Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

I have lost count of the number of times I have seen this musical. It is my favorite. The variety of the song styles – Country Western, French Cabaret, Elvis Rock, and Calypso, just to name a few – are initially a bit puzzling for the first time attendee who does not realize he is seeing a portrayal of a bible story from Genesis. The musical was originally created as a bible lesson and music styles exposure for children, hence its eclectic, amusing nature. Even the passages between the songs are sung by a narrator with clever, rhyming lyrics written Tim Rice and music composed by Andrew Lloyd Weber. Its non-stop singing and action takes the audience on a ride through many extremes of emotion. As musicals go it is not extremely long – some productions do not even have an intermission. It is a perfect combination of entertainment to take Alex to and so we did last Sunday, July 21st.

For a complete plot synopsis check out Wikipedia . The first paragraph summary goes:

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The story is based on the "coat of many colours" story of Joseph from the Bible's Book of Genesis. ... The show has only a few lines of spoken dialogue; it is almost entirely sung-through. Its family-friendly story, familiar themes and catchy music have resulted in numerous stagings.

We had very good seats, center section Row D, fourth row from the  stage – up front, close and personal to the singing and dancing – at our local Livermore Performing Arts Center, the Bankhead Theatre.

Alex was engaged the entire time, even when he first sat down and, side by side, perused the program with Frank. 

He clapped often and even uttered "yeah!" a few times (discretely of course) throughout the show. The musical incorporates a chorus of children in the production. Not only does that keep it brief and fast moving, but I think it also appealed to Alex.  He ran back willingly after the intermission. Often times at shows, he thinks that intermission indicates the conclusion of the production. We have taken him to Joseph before though, so perhaps he remembered.

Afterward Alex says, "Yeah!" his expression of, "That was great!"

Frank photographed Alex with me in front of the rotating playbill display in the lobby. Try to get two smiling faces, looking at the camera at the exact moment the Joseph Playbill slides into view. Thank goodness for cell phones otherwise we would have expended at least one roll of film. This is the best we got from multiple attempts and before Alex lost interest. The musical was fantastic in his book: the photo session, not so much.

When cast members filed out into the lobby, Alex was pleased to stand between two of them for a photo. One was an attendant of Pharaoh and the other was an Egyptian dancer.

We were thrilled to be able to experience this fine performance within our home town. We are very fortunate to have such intimate (500-seat) theatre facilities so close. Per its Facebook page: Livermore Performing Arts Center, the Bankhead Theatre.

LVPAC - Livermore Valley Performing Art Center. The 500-seat Bankhead Theater, which opened on October 1, 2007, serves as the home for a number of the area's finest performing arts organizations, including Del Valle Fine Arts, Livermore Valley Opera, Pacific Chamber Symphony, Livermore-Amador Symphony, Valley Dance Theater, Cantabella Children's Chorus, Tri-Valley Repertory Theatre, Pacific Chamber Symphony and the Valley Concert Chorale.

In addition, the theater hosts visiting performance ensembles from around the Bay Area, including Lamplighters Musical Theatre, Oakland Ballet and the California Theatre Center, as well as providing performance and recital space for some of the area's music, dance and theatrical training programs. Finally, LVPAC presents a full array of performance activities drawn from artists and ensembles across the United States and beyond.

If you have never seen Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, you are missing out on a fun, enjoyable time. YouTube has many links to several of the songs so go and listen for yourself and see if you agree. Whenever this musical is in within the Bay Area we try to go to it. I have the complete album of songs downloaded on my iPhone, iPad, and desktop Mac. I never tire of it.
The musical and Sunday's outing each rate five stars ★★★★★!