'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' lights up Henegar Center stage
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A burst of vibrant colors and heartwarming melodies is about to sweep through downtown Melbourne, as the Henegar Center kicks off its new season with "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." The show opens Friday, Aug. 11 for a run through Sept. 3.
Inspired by the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors, the musical features lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The show's roots trace back to 1968 when the duo wrote a 15-minute version of it for a school concert. Its success inspired Rice and Lloyd Webber to expand the piece into a full-length musical with themes of hope and forgiveness that continue to resonate with audiences worldwide.
"It is a whimsical family-friendly telling of an old testament Bible story," said artistic director Dominic Del Brocco.
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At the heart of the story lies the age-old tale of Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, whose dazzling coat of many colors sparks jealousy among his eleven brothers. After being sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph embarks on an odyssey of self-discovery, resilience and redemption, eventually discovering that he has the mystic power to interpret dreams.
In the Henegar's production, the title role of Joseph is shared by Vinnie DeLuca and Kevin Rodriguez, who will alternate performances. They deliver the story with the help of two Narrators, played by Melinda Benya and Sasha Faye, who weave through the musical explaining the tale to the audience.
The supporting cast is larger than usual for the Henegar Center, and features Terrence Girard as the Patriarch Jacob and Jared Sierra as the Elvis-inspired Pharaoh.
The musical's dynamic score covers a range of genres, from rock and pop to country and calypso, along with familiar tunes like "Any Dream Will Do" and "Close Every Door."
"The entire show is sung from beginning to end without breaks," Del Brocco said. "It is light hearted and comedic."
The Henegar's creative team has gone all out to create an extravaganza of colors and visuals. Audiences will be transported to ancient Egypt and beyond, with scenery that shifts between pastoral landscapes, the depths of a prison cell and the opulence of Pharaoh's palace.
"I wanted the trip to Egypt to feel like a modern rock concert, but in a biblical-period Arabian desert," Del Brocco said. "I designed the set to feel big and over the top."
This big, over-the-top, colorful musical will transport audiences to a world where anything is possible, and serves as an invitation to embrace the technicolor dream within us all.
If you go
'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'
Where: The Henegar Center, 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne
When: Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. through Sept. 3
Tickets: Start at $37
Info: 321-723-8698
On the web: henegarcenter.com
Christina LaFortune is the Entertainment and TGIF Editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/christinalafortune or send her an email at clafortune@floridatoday.com.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' at the Henegar Center
