There’s this book that a lot of folks are reading nowadays. A lot of people say it’s a good read. It’s called The Bible. You may have heard of it. Anyway, one of the stories from “the good book” has been made into a great musical, and Robidoux Resident Theatre will be bringing it to the stage at the Missouri Theater for the last show of its 2007/08 season when it presents “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” at 7:30 p.m. July 17, 18 and 19 and 2 p.m. July 20. Tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under. The musical is based on the tale of Joseph from the book of Genesis, and if you think about it, we’re talking some pretty heavy stuff. It tells the story of Joseph’s brothers selling him as a slave to Egyptians only for Joseph to become an instrumental and powerful figure in Egypt.

In the hands of famed musical duo Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the story of “Joseph” gets a musical makeover and light-hearted approach that has made it one of the most popular and profitable musicals of all time.

Ashley Dougan, who plays the narrator in “Joseph,” says this was one of the first musicals she ever saw, and it still remains one of her favorites. She thinks “Joseph’s” approach to making a musical out of the biblical story works for audiences.

“This musical makes that story a lot more accessible,” Dougan says. “It’s kind of told on the level of a kid’s story, so it’s very easy to digest.”

This is the first time Robidoux Resident Theatre has put on “Joseph” in 21 years. While Webber and Rice have produced plenty of classic musicals (“Evita” and “Cats,” just to name a couple), many of them are so complicated technically that a community theater group couldn’t afford to pull it off and make a profit. But “Joseph,” with its minimalistic set-up, colorful wardrobe and effective lighting, presents the most affordable way to get a Webber and Rice musical on the stage.

“Costumes and lights are by far what moves it technically,” says Jeff Haney, business manager for RRT. “We can’t do ‘Phantom of the Opera,’ but we can do ‘Joseph.’”

“Joseph” is being directed by Carol Myers, whose last turn as a director for RRT was last season’s Neil Simon comedy “Rumors.” Even though it’s not a comedy, Myers thinks “Joseph” is fun due to all of its different musical styles, including Elvis-esque rock ‘n’ roll, country, French ballads, calypso and disco.

“It stands out because it goes through very different genres of music, which is very different for a musical,” Myers says. “The varieties of music, the biblically based storyline — it has a certain charm to it.”

The play’s cast of 50-plus performers, along with the music and choreography, presented new challenges for Myers, not to mention that the songbook didn’t really give her even the most basic stage directions.

“When I received the songbook, there was no blocking... All of that had to be conceived,” Myers says. “I just had to listen to the lyrics and let the lyrics tell the story.”

And the lyrics will be what mainly tells the story. Unlike most musicals that mix song and dialogue, the music literally doesn’t stop.

“This entire musical is almost like one entire song,” says Jonathan McClain, who plays Joseph. “You have to do all of your acting through singing.”

McClain is just one member of the musical’s male-dominated cast, and Haney is happy to feature plenty of the community’s male players for a change.

“This will be a way to put them on stage more,” Haney says. “The guys, they’re really going to blow the roof off.”

“Joseph” is sure to offer a little something for everybody, but Myers says that through all the complicated choreography, musical variety and color-filled visuals, there is a good message that audiences will be able to grasp.

“A running theme throughout the whole show is hope... The underlying sense of hope that you can achieve your dreams, whatever they may be.”

— BLAKE HANNON | St. Joe Live Staff