BWW Interviews: JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT's Bill Evans as Jacob/Potiphar

It's time to dig into those closets and find the shiniest, brightest clothes you've got and head down to the Saenger Theatre for the most colorful show of the season! JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT is headed our way, and is sure to be a fun 2014-2015 season finale. Between the captivating story, the toe-tapping tunes, and the razzle dazzle of the costume and set design, JOSEPH is a show that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

Written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT is a story taken right from the Bible and gussied up into one heck of a musical. William Thomas (Bill) Evans, who plays both Jacob - Joseph's father - and Potiphar - one of the Egyptian Pharaoh's officials - in the show's National Tour, took some time out of his understandably busy schedule to chat with me about the show and his experience with it so far. He explained that the show revolves around our leading man Joseph (played by Ace Young). Joseph is his dad's favorite and so he is given a beautiful coat, and his brothers aren't too happy about this. Joseph's brothers sell him into slavery where he winds up in Egypt. He is able to interpret the Egyptian Pharaoh's dream and then later returns home to his father and brothers. "Be kind to people I think is the most important message," says Evans, and what a message that is! It's simple, but so true. Think about how much better the world would be if our goal on a daily basis were to simply be kind to those we encounter.

Now, JOSEPH isn't the only "Biblical musical," if you will. The other two shows that I often lump into this unofficial category are GODSPELL and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR; however, I probably shouldn't continue to compare the three shows because they really are quite different. Evans offered that if any of them are similar at all it would be JOSEPH and SUPERSTAR simply because Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the music for both. "SUPERSTAR is closer just because Andrew Lloyed Webber writes these beautiful pop scores and the stories are told completely through music. GODSPELL has a book [meaning there is a script and also music/lyrics]."

Speaking of music, JOSEPH has some fantastic music including one particular song (Jacob and Sons / Joseph's Coat) that has a big giant list of colors that make up Joseph's coat that the cast has had to memorize. While Bill doesn't sing that particular part of the song, he can list all of the colors! "I don't sing that actually, but I was in a dinner theatre production of JOSEPH once, and so I can name all of them." And his response when I said go for it? "Oh gosh... red and yellow and green and brown and scarlet and black and ochre and peach and ruby and olive and violet and fawn...." The list just kept on going! "The one I forgot is probably the one I couldn't remember back then either! Once you learn all of those colors it sticks with you, you don't forget them."

And if you can't get enough of the music during the show, never fear! At the end of the production there is a Megamix where you get to hear the songs all over again. Bill explained, "I'm not really sure where it started or the history behind it. People who really liked the show love it because we essentially do the whole show again all in a few minutes." During the Megamix the entire cast is wearing white and there's a sort of wheel of flashing lights illuminating the stage. It sounds cool to me, and I can't wait to see it!

Of all the aspects of the show, I am most looking forward to seeing this amazing coat that Joseph gets to wear. Jennifer Caprio is the costume designer for this production and has created some gorgeous costumes! According to Bill, "Joseph is pretty traditional with classic Egyptian garb, but brighter and more colorful. And then the coat he wears is just beautiful. It's based on a Chagall painting." I dug and did some further research on this coat because it's just that awesome, and it seems that artist Marc Chagall had created a set of stained glass windows. There were 12 windows total and each represented one of the 12 tribes of Israel (one for Joseph and the other 11 for his brothers). Caprio represented the 12 brothers each with their own panel on the coat (just like the windows). She has also incorporated all of those crazy colors from the song into the coat! Many kudos, Ms. Caprio. I can't wait to see your work of art!

The last thing that Bill and I discussed was this seemingly incredible cast that makes up this JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT National Tour. I mentioned before that alongside Bill as Jacob/Potiphar is Ace Young who plays Joseph. But what I didn't mention is that playing our leading lady, the Narrator, is Diana DeGarmo, who happens to be married to Ace Young. How adorable is that?! On his co-cast members, Bill said, "You know, they're very professional and they're here to do a show so you know they're married but that doesn't show on stage. I can't say enough good things about Diana and Ace!" It's not surprising that casts get to know each other exceedingly well while they're touring together, but this cast seems to have bonded particularly well and they know how to throw a good themed party. Bill explained that when you tour with a cast "you have to create a family very quickly. Most jobs you may work together for years, but for shows it could be only months or weeks. We have fun together. After shows I like to just go back to my room and read, but sometimes we like to go see big blockbuster hit movies on Thursday nights." I have a feeling that the cast of JOSEPH will wholeheartedly embrace our little saying "Laissez les bon temps roulez!" while visiting New Orleans.

Bill sums up JOSEPH in these three phrases, "Amazing, fun, and kick ass singing and dancing." What more of a reason do you need to get yourself to the Saenger Theatre for this spectacular event?! Click here for tickets and more information. See you there!

ARTCILE MAY ALSO BE VIEWED AT: http://www.nolabackstage.com/single-post/2015/04/13/BWW-Interviews-JOSEPH-AND-THE-AMAZING-TECHNICOLOR-DREAMCOATs-Bill-Evans-as-JacobPotiphar

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