‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ IS, WELL, DREAMY

In Sunday School back in the ’70s, a major innovation in the retelling of Bible stories was the use of the flannelgraph. Instead of just reading the text, teachers used a board with flannel characters and backgrounds to help make the tales come to life.

While Sunday School didn’t involve math problems, the following equation is definitely true: Missouri Street Theatre’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” > flannelgraphs.

MST first staged the famed Andrew Lloyd Webber musical with lyrics by Tim Rice back in 2010. Their youth theater

Review

Missouri Street Theatre presents ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’

6 p.m. Sunday Downtown Theatre, 1035 Texas St., Fairfield www.downtowntheatre.com

HHHH (OUT OF FOUR) the Narrator with her bestie Casey Ellis. Now I am kind of jumping ahead in the review, but when Joseph, who is unjustly imprisoned, sings the song “Close Every Door” – which has lyrics like “Just give coat” is adapted from the Biblical account of Joseph, recorded in the book of Genesis. Joseph was an interpreter of dreams and was the favorite son of his father, Jacob, who adorned him with a gift of a coat of many colors.

Joseph’s 11 brothers were jealous and concocted a scheme whereby they pretended he was killed by a wild animal and then sold him into slavery. Joseph’s life after that went from rags to riches to rags and back to riches again.

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” has a long history going back to 1968, and its 1982 Broadway production was nominated for several Tony Awards. Probably the most notable person to play the title role on stage was former pop star Donny Osmond, who also starred in a direct-to-video adaptation released in 1999.

So let me rewind: The story of “Joseph

Alex Alvarez played Joseph in Missouri Street Theatre’s version. Alvarez now is a close second in the award for Most Jarring Back-to-Back Roles in MST History. He was last seen on stage as the sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania, Frank N. Furter in “The Rocky Horror Show.” The top spot is still owned by Michael Scott Wells, who in 2014 played Jesus Christ in “Godspell” and in MST’s next production, “Peter Pan,” played Nana the dog.

Like in his previous roles, Alvarez was totally invested in the character of the title dreamer and expressed the wonder, mystery, kind of haughty jerkiness (to his brothers) and compassion it demanded. And he, of course, brought the vocal goods on tunes like the aforementioned “Close Every Door,” “Any Dream Will Do,” “Joseph’s Dreams” and others.

Joseph’s 11 brothers were played splendidly by Crystal Kearns (Reuben), Kaleb Soto (Simeon), Philip Graves (Levi), Taiyo Douglas (Naphtali), Eduard

Courtesy photo

Some cast members of MST’s production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Dixon fair entry forms due Friday

DIXON — If you took up a new hobby, craft or practiced your baking this year, it will be fun to participate in the annual competition at the Dixon May Fair from May 11 to 14. The fair is looking for your knitting, bread-baking, photos and flower arrangements, along with all the traditional quilts, preserves, art and more. Details for hundreds of entry classes are outlined in the 2023 Exhibitor Guidebook for all the ways the community can enter their projects.

Anyone who lives in the state of California can enter their home-grown and homemade exhibits in most categories of the May Fair’s competition, which might earn a prized blue ribbon or a little cash. (Market animals are restricted to

Courtesy photo

The Dixon May Fair is looking for hobby, craft, and cooking entries for their annual competition.

Solano County.) Entering the fair is easy and can be done online at www.dixonmayfair.com. Entry forms can also be downloaded. The guidebook can be picked up at the fair office or be viewed online. While entry forms are due Friday, the actual exhibits are not due until closer to the fair as outlined in the guidebook.

The year’s theme is “Spring Has Sprung.”

For information on how to participate, visit dixonmayfair.com and follow their Facebook page for up-to-date information.

See Joseph, Page B3

Lucky Penny announces urgent-need fundraising effort

Daily Republic Staff DRNEWS@DAILYREPUBLIC.NET

NAPA — Lucky Penny Productions seeks the cure to a “Covid hangover” by launching a new urgent-need fundraising project with a goal of $25,000.

“While we returned to producing shows successfully in September of 2021, the effects of the pandemic have lingered, and costs have gone up across the board,” said managing director Barry Martin in a press release. “We have had to draw on our reserves to cover expenses and that’s only a short-term solution.”

“I’m proud of how we have bounced back with high-quality shows since we reopened, which is reflected in the 10 nominations we recently received from the

See Penny, Page B3

Laugh

From Page B1 filmed, Hannah was a rising star in Hollywood. As both were exiting the studio, she offered to give him a ride to his car.

“The only downside (of the film) was six or seven of my scenes were cut. It’s heartbreaking,” Mittleman said.

Mittleman grew up surrounded by comedy. His parents would listen to Johnny Carson and his ilk.

Once he discovered getting laughs was fun, Mittleman blossomed from an extrovert into an introvert. He did not date until he was out of college.

“I was pretty shy,” he said. “I had to change, so I changed.”

In high school, he did the homeroom announcements over the public address system. Those talents were employed when he worked in a grocery story and was tasked with doing the closing announcements, sounding like a horse racing announcer.

Reflecting, he said he can’t believe the grocery story let him do it “over and over again” a few days a week.

Neurotic guys make Mittleman laugh. Larry David, Richard Lewis and Dana Gould are on that list.

One venue on the comic’s bucket list?

“Carnegie Hall,” he said. “That would be great.”

Mittleman has been to

Penny

From Page B1

San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle,” said artistic director Taylor Bartolucci in the same press release.

“Everyone has been working hard but with rising costs we need some help to make our way toward the new season in September.”

The company is lining up a robust summer of music and comedy shows to be capped by a fundraiser on Aug. 5 titled, “The Lucky Penny AllStars in Concert.” The 2023-24 season begins in September with “The Addams Family Musical.”

Donations can be made online at www.luckypennynapa.com. Checks can be made out to Lucky Penny Productions and mailed to 1357 Foster Road, Napa, CA 94558.

For questions, contact Lucky Penny at 707266-6305 or email info@ luckypennynapa.com.

An informational video for this fundraising effort is online at https://youtu. be/YyeaZHBuRQs.