THEATER

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Fri.-Sun. Jan. 9-18 Hoogland Center for the Arts 420 S. Sixth St. 217-523-2787 www.scfta.org $13 adults, $12 Children and Seniors Fri.-Sat. 8pm, Sun 2pm

Joseph’s dreamcoat

The Springfield Theatre Center is giving theater lovers what they have been asking for with a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. According to Bill Bauser, director of the musical, it is the most requested show at the Springfield Theatre Center. The story follows Joseph, who wears a multi-colored coat, a symbol of his father’s preference for him. As in most stories in which parents play favorites, it leads to disaster and Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers. What comes next is a lesson about being punished for honesty and using your gifts to overcome adversity. Though the story is a classic, Bauser decided to update the production. The setting is a playground, the Pharaoh resembles Donald Trump and twists have been added to the jokes and songs. Bauser calls Dreamcoat a “feel-good show” with a variety of music that leaves the audience humming the tunes.