Highlands Theatre follows last summer’s rip-roaring revival of The Music Man with another guaranteed crowd-pleaser for adults and kids of any age: the international musical smash Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Taking the Book of Genesis as its inspiration, the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice gem has Old Testament hero Joseph (Bruno Satalino) sold into Egyptian slavery by 11 brothers jealous of the multicolored coat given to the next-to-youngest by their all too obviously favoritism-showing father Jacob (Hisato Masuyama).

Once in the land of pyramids, camels and the Sphinx, our hero’s ability to interpret dreams gets him promoted from human property to second-in-command to none other than Pharaoh (Christopher Showerman) himself.

Later, when famine strikes the land and Joseph’s starving brothers head off toward Egypt in search of food, who should they meet there but …. (I’ll let you do the math). Entirely sung-through (that means no spoken dialog for the Broadway-unsavvy), Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat offers audiences the most delectably eclectic blend of pop music genres/eras of Sir Andrew’s half-century-long career.

From the country-western twangs of “One More Angel In Heaven” to the 1920s-flavored “Potiphar” to the disco beats of “Go Go Go Joseph” to the Elvis-ready “Song Of The King (Seven Fat Cows)” to the French chanson oh-là-là of “Those Canaan Days” to the Caribbean flavors of “Benjamin Calypso,” it’s one tuneful showstopper after another, and these are just half-a-dozen of the 20 or so nonstop musical treats Joseph’s got up his many-colored sleeve.

With virtually no “book” in the traditional sense (and I’m guessing very little in the way of stage directions), it’s up to each individual production to find ways to transform Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat from the “concept album” it started out as back in 1968 to the full-fledged big-stage musical it’s become today and director Carter Thomas proves himself an expert at staging one cast of dozens scene after another while eliciting one scene-stealing performance after another as well.

The hunky, big-voiced Satalino makes for a charismatic Joseph, delivering an emotional powerhouse of a “Close Every Door” and the instantly engaging Tracey Thomas reveals the most heavenly (and The Voice-ready) of pipes as she recounts Joseph’s story in song to a stageful of children – each as cute and talented as the next.

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat divides its biggest showstoppers equally among six or seven of its supporting cast members, each one earning justified cheers.

Showerman’s “Song Of The King” gives Elvis a run for his money with great big pipes to match some great big guns, a delightful Brent Knipper’s Rueben sings “One More Angel In Heaven” with a folksy Grand Ole Opry country twang, and Masuyama (doubling as Potiphar) delivers a deliciously quirky “Potiphar.”

Kyle Caldwell’s Simeon and Masuyama’s Jacob join voices (and gargly French r’s) to délicieux effect in “Those Canaan Days,” Ceron Jones channels his inner Harry Belafonte in an infections “Benjamin Calypso” and a jailed Butler (Justin Guglielmetti, who doubles as Issachar) and Baker (Dylan Renfrow, who also plays Gad) have Joseph interpreting their dreams before the disco beat takes over in “Go Go Go Joseph.”

Accompanying all of the above is Sylvie Gosse’s sparkling, high-energy choreography (including Bridget Gordon’s seductive Apache dance solo in “Those Canaan Days”), full cast production numbers that showcase the dance talents of all of the aforementioned performers along with Sage Cobos (Levi), Lucas Cook (Benjamin), Zach McDonald (Asher), Andrew Perkins (Naphtali), Matthew Roman (Dan), Jacob Rushing (Zebulun), Ashton Taylor (Mrs. Pothphar) and Wives Makenna Bolton, dance captain Anissa Briggs, Bethany Coyle, Jade Rennaé Dailey, Jessica Fernstrom, Michelle Renae and Jordyn Crowley Watts.

Scenic designer Brianne Johnson backs the songs and dances with a line of Technicolorful 1960s-style stained glass window panels topped by a series of scene-setting projections that provide a vivid backdrop for Angela Manke’s multitude of radiantly-hued costumes, from Bible-wear to “Walk Like An Egyptian” chic and more – all of the above made even more eye-catching by Paul Reid’s vibrant lighting design.

Vocals are in the more than capable hands of music director Kara Gibson-Slocum with sound designer Ryan Chaoui ensuring a crystal-clear mix of amped vocals and prerecorded tracks.

Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is produced by Highlands Church. Rebecca Allfrey is assistant director. Kelly Flynn is production coordinator. Philip Thomas is technical director. Kate Ponzio is stage manager.

From its opening notes to the exhilarating eight-minute singing/dancing grand finale that is the now iconic “Joseph Megamix,” Highlands Theatre’s Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a bona fide entertainment bonanza for youngsters and grownups alike and well worth a La Crescenta visit.

Highlands Church, 4441 La Crescenta Ave., La Crescenta. Through Aug. 3. Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Sundays at 7:30 p.m.
www.highlandsla.com

Written by Steven Stanley
StageSceneLA.com

Reprinted by permission