Musical Theatre West’s updated rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s 1968 musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is as flashy and colorful as its title suggests, thanks to glitzy costuming by Adam Ramirez and Geovanni Virella-Torres and dynamic lighting by Jared Sayeg.
As directed by Larry Raben, it’s also built around visual cues that younger audiences might appreciate — Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, BTS, Drake and Lady Gaga are just some of the more modern musical references woven into the choreography and optics (which sometimes border on risqué, and includes random hand-puppets at one point), even as the story and songs remain true to the original.
The result is the biblical tale of Joseph’s journey from slavery to dream interpreter and powerful minister told in a pastiche of musical styles, sustained by the energy and enthusiasm of its youthful ensemble. They execute Corey Wright’s creative choreography with verve and aplomb (look those words up, kids) — from the rah-rah “Go, Go, Go Joseph” to precisely coordinated dance moves in “Song of the King.”
Joseph’s eleven brothers also perform with great chemistry as a group, their camaraderie palpable, especially in the French-ballad parody “Those Canaan Days” but also in the Western-inspired “One More Angel in Heaven/Hoedown” — dancing with their wives believing they’ve killed brother Joseph out of jealousy.
Broadway performer Brian Justin Crum inhabits the title role of Joseph with grace and a powerful voice. However, with some of the songs seemingly slowed down and inflected differently — perhaps for a more modern cadence — Joseph’s more important lyrics don’t necessarily come across, especially in the pivotal “Close Every Door” but even in the earlier “Joseph’s Coat” and “Joseph’s Dreams,” sung with the richly voiced Daebreon Poiema as Narrator.
The same is true of Pharaoh’s (Kenneth Mosely) song about his dream, sung in the style of Elvis channeled through Bruno Mars, in which the word “cow” is practically the only one that comes across clearly. Hopefully this is an issue with sound that will get ironed out as the run continues, especially because the story and its emotions depend on the lyrics.
With less of an affective pull, the show may rely on surface-level visuals to appeal to all audiences, including the TikTok generation, rather than also offering a more immersive emotional experience — in this case, a relatable story of feeling abandoned by family, humiliated and utterly lost and then having the tables turned — that might draw them back for future productions.
What does come across loud and clear in this production, though, is the sheer dynamism of this cast of about 50 performers, accompanied by an excellent live band at the back of the stage led by Anthony Zediker. That rocking music and colorful costuming, lighting, choreography and vocals explode in a “Megamix” finale that allows the entire cast to shine brightly — a dream experience for any audience.
Musical Theatre West’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” continues through July 26 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 E. Atherton St., with shows Fridays at 7 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. For tickets, call the box office at 562-856-1999 or visit Musical.org. Student rush tickets are $15 with valid ID at the box office one hour prior to each show. Run time is 1 hour and 50 minutes, including intermission.