REVIEW: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT—Musical Theatre West @ Carpenter Performing Arts Center
- TheShowReport
- 6 days ago
- 8 min read
Musical Theatre West Wraps a Timeless Classic in Fresh Energy, Irresistible Charm, and a Kaleidoscope of Pure Theatrical Joy.
JULY 10TH-26TH—LONG BEACH
Some shows age gracefully. Others reinvent themselves. And then there's JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, which somehow manages to do both—bursting onto the stage with enough color, charisma, and infectious energy to make even the most skeptical theatergoer leave humming its unforgettable score.
Musical Theatre West's newest production, playing now through July 26th, doesn't simply dust off Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's beloved musical; it gives it a vibrant, contemporary heartbeat while preserving the warmth, humor, and joyful spirit that have made it a family favorite for generations. The result is a production that feels delightfully familiar while sparkling with fresh surprises.
From the moment the orchestra begins playing, the production establishes a brisk pace that never lets up. Director Larry Raben and his creative team wisely embrace the show's naturally playful style, leaning into its theatricality rather than trying to modernize it beyond recognition. Clever staging, dynamic choreography, and eye-catching visual design keep the storytelling engaging, allowing the audience to become immersed in Joseph's remarkable journey from overlooked dreamer to trusted leader.
At the center of it all is viral sensation BRIAN JUSTIN CRUM playing Joseph. Recently starring alongside Cynthia Erivo and Adam Lambert in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl, Mr. Crum is known world-wide for his powerhouse vocals and electric stage presence. You may remember his unforgettable run on "America’s Got Talent," seen by millions, which led to a headlining gig in Vegas for "America’s Got Talent: Superstars Live!"
His Broadway Credits include "Wicked," "Grease" and "Next to Normal" and he was part of the original cast in the 1st national tours of "The Addams Family," "Grease" and "We Will Rock You," where he performed live with Brian May and Roger Taylor (the original members of QUEEN). Here, Mr. Crum brings a very appealing vulnerability to the role while navigating the demanding score with impressive ease, making Joseph's emotional journey feel both believable and inspiring.
Matching him every step of the way is DAEBREON POIEMA as the Narrator, whose commanding vocals and magnetic stage presence provide the show's driving force. With remarkable versatility, Ms. Poiema effortlessly transitions between storyteller, emotional anchor, and energetic performer, delivering each musical number with her silky movements and minx-like touches. Her performance keeps the production moving with confidence and flair, reminding audiences why the Narrator remains one of musical theater's most demanding and rewarding roles. No doubt you’ve seen Ms. Poiema on the Carpenter Stage before, either as The Witch in “Into the Woods,” or Violet in “9 to 5,” or perhaps the Fairy God-Mother in “Cinderella.”
This modern, revamped version turns the 1970s classic into a dazzling, self-aware spectacle—a feast for the eyes—leaning heavily into high-energy pop-culture references, show-stopping genre mashups from French café to calypso to energetic-style pop rock, all brilliantly executed by the cast with an infectious, fun-loving enthusiasm. Under Anthony Zediker’s polished musical direction, every style feels authentic, giving each scene its own distinct personality while maintaining the show's cohesive spirit.
That jaunty sense of fun permeates Director Raben’s inventive new vision for the show, which is mostly a steamroller of pure joy and comic delights, blowing it up to an impressive profusion of extravagance.
I mean, it’s an Old Testament story, pulled from the book of Genesis, about a Nile Delta boy who made good in the big city. Joseph is one of Jacob’s twelve sons—and the clear favorite. The father doesn’t try to hide his unbalanced adoration. Instead, he makes it stand out by giving the boy an elaborate, colorful coat far beyond anything his 11 brothers own.
Between the coat, Joseph’s self-assured strutting, and his habit of describing his dreams—many of which include the brothers bowing down to him—jealousy wins out. At first the brothers plot to kill Joseph by tossing him in a hole and leaving him there. Instead, they decide to sell him to traders headed for Egypt (to cover their misdeed, the brothers tell their father Joseph was taken by a wild animal).
Joseph becomes a slave in Potiphar’s household where he earns his master’s trust through hard work, only to lose it overnight when Potiphar’s wife accuses him of sexual impropriety (Ali Vesey plays Potiphar’s lascivious wife with a kitschy whiff of “Whatever Lola Wants”). He’s thrown into prison, where his knack for reading dreams becomes his “get out of jail card,” first noticed by a jailed baker and butler.
Once that reaches the top, it’s a big time Welcome to Fabulous Egypt, when the commanding Kenneth Mosley (doing double duty as brother Simeon; Nat’l Tours: “Kinky Boots;” “Motown the Musical”) muscles his way in with a sizzle as the mighty Pharaoh who’s been having some rough nights himself. While Joseph is asked to interpret those weird dreams, Mr. Mosley delivers, quite gloriously, the "Song of the King.” Traditionally a 1950s rock-and-roll icon directly modeled after Elvis Presley, this time the role is reimagined as a Bruno Mars-style showman, which completely transforms the sequence, trading a pompadour and a slow hip-swivel for electrifying retro-pop flair and a long, sparkly coat.
As Mr. Mosley effortlessly hits those soaring, soulful falsettos simultaneously performing slick, synchronized footwork in an utterly smooth, effortlessly cool, and completely mesmerizing groove, he slides across the stage with his backing dancers directing his minions like a modern pop maestro. When Joseph finally interprets the dream about the fat and skinny cows, Pharaoh playfully breaks character—dropping the funk star bravado for wide-eyed, frantic curiosity—before bursting right back into a dance break.
Joseph then gets a raise and some new duds, rising to the rank of Pharaoh’s right-hand man. After Egypt and Canaan experience a devastating famine, he’s given the opportunity to confront his brothers and test their virtue. Satisfied that they are changed men, he sends for his father and all is forgiven...it all ends happily.
As Jacob, Harrison White brings to life the patriarch of the twelve sons, playing both the doting, sorrowful father and the stern, imposing Egyptian master, Potiphar. Mr. White leans into a highly entertaining, lighthearted style, using comedic sequences during the brothers' celebration of Joseph's "demise" with knee-slapping hoedowns; Mr. White also is quite the character in Potiphar's household when Joseph is falsely imprisoned.
Every single performer, though, is a master of their craft, and many of the brothers get their special moments (Judah, for instance, leading an all-out number called the “Benjamin Calypso”). In another moment, the “Grovel Grovel” song (cameoed by several) brings dark, comedic irony to the forefront, along with quite a few others that have the pacing and vigor of a Baptist tent revival.
The rest of the cast are wonderful—a tight, synchronized, energetic ensemble who throw themselves into a myriad of choreographic styles with gusto. They tap; they shimmy; they do the Charleston; they even, in one moment of miscomprehension, mistake Canaan for the Can Can.
But mostly what keeps the show alive is the bounce of Tim Rice’s lyrics and the merry eclecticism of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s score, offering a crystal-clear blueprint of Webber's insidiously addictive style. Some of the highlights of the show begin with the feisty Narrator (Ms. Poiema), the real motor of the evening, who starts the story with the prologue transitioning into “Any Dream Will Do,” shedding light on Joseph’s story of struggle and faith.
There’s also a twangy, cowboyish elegy to Joseph, after his scheming brothers sell him into slavery, that shifts into a big hoedown dance sequence with exaggerated hamminess. Later, a naive dreamer slowly waking up to his prophetic gifts stops the show with Mr. Crum’s rendering of “Close Every Door,” which he delivers with rising anguish.
One of the biggest highlights of the second act, shortly after the Pharoah’s big number, we hear an upstaging Adam Lendermon as brother Reuben leading the brothers in a funny Jacques Brel-like ode to better times called "Those Canaan Days."
In an era when many revivals strive to radically reinvent classic musicals, Musical Theatre West demonstrates that thoughtful creativity often speaks louder than unnecessary reinvention. Their JOSEPH…is bright, heartfelt, and endlessly entertaining—a celebration of imagination, music, and storytelling. And, just like Joseph's famous coat, this production is stitched together with countless vibrant threads, each contributing to a dazzling whole. The result is an evening overflowing with laughter, soaring music, and genuine heart—proof that some dreams never fade; they simply become more colorful with time.
MUSICAL THEATRE WEST PRESENTS, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, with Lyrics by TIM RICE; Music by ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER; Directed by LARRY RABEN; Choreographed by COREY WRIGHT; Musical Direction by ANTHONY ZEDIKER; Lighting Design by JARED SAYEG; Sound Design by DANNY FIANDANCA; Scenic Coordinator/Technical Direction by KEVIN CLOWES; Costume Design by ADAM RAMIREZ & GEOVANNI VIRELLA-TORRES; Wig Design by GARRETT RUIZ; Prop Design by JANE HAMOR; Production Stage Manager TALIA KRISPEL; Assistant Stage Managers JULIAN OLIVE & AVERY SIMONIAN; Executive Director/Producer PAUL GARMAN.
STARRING: BRIAN JUSTIN CRUM & DAEBREON POIEMA
WITH: JOHNISA BREAULT • ZANE CAMACHO • NAPHTAILDA JEAN CHARLES • JORDAN CRUZ • NEELA DAVID • SOPHIE LIU DAVID • ERIN DUBREUIL • MALACHI DURANT • JASMINE GOBOURNE • BRANDON HALVORSEN • MAE HAWKINS • THOMAS HOBSON • ALEXANDRA SKYLAR KUNIN • JEFFREY LAUGHRUN • ADAM LENDERMON • SAMMY LINKOWSKI • SABRINA MARIELLE • RYAN PERRY MARKS • TALEEN SHRIKIAN • BRODY TARRANT SITTON • ALI VESEY • CALEB MILLER WHITE • HARRISON WHITE • LOUIS A. WILLIAMS JR • KENNETH MOSLEY
CHILDREN’S CHOIR: ELODIE BARKER, SAVANNA CEZUS, DONOVAN COWAN, ELLIOTT CRANE, JAMES DELA CRUZ; KACIE DILLON, MADELYN DODSON, AVA FIELD, FAITH GRAHAM, JAMESON HOLLAR, PARKER HOLLY, ROSALIE BELLE HUTZLER, DREW LARSEN, MADISON OLIVIA PARAGAS, MADRID LONDON PINILLA CASTILLO, ANABEL RODRIGUEZ, JORDAN SCHLEF, WILLIAM DEXTER VILLAR, AIMEE WESTROM, HADLEY WINGATE.
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT runs July 10th through July 26th with performances at Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. Performances are at 7:30 PM, with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM, with limited availability for several shows. Approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased at www.musical.org or by calling (562)944-9801 or (714) 994-6310.
CHRIS DANIELS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT REVIEWER
THE SHOW REPORT
PHOTO CREDITS: JASON NIEDLE
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