Summer Place to stage 'Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat'
You wouldn't think the Bible and rock, jazz and Western styles of music and dance would mesh together well. But in Summer Place Theatre's production of "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat," that's just what happens -- an Old Testament story is revamped and made fun.
"This is considered an opera," Director Tom Rieser of Aurora said. "It's all music. The music is probably the most important aspect of the production."
In addition to having different styles of music, the orchestra doesn't include the standard wind section, violin and piano. Instead, it consists of electronic instruments.
"Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat was one of the first rock operas," Rieser said. "The different styles add to the overall fun of the play."
The production will run from Friday, July 27, to Aug. 5 at Naperville Central High School. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors and $12 for children ages 5-12. Tickets can be purchased by calling (630) 355-7969 or by ordering at summerplacetheatre.com for a $1 surcharge.
The musical tells the story of Jacob and his 12 sons. Jacob gives one of his sons, Joseph, a multicolored coat -- a symbol of his father's preference for him. Because of their jealousy, the brothers plot against him and cause Joseph's subsequent years of suffering.
"Joseph was Jacob's favorite son, and to the displeasure of the other brothers, Joseph was held in higher esteem," Rieser said. "That caused a lot of resentment."
But Joseph has a special talent that often helps him work his way out of tricky situations and leads him to success: he's a dreamer.
"The focus is on Joseph and his dreams," Rieser said. "He's a dreamer to the point that his dreams of prophecies come true."
Rieser and Ian Black, who plays Joseph, both describe Joseph's character as innocent -- almost to the point of naiveté, says Black. But he is also smart, patient and authentic.
"Joseph is the innocent," Rieser said. "Joseph has no malice toward anyone; he likes everyone. He comes out on top because he's a talented man and he has a gift, and that gift is telling dreams. Even after all the bad experiences that he has, he still is a wonderful person -- forgiving, loving, understanding and tolerant."
Black, of Chicago Ridge, said his personality has helped him embody the character of Joseph.
"My personality is very happy and it lends itself well to the character at times," he said. "The hard parts of the show for me are when I'm supposed to be mad or angry."
Rieser said he put a twist on the play by taking a different interpretation of some of Joseph's dreams. Black said some of those interpretations have meant making certain parts more serious and thought-provoking.
"I feel like it's often just portrayed as a lighthearted show," Black said.
Another unique aspect to the play is that entire families are acting together onstage.
Aurora native Dan Colbert, for example, will take the stage alongside his brother, daughter, son and nephew. He and his brother play two of Jacob's sons on the show, and that has made the roles easier, he said.
"A lot of times we know what the other will do before they do it because we've been doing it forever," Colbert said.
Colbert said having families in the show lends itself well to a production with such a family focus. It gives the relationships a ring of authenticity, which might be harder to produce with the other actors he's just getting to know now, he said.
"It seems like it shows a much more natural interaction," Colbert said. "It flows naturally."
Rieser said that's what the show is about -- those familial interactions everyone experiences.
"The overall message is a sense of familial forgiveness and understanding," he said. "Every family has its ups and downs, and Jacob's family certainly has ups and downs. It's about sibling rivalry, parental respect and love. It has every aspect of family living in it."