"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" - by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - North Shore Music Theatre (Beverly, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of the musical "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice now playing at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. through July 19, 2026. Photo Credit: Paul Lyden)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
"If my life were important I would ask will I live or die...But I know the answers lie far from this world."
- ("JOSEPH") / Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
North Shore Music Theatre
Presents Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's
"JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT"
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Based on The Book of Genesis
Directed and Choreographed by Gerry McIntyre
Music Director Robert L. Rucinski
Cast Includes: Olivia Valli* as “Narrator,” Nikita Burshteynr* as “Joseph,” Eric Jordan Young* as “Jacob,” Brady Miller* as “Reuben,” Nicholas Cunha* as “Simeon,” Michael Anthony Sylvester* as “Levi,” Evan K. Latta* as “Napthali,” Henry H. Miller* as “Issachar,” Will Mosier as “Asher,” Benji Godley-Fisher as “Dan,” Kai Horvit as “Zebulun,” Stephen C. Kallas as “Gad,” Micheal Corey Hassel as “Benjamin,” Rendell Debose* as “Judah,” Eric Jordan Young* as “Potiphar,” Naomi Kakuk* as “Mrs. Potiphar,” Henry H. Miller* as “Butler,” Michael Anthony Sylvester* as “Baker,” Brent Thiessen* as “Pharaoh,” Claire Flynn as “‘One More Angel’ Soloist,” Mandy McDonell as “‘Canaan Days’ Apache Dancer.”
Wives: Sylvia Blaise Taylor, Claire Flynn, Naomi Kakuk*, Mandy McDonell, Naderah Munajj*, Linda Neel*, Emma Sucato.
Guards: Stephen C. Kallas, Will Mosier.
Ishmaelites: Jonah Barricklo, Bennett Cooper, Alex Kennedy.
Ensemble: Jonah Barricklo, Sylvia Blaise Taylor, Bennett Cooper, Nicholas Cunha*, Rendell Debose*, Claire Flynn, Benji Godley-Fisher, Micheal Corey Hassel, Kai Horvit, Naomi Kakuk*, Stephen C. Kallas, Alex Kennedy, Evan Latta*, Mandy McDonell, Brady Miller*, Henry H. Miller*, Will Mosier, Naderah Munajj*, Linda Neel*, Emma Sucato, Michael Anthony Sylvester.*
UNDERSTUDIES, STUDY COVERS & SWINGS
Understudies, Study Covers, and Swings are never substituted for listed performers unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the performance.
Understudy For: “Joseph” - Nicholas Cunha*; “Jacob/Potiphar” - Brady Miller*; “Mrs. Potiphar” - Naderah Munajj*; “Pharaoh “- Henry H. Miller*; Study Cover For: “Narrator” - Claire Flynn; “Baker/Butler” - Kai Horvit; “‘One More Angel’ Soloist” - Emma Sucato; ‘Canaan Days’ - Stephen C. Kallas; ‘Benjamin Calypso’ - Micheal Corey Hassel.
Swings: Jonah Barricklo Bennett Cooper Alex Kennedy.
Additional Creative Team:
Scenic Design - Baron Pugh; Lighting Design - Jose Santiago; Sound Design - Alex Berg; Costume Coordinator - Rebecca Glick; Owner and Producer - Bill Hanney; Producing Artistic Director - Kevin P. Hill; Associate Producer an Casting Director - Matthew Chappell; Production Stage Manager - James O. Hansen*; Assistant Stage Managers - Maria Papadopoulos*, Elena Ring*; Dance Captain - Naomi Kakuk*; Rehearsal Pianist - Spencer Stanley; Youth Supervisor - Kam Dunn; Assistant Youth Supervisor - Bella Carroll.*Member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
Performances:
July 8, 2026 through July 19, 2026
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
TICKETS:
For tickets and information visit www.nsmt.org, call # 978-232-7200, or visit the North Shore Music Theatre box office in person at 54 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA. 01915
BUY TICKETS
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
(Warning: The following review contains spoilers)
Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) in Beverly presents a stylish musical staging of "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" and it is NOT to be missed.
Stripped down to just the bare essentials and told completely in-the-round, this production is masterfully staged with a dynamic cast of performers.
The intentional omission of sets puts the onus on the cast, musicians and creative team to focus their combined effort squarely on simplified storytelling.
This effort is enhanced by imaginative applications in the technical areas of lighting, sound, props, the NSMT staging area itself and (most importantly for this show) costumes.
The musical is a family-friendly retelling of the story of JOSEPH from the Bible's “Book of Genesis.”
(Photo: Nikita Burshteynr as “Joseph” with Olivia Valli as “Narrator” with the CAST of the musical "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice now playing at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. through July 19, 2026. Photo Credit: Paul Lyden)
"JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" actually began back in the early 1970s as an original concept album that was a sung-through narration with music by an up-and-coming composer named Andrew Lloyd Webber along with lyrics provided by his partner Tim Rice.
Driven by the popularity of the concept album, the musical quickly made its stage debut back in the early 1970s and this latest production by NSMT honors its half-century legacy with a superb cast.
While "JOSEPH" would be the first collaboration between Lloyd Webber and Rice it would, of course, not be their last.
The duo also collaborated on "Evita" and "Jesus Christ Superstar."
However, among many Webber-Rice fans, "JOSEPH" is still one of - if not THE - most enjoyable to listen to of their musical collaborations.
The musical had its professional premiere in 1972 then landed on Broadway in 1982, resulting in seven Tony Award nominations including one for Best Musical.
Told intimately in-the-round, the North Shore Musical Theatre musical begins with a chorus of children (with angelic voices) gathered on stage to hear the story of "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" as relayed by the Narrator (Olivia Valli).
Valli is simply stellar as the show’s Narrator, a role that not only showcases her talent as a “power belter” but as a dynamic vocalist with incredible range.
Valli is also allowed more than a few moments to react to events on stage, which heightens the comedic nature by adding a new dimension to the Narrator’s involvement beyond that of casual observer and storyteller.
(Photo: Eric Jordan Young (seated center) as "Jacob" surrounded by members of the CAST of the musical "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice now playing at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. through July 19, 2026. Photo Credit: Paul Lyden)
JOSEPH (Nikita Burshteynr) enters and sings to and with the children one of the show’s iconic tunes, "Any Dream Will Do.”
The number instantly sets the mood for the remainder of the evening as the song elicits a feeling of inspiration and optimism, even though the story of JOSEPH and his unexpected odyssey is filled with adversity and pessimism as it unfolds.
We are introduced to JOSEPH's father Jacob (Eric Jordan Young) and his 12 sons in the song "Jacob and Sons," and it is apparent from the outset Joe’s brothers have got it in for JOSEPH since he is unquestionably Jacob’s favorite child.
As directed and choreographed by Gerry McIntyre for NSMT, “Jacob and Sons” is a great way to kick things off and set the tone for what follows.
In fact, if any group is considering staging "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" in-the-round in the future, they should look at McIntyre’s approach taken here as a blueprint because this production is near-perfect.
In the song "Joseph's Dreams" the Narrator, JOSEPH and the brothers together reveal how JOSEPH might one day be destined to rule over the brothers.
To be fair to the brothers for a moment - While what they do next to their brother is both inexcusable and reprehensible, at the start JOSEPH is kind of obnoxious in repeatedly touting his father favoring him over his brothers.
However, the straw that breaks the proverbial camel’s back is when Jacob gives JOSEPH a multicolored coat as a sign of his adoration, sending the resentful brothers into a collective fit of jealous rage and soon they begin plotting against JOSEPH.
(Photo: Brent Thiessen as “Pharaoh” with the CAST of the musical "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice now playing at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. through July 19, 2026. Photo Credit: Paul Lyden)
As witnessed in the number "Poor, Poor JOSEPH," the brothers first try to kill JOSEPH by throwing him down into a pit but ultimately sell him as a slave to some passing Ishmaelites.
In the song "One More Angel in Heaven" - to obscure their hateful actions from Jacob, the brothers and their wives tell Jacob that his beloved JOSEPH has been killed, showing him JOSEPH's once-colorful/now-destroyed coat as proof.
The choreography here has intentional fun fluctuating from despair (while Jacob is on stage) to a celebratory hoedown (when he exits the stage) with the humor executed by some terrific comedic performers.
Overall, the execution by the NSMT ensemble for "JOSEPH" is precision perfect in every scene and musical number.
Costumes for the NSMT production are resplendent and finely detailed, alternating in style between costumes depicting the era in which the story itself takes place to when the story first premiered on stage in the early 1970s.
JOSEPH is taken to Egypt, where he is sold into slavery for the wealthy Potiphar (also played by Eric Jordan Young).
Instead of wallowing in despair, JOSEPH turns the negative into a positive, working hard and ultimately promoted to run the household.
The above two instances are my own personal issue with the story as JOSEPH seems far too accepting and adaptive to his constant misfortunes, albeit depicting his fortitude in believing he is destined for a higher calling.
(Photo: Performing the "Megamix" is the CAST of the musical "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice now playing at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. through July 19, 2026. Photo Credit: Paul Lyden)
Speaking of misfortunes:
JOSEPH shuns the advances of Mrs. Potiphar (Naomi Kakuk), but Potiphar sees them together and, in a fit of jealous rage (yes, a lot of that goes on here – maybe it’s a Bible thing or an ALW thing, go figure), Potipher throws JOSEPH in jail.
While Eric Jordan Young and Naomi Kakuk are fine in their respective “Potiphar” roles, their moments on stage are quite brief and do not allow for much impact overall.
One of the production’s many highlights comes in the form of a solo moment as Nikita Burshteynr as JOSEPH laments his situation in the powerful song "Close Every Door.”
Yet even while incarcerated, JOSEPH again turns a negative into a positive as he interprets the dreams of two of his fellow prisoners, both former servants of the Pharaoh, leading to the Act One finale "Go, Go JOSEPH."
The NSMT orchestra for "JOSEPH" under the direction of Robert L. Rucinski is rock solid and the music seems to fill the entire NSMT arena.
Act Two begins with the Narrator continuing the storytelling where we learn the Egyptian Pharaoh (Brent Thiessen) is plagued by weird dreams.
Really, really, weird dreams.
Learning of JOSEPH's ability,
Pharoah asks JOSEPH to interpret his weird dreams in the “Elvis-imbued” number "Song of the King" performed to the hilt by the highly entertaining and "Elvis-clad" Thiessen.
No. Really, REALLY, weird dreams.
(Photo: Olivia Valli as “Narrator” and Nikita Burshteynr as “Joseph” with the CAST of the musical "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice now playing at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA. through July 19, 2026. Photo Credit: Paul Lyden)
In the show’s funniest musical number, "Those Canaan Days,” we learn how JOSEPH's brothers are now struggling, starving and poor, regretting and feeling punished for dumping their brother into slavery and lying to their father.
I mean, who could have possibly have known that this is how things would have turned out, right?
Oh, wait - that's right...JOSEPH did...whoops.
Also, I mentioned earlier how the youth ensemble had angelic voices – well, in “Canaan Days” these men also showcase some incredible “angelic-like” harmonies.
The show’s abrupt ending is rather silly, with plot holes greater than Biblical (or ALW) standard.
However, with McIntyre’s staging, the absurdity of it all still comes across as great fun and you will quickly forget about any plot holes or absurdities once the show’s high-octane “Megamix” finale hits the stage.
So, if you are looking for a fun night out with the family, then I highly recommend you go-go-go-go see "JOSEPH."
If "any dream will do" for you, then catch this dazzling staging of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber visionary musical "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" at Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly which plays until July 19th, 2026, as this latest NSMT season continues.
Up next for Bill Hanney's North Shore Music Theatre will be the 80's hairband mish-mash of a jukebox musical "ROCK OF AGES" featuring a book by Chris D'Arienzo, which will begin August 12th and rocks out until August 23rd, 2026.
For tickets and information visit www.nsmt.org, call # 978-232-7200 or visit the North Shore Music Theatre box office in person at 54 Dunham Road, Beverly, MA. 01915.
BUY TICKETS
Approximately two hours, 10 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
"JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" bursts to life in a dazzling, high-energy celebration of music, color, and imagination!
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s beloved family musical retells the legendary biblical story of Jacob, his twelve sons, and the whirlwind Technicolor adventures of JOSEPH as he journeys from Canaan to Egypt.
Packed with eye-popping costumes, lively choreography, and a genre-blending score that features unforgettable songs including “Any Dream Will Do,” “Go, Go, Go Joseph” and “Close Every Door.”
A feel-good spectacle filled with humor, heart, and hope, "JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT" is filled with humor, heart, and hope, this joyful journey is for dreamers of all ages!
Approximately two hours, 10 minutes with one intermission
CONTENT ADVISORY: Production has strobing and flashing lights, and theatrical haze.
This show is suitable for all audiences.
We do encourage you to use your judgment based on your own research of the show, your own sensibilities, and a child's age and maturity level.
No children under the age of 4 will be permitted in the theatre including babes in arms.
ABOUT BILL HANNEY'S NORTH SHORE MUSIC THEATRE
Since opening in 1955, NORTH SHORE MUSIC THEATRE (NSMT) has become one of the most attended theatres in New England, with approximately 250,000 patrons annually. With a national and regional reputation for artistic achievement, NSMT has received numerous industry awards including Elliot Norton Awards, IRNE Awards, the Rosetta Le Noire Award from Actors' Equity, and the Moss Hart Award. NSMT produced the World Premiere of "Memphis" in 2003, the show went on to win four 2010 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Under the new ownership of Bill Hanney since 2010, NSMT continues to annually produce a musical subscription series and an annual production of "A Christmas Carol" along with celebrity concerts, children's programming and year-round education classes for children and adults.
54 Dunham Road
Beverly, MA. 01915
# 978-232-7200
Fax # 978-232-9999
northshoremusictheatre@nsmt.org
