1. Just posted this review you may enjoy:
   Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
   by The Spanish Fork Community Theater
   Reviewed by Kjirstin Youngberg

   As a huge fan of all things Andrew Lloyd Webber, how I missed ever seeing Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a mystery. Until I arrived at the Spanish Fork High School, where their large stage was put to good use, I thought this musical was a re-hash of old 1970’s pop tunes. Discovering the truth was, well, nothing short of amazing.

   Like all opening nights, this production was fraught with technical difficulties, such as mics cutting out and a long, loud hum that was seldom in key. Hopefully by tonight’s production, these bothersome issues will have been fixed. At any rate, the show will go on as scheduled.

   This production breathed new life into an old Biblical story and made it modern through many reincarnations in different ages. Fabulous costume changes from ancient Israel to the French Revolution were unusual, but soon became part of the program. Warned of the time changes by a somewhat obnoxious and bright white screen that kept moving into the colorful and magnificently set stage was a bit jarring. Sticking with a last millennium walk-on sign may have been less distracting for audiences.

   Praise enough cannot be said of the enthusiastic and apt crew and cast, all of whom worked together to bring off a polished performance.

   Having the band play onstage behind an intricate overhead stair array with a walkway was an interesting touch. It utilized the back as a sound wall and made for some great music you could hear without the usual overly-electronic amplification often rendered by stage bands. Kudos to the Music Director, Russ Sumens and conductor Keath Fenton, who did some nice work there. Each musician did well with some scenes that must have been tough to play in near darkness. 

Standouts were a remarkably good children’s chorus. Their blended voices and in-character performances made the entire show look and sound voluminous from any seat in the large auditorium. The little sheep, or goat, as the case may be, was well-acted by young Elle Jensen, and brought hearty laughs from the audience. Cami Jensen must be singled out for her fine effort with this chorus of youthful voices.

   Close Every Door was evocative and haunting. It’s closing note by Joseph (Daniel Fifield) hung in the air for several seconds of breathtaking beauty.

Dance numbers by Bethany Taylor and Kamrie McCandless were succinct and well danced, lead by dance captain Nichole Marriott. How the actors managed all those quick costume changes must have taken a small army of backstage helpers.

   All the brothers and wives provided plenty of entertainment, and with 22 of them constantly on stage, anywhere you looked was fun to watch. Potiphar stood out as a fun scene, and Song of the King, with an Elvis/Pharaoh (Jordan Toney) was a definite crowd-pleaser.

   Jacob, (Bryan Cardoza) a larger-than-life father-figure, was well-cast in his part. His songs and presence magnified the stage when he entered.

   Costumes by Larisa Hicken and her crew were outstanding, as were the Chelsea Kennedy hairstyles, with makeup by Fawn and David Christopher. Stage manager Taylor Hansen did a fine job, with help from Shaelyn Meyer, and Kristin Harris, whom I must thank for a backstage admission during the production to photograph the musicians.

   With a cast of sixty and production staff of fifty-five, keeping it all together without mishap was quite an undertaking. 

Though the reprise seemed a bit extensive, it eliminated a need for bows, which was a nice touch, as all players received their due applause. The megamix at the conclusion with a true technicolor fan to put any peacock to shame was outstanding.

   The show runs through July 25th and is highly recommended. My mother, now in her 80’s called it “lively” which is a descriptive word for this fine production. It was nice having it start at 7:00 pm, so it is still light outside at the conclusion, and easy for families to attend together. For more information, see http://www.sfctonline.org/upcoming-show.html 



   







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