Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
BDT Stage
Boulder, CO 
May 13 - August 19, 2017

The Denver theater community is vibrant and talented. However regional performances rarely provides a production which is completely original and takes a well-known work into a new direction. That is what made Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat so special.

This show is known as a kids' show. But in the capable hands of the BDT Stage is became a spectacle that entertained everyone. The costumes were modern - Joseph's brothers wore jeans, leather jackets or even suits. The set was staircase, but it was anything but simple. It had lights which created everything from a dazzling white backdrop to a dark prison cell to a blaze of color.

The elaborate set didn't take away from the stunning musical performances. The solos were strong but it was performance of the ensemble pieces brought the house down. The harmonies created by the ensemble (and especially the eleven brothers) were immaculate.

But the real star of the show was the choreography. The dancing seemed nonstop throughout the show. The steps were more creative than any I have seen in the Denver area.


I have seen the "Joseph Megamix:" at the end of the show as a gratuitous extended curtain call. However, in the BDT Stage production I loved it. It gave the audience a chance to relive this magical theatrical performance once more before returning to the real world.

Annie

Annie
Phamaly
Stage Theater
Denver, CO
July 13-24, 2017

Annie is story of an underdog who overcame great odds to live happily ever after. It's an appropriate message for Phamaly, a company made up of actors living with disabilities. But this group made it very clear that these odds won't stop them from achieving their dreams.

The talent of these actors is undeniable. Miss Hannigan was perfectly portrayed – heartless and phony. Rooster, her brother, was equally villainous. Daddy Warbucks and Grace were perfection in their idealized goodness. And Annie shone as the little girl who brought them all together.

The scenes with the orphans and in Hooverville were even more sympathetic when played by performers with obvious disabilities. Their plight seemed more tragic with this added dimension to their situations. And seeing President Franklin Roosevelt in a wheelchair was not only historically correct, but also brought an added humanity to his character.

The set for the show took advantage of the wonderful Stage Theater at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Pieces of furniture were brought up and down smoothly through the elaborate trap door system, although other pieces were deftly brought onstage by the stage crew. The projection system took each scene to the next level. It was beautiful to see.

This Annie was as inspiring as it was entertaining. They didn’t just perform a show, they lived it. 

Hairspray

Hairspray
Inspire Creative
PACE Center
Parker, CO 
July 14-30, 2017

In the Denver theater community, some repetition is inevitable. The scheduling decisions made last spring led to Inspire Creative’s production of Hairspray to open just weeks after the Town Hall Arts Center’s fantastic version closed. 

The show contained Inspire’s usual exuberance. However, some of the casting choices were puzzling. While the talent was there, I found myself wondering why Tracy and Motormouth Maybelle were so thin when the script clearly called for them to have a different body type. Link, on the other hand, seemed to lack the charisma and sex appeal needed for the character.

Edna, on the other hand, was an absolute delight. The actor’s use of his lower register at opportune moments added more humor to the show.
 

The set for the show set the mood for the show. It screamed 1960’s and lent itself well to each location. The costumes were fun, but the wigs for Tracy and Amber were very poor.  In Tracy’s case it effected the characterization since her hairstyle was an important part of her storyline.

This Hairspray is not a bad production. Mostly it has the misfortunate of following a more inspired version.