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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat by J*Company  One of the greatest stories in the Bible became one of the
most entertaining and humorous musicals ever when Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim
Rice combined forces in a creative endeavor spread over several years – but
worth the wait. The tale tells the story of a dreamer named Joseph, one of
twelve sons of Jacob, whose dreams of a fortunate future and the gift of his
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from father Jacob work to drive his brothers into
a jealous rage. It looks bad for Joseph when he is sold and carted off to
Egypt. As he laments, he can’t even speak Egyptian very well! But what seems
like the darkest moment may just be the moment that will make his life
extraordinary and save his entire family – saving both their bodies and their
souls.
Becky Cherlin Baird, J*Company’s artistic director, is wrapping up an impressive run of the show featuring an amazing Tehnicolor dream of a duo in the lead roles. Brian Crum outshines his dazzling coat as the title character, his smooth, rich voice that is a blessing throughout, and especially when he needs it the most – at his darkest hour in a prison cell during his beautiful prayer Close Every Door. Brian’s also got a good naively vain, “aw, shucks” personality. Complementing him is Cailene Kilcoyne as the Narrator of the show who guides us through the story with her stunning vocal work, climaxing with her tremendous rendition of Pharaoh Story belted out so beautifully. Other highlights from this production include Jimmy Lundgren leading his brothers in an amusing dirge about their empty stomachs in Those Canaan Days, where Simeon wistfully remembers the good days (before they sold Joseph) with his thick French accent. Later brother Judah (Riley Faison) leads the ensemble in one of the most entertaining scenes as the brothers try to save youngest brother Benjamin from a terrible fate with their Benjamin Calypso complete with some “do the limbo” games. Elsewhere, Reuben (Cory Felder) leads the ensemble in an amusing “lament” of their lost Joseph in the One More Angel in Heaven Hoedown, and Phillip Bowen becomes Elvis the King in a scene that includes some fun and funky Egyptian choreography by Becky Cherlin Baird. The production also includes a singing and spitting camel, an unfortunate goat who has enough body parts to go around to all the bloodthirsty brothers, and a great, enthusiastic ensemble of young choir members who help make Joseph’s dreams come true and are encouraged by the Narrator to be their own dreamers. At the other end of the age scale, Parnia Ayari makes for an amusingly emotional Jacob who is heartbroken over losing Joseph – but don’t worry, he’ll be happy at the end.Performs through March 20, 2005.
~ Cast ~
Narrator: Cailene Kilcoyne Joseph: Brian Crum Jacob: Parnia Ayari Reuben: Cory Felder Reuben's Wife: Jennifer Bendelstein Simeon: Jimmy Lundgren Simeon's Wife: Jackee Bianchi Naphtali: Amitai Zuckerman Potiphar: Izzy Pollak Naphtali's Wife/Apache Dancer: Michelle Peltz Potiphar's Wife/Levi's Wife: Elizabeth Kreutz Dan: Mary Bozigian Dan's Wife: Meryn Beckett Asher/Joseph Understudy: James Maslow Asher's Wife: Alexandra Altschuler Isachaar/Baker: Kevin McRee Isachaar's Wife: Ashley Abed Levi/Pharaoh: Phillip Bowen Zebulin: Mitchell Kroener Zebulin's Wife: Lisa Gorodzinsky Gad/Butler: Stephen Ravet Gad's Wife: Anne Metcalf Judah: Riley Faison Judah's Wife: Ilana Newman Benjamin: Daniel Myers Benjamin's Wife/Narrator Understudy: Christine Hillmann Choir: Kelly Abed Ami Berman Elana Butler Zoe Eprile Daniela Federman Danielle Gardner Heather Gillies Danya Greenberg Elisa Greenberg Gabriella Greenwald Michelle Guefen Margaret Izotov Sierra Kindig Ari Krasner Monica Lundgren Matt Maretz Sage Michaels Leah Mizrachi Solomon Mizrachi Rebecca Myers Scott Peterson Samantha Pollak Eva Scarano Hayley Scarano Kaydon Schanberger Joshua Shtein Ariel Smotrich Allison Steitz Mark Steitz Mikayla Stern-Ellis Celia Tedde Jessica Tierney Athena Tsunis Sideara Weisgrau Nathan Wetter Alec Willerman Director/Choreographer: Becky Cherlin Baird Musical Director: Raime Sciaroni Set Adaptation: Heidi Atchison Stage Manager/Light Design: Mitchell Simkovsky Sound Design: Tom Jones Costumer: Cana Potter |