When Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, neither one expected it to be the colossal hit it has turned into. It started out as a 15-minute piece in 1968, and then a concept album was recorded in 1969. Since then it has been on Broadway, in 1982, and has been in London twice, in 1991 and then it was revived in 2003.
The show has toured and been performed regionally countless times, including a version with Donny Osmond as Joseph that was eventually filmed. Due to the enormous success of the film Les Misérables, Webber has now confirmed that a film adaptation of Joseph will happen sometime in 2014.
The current national tour starring American Idol runner up Diana DeGarmo as the narrator will be here in San Diego from June 24-29 at the Civic Theatre downtown.
Her husband, Ace Young who was also an American Idol finalist from season 5, joins DeGarmo. The two met in 2009 when they were both cast in the Broadway revival of the musical Hair.
Aside from the two headliners, the Joseph cast is loaded with Broadway and television talents including Paul Castree who will be playing Simeon and Brian Golub who plays Reuben.
Both actors know their way around a Broadway and Off Broadway stage and have toured many times in the past. The acting bug bit Castree, who hails from Rockford, Illinois, when he was around 11-years-old.
“I’d say I got ‘bit ‘ when I was around 10 or 11,” Castree said. “[I saw] my older brothers performing in the musicals at the high school. My brothers along with many talented cousins performed both in high school and in the local college summer theater productions, so I saw a lot of musicals growing up.”
Like most young performers he got his start performing with theme parks like Marriot’s Great America and Opryland in Nashville. His first professional job was in the national tour of Bye Bye Birdie.
“[I got] my Equity card playing Harvey Johnson in the national tour of Bye Bye Birdie starring Tommy Tune and Ann Reinking,” Castree said. “The tour ended and I officially moved to New York City and got my first job Off Broadway in Forever Plaid. A year later I made my Broadway debut playing Eugene in the 1994 revival of Grease! I’ve been fortunate to have worked in nine productions on Broadway, eight of them as an original cast member. It’s always incredibly exciting to be part of an original piece of theater. It’s a lot of work of course. There are constant changes and revisions to be implemented. You’re rehearsing one version in the afternoon and performing a different version at night! But it’s a dream for any actor to be a part of that process.”
Golub has also worked with some well-known headliners both on stage and in film. Most notably would be the film Didn’t This Used To Be Fun with Sean Lockhart aka Brent Corrigan and on stage in Naked Boys Singing.
“Well let’s first make it clear that this was a legit movie musical,” Golub said. “[This was] not a movie that Sean Lockhart usually does. I want to make that clear ha hah! I mean it was cool. He was nice and fun to stare at and I think the scene I did with him I danced with him in the bar and took his shirt off or something like that. That was the extent of it, but I mean it’s a good story right?”
As for Naked Boys Singing, Golub confesses that he is enjoying the opportunity to do Joseph, a show where he gets to keep his clothes on.
“I did that show off and on in New York City for like three years or so,” Golub said. “It was fun and freeing and very different. But if I had my choice clothes on is better on stage. People actually pay attention to your acting and singing more when you are clothed.”
Golub is also quite the entrepreneur keeping himself busy with two of his own companies and as a yoga instructor. Those close to Astoria, New York may know him as “The Yoga Singer”, a name given to him by The Huffington Post.
“I actually was talking to my tax guy and he said, ‘you are the quintessential New York freelancer!’”, Golub said. “I had like 23 1099s for him, ha! I did start a very successful flash mob company and then left and started my own which is Uncle Brian Productions; it’s slower now that I am on the road but I am able to keep gigs happening with it. I also am a yoga instructor and also a Reiki healer. I have started another company called Uncle Brian Wellness. This is for my holistic side and services. I plan on adding Thai massage to my bag of tricks when off tour.
“I also cut hair (for fun and will be getting my barber license too) and I crotchet baby blankets (for fun). I am an emcee for events as well! I love learning new things and am always figuring out how to make them part of my life/career.”
Both actors have their favorite parts of the show and of course it’s where they are featured best. For Castree it’s the song “Those Canaan Days” and for Golub it’s “One More Angel In Heaven.”
“My favorite part of Joseph of course is ‘Those Canaan Days,’” Castree said. “How often do you get to sing such a fun song? Our fantastic director Andy Blankenbuehler completely re-imagined the number for this production and it’s great fun every single time!”
Golub echoes Castree’s sentiments regarding Blankenbuehler’s direction.
“Andy Blankenbuehler has done an amazing job at updating this production,” Golub exclaimed. “My favorite part of the show and this production is my number of course! I get to sing “One More Angel In Heaven” which is a big hoedown. The choreography is not your every day Joseph. It’s Andy B so how could it be? It fuses hip-hop and musical theater and tap. It really is a fresh take on an older show. It’s fresh and fun and new! I also love that we get to be onstage the whole time with all the brothers! It makes the show a lot of fun! We hardly ever leave the stage so it is exhausting but fun!”
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat arrives at the Civic Theatre June 24. Tickets can be ordered online at broadwaysd.com/joseph-and-the-amazing-technicolor-dreamcoat.htm or you can call the box office at 619-564-3000.
