Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Grand Rapids
Feb. 26- Mar. 21, 7:30 with Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.
$16-$30
grct.org, (616) 222-6650
God shows He's got style when a traditional black and white biblical parable becomes a colorful onstage production.
Since its original conception in the late 1960s as a short school production, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has grown in length and reputation as a nontraditional interpretation of a traditional story about much more than fashion.
Adapted from the "coat of many colors" story in the book of Genesis, the musical follows Joseph, a boy with a unique gift for interpreting dreams. His special talent makes him stand out as his father's favorite of 12 sons, marked by the gift of an iridescent coat. Joseph's jealous brothers sell him as a slave to travelers passing through the desert, who take him to Egypt. There he works as a servant for many years until he winds up in jail, where he interprets the dreams of his cellmates and eventually the dreams of the Pharaoh himself. Through the dreams, Joseph predicts a plague and is put in charge of preparing for it in order to save the Egyptians from starvation - including his long lost family.
The narrator, played by Peggy Keuning, and Joseph, played by Reid Coe (Cinderella's Prince Christopher and Grease's Danny Zucko) are the two central characters. They are joined onstage by an eclectic group of 53 performers, including a 25-member children's choir. Their vocal power is necessary, as, with the exception of a few lines, the entirety of the play is fueled by song.
Executive Director at the Civic, Bruce Tinker, explains the family oriented musical as a modern way of telling the story. Watching the story unfold through actors and song creates a different and lasting impression.
"It is definitely an Old Testament message," said Tinker. "It reminds kids how to tell a story. Kids get a message versus just reading the King James version of the Bible."
Don't be mistaken, this show is not just for children. It is designed for an audience of all ages, including 20-somethings.
"[The show] does take an open-minded and humorous look at a biblical parable, which is something that our community will appreciate," said Marketing Director Jennifer Prater.
What she described as "a cornucopia of musical styles" is represented, including calypso, pop, country, and blue grass.
The musical also addresses the question of how you discover who you are.
"In the beginning, Joseph is kind of a jerk. He knows he's special but doesn't know why. It isn't until he loses everything that he is able to discover why," said Tinker. "The coat is not only an object but a symbol that exhibits how special you are, and a metaphor for how much stronger we are when we're all working together."
The essential message is inclusion and acceptance in an increasingly multicultural world.
The production reminds the audience what it's like to pretend-- an important pastime for all of us to remember, kids and adults alike-- but one that is all too easily forgotten.
