Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Joseph and the Amazing Techincolor Dreamcoat
National Touring Company
Buell Theater
Denver, CO
April 22-26, 2015

The last tour I saw of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was in 1995. Since then, this show has been done repeatedly by schools, amateurs and professional companies. I was looking forward to seeing another national tour.

The selling point of this production was the presence of American Idol alumni Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo in the lead roles. And since Young is from Colorado, the appeal was even greater.

The set was simple and uninspired. What saved it was the brilliant and complex lighting design. The use of color was exciting and brought life to the otherwise dull sets.

The costumes were a mix between authentic period piece and modern. The Canaan costumes were particularly puzzling where some of the characters wore turbans and robes while others had on Bermuda shorts. Many of the women looked as if they belonged in a harem instead of a shepherd tribe. The Egyptian costumes were more traditional. Although, since the Pharaoh is portrayed as an Elvis impersonator, I was impressed with the combination of Ancient Egypt and 1970's Elvis jumpsuit.

The cast was strong. "Those Canaan Days," is one of my least favorite songs in the show but it was creatively presented and stopped the show. And "Song of the King" was made even more fun by the actor playing for the audience. The dance sequences were long and fun to watch.

Surprisingly, DeGarmo and Young seemed to be the weakest members of the cast. DeGarmo as the Narrator sounded shrill throughout the performance. It made me wonder if the score was too high for her range. Her movements onstage were inconsistent - it felt as if the director had no idea what her role really was on the show. Her costumes were glamorous which seemed out of place for the show.

Young fared somewhat better. His voice was often nasal sounding and he was sometimes overshadowed by the orchestra. But he shone on the crescendo of "Close Every Door."

Ultimately, it tells the story of dreams coming true. The reprise of "You Are What You Feel" between DeGarmo and Young was the most genuine moment in the show as they sang about dreams coming true. It's a fun show that never takes itself too seriously. Despite it's flaws, the show is one the whole family will enjoy.