‘Dreamcoat’ dazzles

Alluvion’s latest production sweeps away audiences in a flash of colors

With bright lights, high-energy dance numbers and a soundtrack featuring a wide range of musical style, Liberty University’s Tower Theater, in partnership with Alluvian Stage Company, opened its run of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” April 28.

The musical, directed by Linda Nell Cooper, gives a unique spin to the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis, illuminated by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s exuberant score and lyrics by Tim Rice.

According to Alluvion Stage Company’s website, the musical is set to “an engaging cornucopia of musical styles, from
country-western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock ‘n’ roll — this Old Testament tale emerges both timely and timeless.”

The show draws out colorful performances from characters through their humor and lighthearted re-interpretation
of the biblical story.

The performers sing beautiful harmonies and tell an inspirational yet lively story, making boredom unlikely throughout the entirety of the show.

“The storyline isn’t to make you cry or really make you think about the Bible, it’s mainly just to enjoy the story of Joseph,” Karrigan Scott, assistant student house manager, said. 

“It’s very dramatic and it’s fun – we’ve got cannons that blow out confetti and there are shirts that are being thrown into the audience and different things like beach balls. It’s definitely a different show than we’ve put on (before), but it’s definitely a good one.”

Throughout the story, the characters are dressed in colorful costumes, surrounded by bright lights and exciting and impressionable music that is played by the orchestra below them.

The audience is thrown into the story in a psychedelic whirl of music, dance and color.

“It’s such a blast,” Katie Hanna, who plays Gad’s wife, said. 

“We had such a good time. It’s definitely high-energy and exhausting, but it’s the best time of my life.  I really love Go, Go, Go Joseph – that’s probably the most high-energy number.”

Ryan Hippe, who plays Asher, said his favorite number in the musical is “Those Canaan Days.”

“The audience loves it,” Hippe said. 

“They have so much fun with it, so that encourages us to have fun with it as well.”

Hippe likes that the musical focuses on dreams and the dreams God places in people’s lives, as well as the way it portrays biblical characters.

“It’s just seeing all of these people who we read (about in) these Bible stories, but being reminded that they were real people with real failures, and God used them despite that,” Hippe said.

Theatergoers who decide to see this retelling of a story from Genesis will experience what Hanna describes as a party.

“It’s like a party for the audience,” Hanna said. 

“They can expect to leave hopefully realizing that we performed to the best of our ability, that they got their money’s worth and that they’re just going to have a really good time.”

Teagan Cooper, who plays Issachar’s wife, said that the actor’s dedication reflected the magnitude of the production.

“I think it’s the most high-energy (production) we’ve done in a while, and the most exhausting probably for the actors,” Cooper said.

According to the Tower Theatre’s website, the show’s performances began April 28 and will end May 10.

JARRETT is the feature editor.

DePiero is the contributing editor.