Rock Opera on Tap at Lockport's Palace Theater

Michael Damian is one of many actors to play Joseph.

A Biblically based musical or rock opera entitled Joseph And the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be performed at the Historic Palace Theater in Lockport on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.,  and Sunday at 3 p.m.

It will feature Drew Burke as Joseph and Hannah Sharp as the Narrator.

The play is directed by Christopher D. Parada and is under the musical direction of David Stacey. It is choreographed by Dyan Mulvey and the vocal direction is by Kelly DiStefano.

The musical was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Tim Rice.

The story is based on Joseph and his "coat of many colors" story from the Book of Genesis.

Following the success of the Webber and Rice rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph received stage productions beginning in 1970, was recorded in 1974 and opened on Broadway in 1982. An expanded show was restaged in 1991. Several revivals and a 1999 film, starring Donny Osmond, followed.

The show has little spoken dialogue; it is completely sung-through. According to a Webber website, more than 20,000 schools and amateur theater groups have put on productions.

In addition to Osmond, Paul Jones, David-James Carroll, Bill Hutton, Jason Donovan, Phillip Schofield, Michael Damian, Stephen Gately, Patrick Cassidy, Lee Mead and Keith Jack have been among the actors who played Joseph.

The single "Any Dream Will Do" from the show was the #1 UK single for two weeks in June-July 1991.

The Historic Palace Theatre is located at 2 East Avenue in Lockport. The box office phone is 716-438-1130. You can also visit www. lockportpalacetheatre.org for more information.

Ticket Prices are $13 to $18. The show will also be staged Friday, April19, and Saturday, April 20th at 7:30 p. m. and Sunday, April 21, at 3 p.m.