There's no stopping Filipino-American stage actress Jennifer Paz ("Miss Saigon" "The Last 5 Years") in playing The Narrator in various regional productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice's musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" since she first essayed the role at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle September last year.
Ms. Paz (The Narrator), together with "American Idol" finalist Anthony Fedorov (Joseph), revisits Webber and Rice's second, almost completely sung-through, full-length musical collaboration in North Shore Music Theatre's current production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" in Beverly, Massachusetts running until Sunday, August 22, 2010.
"The show at North Shore is a regional production, and not part of a national tour. Although it appears to be since I've been working with similar cast members and creative teams. I actually just finished another regional production of 'Joseph' in Sacramento, California. After North Shore, I'll be doing another regional production of 'Joseph' at the Ordway Theatre downtown St. Paul, Minnesota from December 2010 to January 2011," Ms. Paz tells BroadwayWorld.com.
Theatre critics based in Massachusetts only have rave reviews for Ms. Paz as The Narrator, whose awe-inspiring vocal chops in "The Pharaoh Story" remains one of the highlights of the musical:
"A lovely narrator, beautifully and clearly sung by Paz..." - North Shore Sunday
"Paz plays The Narrator with great deal of class and dignity." - The Saugonian
"Engaging Jennifer Paz..." - Boston Globe
"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" is a retelling of the biblical story from Genesis about Joseph, the eleventh of Jacob's twelve sons. Joseph is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, but rises to power as the Pharaoh's right hand man.
Webber's original material was only 20 minutes long when it was first produced for a British school choir in 1968. He then asked his friend Rice to write additional lyrics for an expanded version for the London stage. The musical has since continued to grow, both in length and popularity.
Filled with happy dancing and exploding energy, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" also showcases a wide variety of musical styles - everything from country to calypso to rock 'n' roll. Often described as a high-voltage extravaganza, the show includes such classic songs as the contemplative "Any Dream Will Do", the Caribbean-infused "Benjamin Calypso", the dazzling "Jacob and Sons/Joseph's Coat," and the contagious "Megamix/Finale".
Apart from Ms. Paz and Mr. Fedorov, North Shore Music Theatre's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" features Bob Amaral (Jacob, Potiphar), Will Cohen (Judah), Anthony Christian Daniel (Zebulun), Nick Kenkel (Simeon), Miles A. Johnson (Dan), Daniel C. Levine (Napthali), Brandon O'Neill (Asher), Matt Owen (Levi), Frankie Paparone (Gad), Christopher Spaulding (Issachar), Allan Snyder (Reuben), and Michael Warrell (Benjamin). The female ensemble includes Katie Leigh Allen, Lauren Lukacek, Rachelle Rak (Mrs. Potiphar), Ann-Marie Sepe, Allysa L. Shorte, Emily Tyra, and Megan Wean.
