---Theater Review by Jackie Houchin

Perhaps Glendale Centre Theatre's most popular and requested show, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" is non-stop exhilarating entertainment for the whole family.

Bursting with energy, color and glorious music, Andrew Lloyd Webber's outstanding musical of hope and promise features magical direction and choreography by Mark Knowles, lush and imaginative costumes, and over-the-top singing and dancing by a talented company of men and women.

Based on the Biblical account, "Joseph" is the story of a favorite son, honored by his father Jacob over his eleven brothers by the gift of a beautiful "coat of many colors." This gift - along with the fact that the handsome lad can interpret dreams - stirs up jealousy among the eleven and they capture him and sell him to a caravan bound for Egypt...as a slave.

Father Jacob is told a tale of woe by his other sons, of how his favorite boy sacrificed his life to save them from a... killer goat. Little did they know that Joseph's "sacrifice" would indeed one day save them from death by starvation.

In Egypt, Joseph is first honored, then disgraced, then - because of his dream interpreting talent - elevated to the number two spot in the land. When his brothers come begging for food, they don't recognize him, and Brother Joe gives them a royal scare. It leads to remorse, forgiveness and the eventual reuniting of father and son. A timeless story portrayed with drama, poignancy, tongue-in-cheek humor!

Handsome and talented Chanlon Jay Kaufman plays Joseph to perfection. His poignant prison song, "Close Every Door" (with echoes of other Jewish imprisonments), is hauntingly beautiful, while his triumphant ride to meet his father in his "chariot of gold" is thrilling.

As anyone who has seen the musical before knows, the role of Pharaoh must be played by an Elvis impersonator, and Lance Zitron does it with flash and flair. Close your eyes, and you hear "the King;" open them and you see pure "Elvis." He's definitely a crowd-pleaser.

The role of The Narrator is major, and Jessica Dynice meets the challenge. Her voice is both lyrical and vibrant. She easily spellbinds the audience with her nuance and charm.

The dancers are unstoppable in energy and skill, performing a variety of musical styles from square dance, to rock-and-roll, to apache, and calypso. Their final reprise of every musical number in the show is well worth the extra minutes it takes to watch. You'll be breathless!

"Joseph" runs Wednesday - Saturday evenings at 8:00 , plus Saturday matinees and two special Sunday matinees at 3:00, now through April 12.

Tickets are $22.50 - $25.50, with group rates available for 25 or more people. Call (818) 244-8481 for reservations.

The Glendale Centre Theatre is located at 324 North Orange Street (between Lexington & California) in Glendale.