Los Angeles within the pre-Broadway manufacturing of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat reverse Michael Damian and Robert Torti and Gerry McIntyre, Kelli Rabke is as contemporary and fabulous a Narrator as one might hope for. Her efficiency dwell was definitely worth the worth of the ticket alone.
Her voice is wealthy, filled with the colours of the rainbow! Even in the event you don’t have an opportunity to see her dwell in La Mirada, California, in June 2023, you’ll wish to control her calendar for upcoming cabarets and performances in Southern California.
Chris McCarrell Gives His All as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Following within the footsteps of well-known Josephs corresponding to Donny Osmond, Jason Donovan, Lee Mead, and Patrick Cassidy. Chris McCarrell (Percy in Broadway’s The Lightning Thief) proves his theatrical prowess along with his stunning “Close Every Door” that means how his Marius might need sounded.
His charisma and allure are appreciated on this fabulous manufacturing of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in La Mirada. However, what he lacks is a sexuality and swagger that followers of earlier productions may keep in mind. This determination to keep away from the sexuality is made abundantly clear with the choice to not have Chris go shirtless in “Close Every Door”.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Brings Together the Best of the Best in La Mirada
The truest spotlight of La Mirada Theatre’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the ensemble. The producers did a tremendous job bringing collectively one of the best of one of the best of Southern California expertise.
Whenever the brothers ensemble comes collectively in music and dance, particularly “Those Canaan Days” (led by Josh Grisetti) and “Benjamin Calypso” (led by Ceron Jones), the present reached its stage greatest and had the viewers at opening evening, that included the likes of La Mirada Mayor Anthony Otero and Broadway legend Gregg Edelman, clapping up a storm a lot in order that Kelli Rabke had enjoyable joking and pretending to settle down the viewers so she might begin her subsequent music.
Individually, every of the ensemble members did job however once they got here collectively as an ensemble of brothers the present actually shines and I’d even argue that that is one of the best dwell manufacturing of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing dwell.
The actors are nicely matched by a powerful ensemble of “wives” with highlights being dancers Ellie Barrett whose legs appeared to go on endlessly and So You Think You Can Dance alumni Bridget Whitman who was excellent as an Apache Dancer reverse Rorey Michelangelo.
Congratulations to Casting Director Julia Flores on a wonderful and noteworthy casting job.
The Joy of Live Music at Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Musical Director and Conductor Jennifer Lin did an unbelievable job of creating the dwell orchestra of 13 musicians sound like an orchestra of double that quantity. The dwell orchestrations have been lush as they stuffed the auditorium from the Overture via to the top of the Megamix.
The Orchestra: Elizabeth Johnson (Violin/Concertmaster), Rhea Fowler (Violin), Eric Lea (Viola), Ginger Murphy (Cello), Sean Franz (Flute/Clarinet/Alto Sax), Michele Forrest (Oboe/French Horn), Emily Pesavento (French Horn), Brian LaFontaine (Guitar), Brian Silverman (Guitar), Dana Decker (Bass), Danny Taylor (Drums), Nick Stone (Percussion), Ryan O’Connell (Keyboard).
Gerry McIntyre’s Direction and Choreography of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Gerry McIntyre is triple risk with a large number of performing, directing and choreography credit to his title. He was a fan favourite as Judah within the Donny Osmond filmed model of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – a task he originated within the 1993 Broadway revival reverse Kelli Rabke and Michael Damian, and carried out on Broadway with Patti Lupone in Anything Goes.
Before the launch of The Joyous Living, I used to be delighted to see an area manufacturing of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Golden PAC/Madrid Theatre in Canoga Park, California, starring Brandon Wardell in 2003. In the previous twenty years, Gerry’s abilities as a director and choreographer have solely grow to be increasingly more refined and pleasant.
Two notable directing variations have been the choice to let native “Tale of the Lion King” actor Ceron Jones (Judah) actually shine in his model of “Benjamin Calypso” (I can nonetheless recall my visitor in 2003 commenting that the Judah was subdued compared to Gerry’s personal charismatic efficiency in Los Angeles 10 years earlier in 1993) and for Chris McCarrell‘s Joseph to not appear as if he was enjoying himself too much during the seduction scene with Mrs. Potiphar (the gorgeous and talented Ellie Barrett).
While the cast did not make use of the aisle space at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, Gerry did a fabulous job of making the best use of the stage space and of creating and showcasing an almost heavenly ensemble of brothers who wowed the audiences at every chance they could.
The Cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Joseph: Chris McCarrell* (Broadway’s The Lightning Thief)
Narrator: Kelli Rabke* (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, 1993 Broadway Revival)
Jacob/Potiphar: Peter Allen Vogt* (The Princess Diaries 2)
Levi/Pharaoh: Daniel Dawson* (Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby, Disney Cruise Line)
Reuben: Dino Nicandros*
Simeon: Josh Grisetti* (Broadway’s It Shoulda Been You)
Naphtali/Baker: Edgar Lopez*
Issachar: James Everts (u/s Simeon)
Asher: Brandon Keith Rogers* (u/s Joseph/Pharaoh/Apache Dancer)
Dan: Juan Guillen* (u/s Jacob/Potiphar) (National Tour of Mamma Mia!)
Zebulun/Apache Dancer: Rorey Michelangelo
Gad/Butler: Kurt Kemper* (u/s Reuben)
Benjamin: Marcus Phillips* (u/s Judah) (1st National Tour of The Prom)
Judah: Ceron Jones (Scar in Disneyland’s Tale of the Lion King)
Mrs. Potiphar/Wife: Ellie Barrett
Ishmaelite/Wife: Rianny Vasquez (u/s Narrator) (See Review: Shrek Jr. at Young Artist Ensemble)
Apache Dancer/Wife: Bridget Whitman* (So You Think You Can Dance, Broadway’s West Side Story)
Wife: Marie Gutierrez* (u/s Apache Dancer) (1st National Tour of The Prom)
Ishmaelite/Wife: Ashley Evangeline
Wife: Lauren Decierdo* (u/s Mrs. Potiphar)
Wives: Bernadette Bentley, Johnisa Breault, Jasiana Caraballo, Andrea Dobbins, Callula Sawyer
Children’s Choir: Cameron Avery, Rachel Beard, Lucy Benney, Elena Bertacci, Blake Brunton, Leila Bustamante, Jayda Concepcion, Grace Ella, Brennan Esguerra, Erica Gonzalez, Ellie Gonzalez, Kallie Graham, Abigail Hernandez, Aria Jocson, Grace Jenkins, Raegan Larson, Harper Larson, Stevie Larson, David Last, Annemarie Last, Becca Last, Catherine Last, Elizabeth Last, Adrienne Morrow, Emilie Ong, Angelina Pendleton-Mendez, Hannah Pawlowicz, Hanna Maksimachkina, Delaney Martinez, Jasmine Melwani, Donovan Monroe, Sydney Sublette, Anna Surdina, Erin Tardibuono, Bailey Varga, Ava Villacorta, Obriella Witron, Leila Woodward, Natalie Yokota
Swings: Anyssa Navarro (Disney Cruise Line, Disneyland Resort), Thomas Whitcomb (Hulu’s Miguel Wants a Fight)
Where to See Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Location: La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd, La Mirada, CA 90638
Parking: Free Lot
Performance Dates: Now via June 25, 2023
Open-Captioned Performance: Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 2 p.m.
Talkbacks with the Cast and Creative Team: Thursday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m., and Thursday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m.
For Tickets, please name 562-944-9801 or purchase on-line at LaMiradaTheatre.com.
Groups and Military Discounts can be found.
Sharing is Caring
