Temple Theatre Launches Lively Production Of ‘Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’

The Temple Theatre in Sanford has officially kicked off their long-awaited centennial season, promising a line-up of the biggest and best shows from the Temple's storied 100-year history. And the Temple team has sprinted right out the gate with their quirky yet heartful take on the legendary Broadway musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

As a Sanford native I always attended Temple shows as a lover of live local theatre. But for this landmark season at the venue I wanted to approach these productions with a more critical eye and offer my review for each one. I went in to Joseph's opening weekend with pen and pad in hand, ready to note every aspect of the performance that stood out to me. Here are my thoughts.

One thing you never have to worry about at a Temple show is the full-blown commitment of the cast, and that is especially evident in this most current run of Joseph. From the all powerful Pharoah, down to the lowliest Ishmaelite, the entire cast delivers a high energy performance of biblical proportions.

Perhaps the most notable stand-out in the show is Logan Kelly, who plays the role of Narrator. Having acted in previous Temple Theatre productions including Footloose and Les Miserables, Logan is no stranger to the Temple stage. That comfortability shines through in her performance, with the young actress controlling the flow and energy of the overarching story with veteran ease. Logan's Narrator exudes endless warmth from the moment she steps on stage and sings the tale of Joseph and his brightly colored garb to a captivated children's choir and audience alike.

But of course, you can't have Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat without Joseph. Hunter Semrau leads the cast as the titular Joseph, a charming young dreamer thrust into a journey of forgiveness and redemption. Keen eyes would note that Hunter was also in this year's spring production of Million Dollar Quartet, stealing the show as a rambunctious and frenetic young Jerry Lee Lewis. While his role as Joseph is a bit more subdued and humble at heart, Hunter still exhibits flashes of the bravado and charisma that he brought to the end of the Temple's previous season. It can be a daunting task to toe the line between playing up a character's confidence without sacrificing likeability, but Hunter threads that needle with the same precision and attention to detail that crafted his vibrant finery. And Hunter's vast wealth of musical theatre experience was on full display in the way he effortlessly delivers some of the show's most powerful musical performances, most notably "Close Every Door" which closes the first act. And speaking of singing...

Let me preface this by saying I'm very much NOT a gifted singer, as Temple Theatre's Artistic Director Peggy Taphorn can attest from my audition this past spring. With that said, I was apprehensive approaching this show with the intent of critiquing its musical merits.

Suffice to say, you don't need to be a vocal coach or 30-year musical veteran to know that the musical performances in this production are top notch. The show is of course rife with gifted crooners, each of whom delivers their own unique singing styles that offer a little something for everyone.

As I noted earlier, Hunter Semrau packs an emotional punch at the halfway point of the show with "Close Every Door." But the entire ensemble does a remarkable job bringing Andrew Lloyd Webber's music to life the Sanford stage.

The 11-man ensemble comprising the role of Joseph's brothers will have you keeling over with laughter from their side-splitting numbers. Longtime Temple actor Seth Hoyle brings the laughs with a countryfied rendition of "One More Angel In Heaven."

But the second act is where the brothers truly bask in the spotlight, as Patrick Holt drunkenly ponders the consequences of their actions with side-splitting results. And Colton Steele's performance during "Benjamin Calypso" had me absolutely cackling. My apologies to the couple in the seats beside me.

As enjoyable as the Temple's production of Joseph was, it was not without some (albeit minor) flaws. There were a few moments through the show where it sounded like some of the performers' mics were cutting out, which threw off the immersion for the few fleeting seconds it would occur.

I was also admittedly underwhelmed by the set pieces. The design of the backdrops have more of a restrained aesthetic than I was expecting, which is surprising to me since I've seen the level of production value the Temple Theatre is capable of. That's not to say there were no notable set pieces, however. Pharoah's throne is particularly well-crafted, and the design of the eponymous coat of many colors is absolutely inspired and worthy of praise. Also, knowing the shows that lie ahead for their centennial season, I'm willing to bet they're saving their more extravagant sets for future productions.

This show is definitely a must-see for anyone looking for a fun, energetic show. The breadth of talent in the cast and crew more than makes up for any sound or design issues. And with only an hour and a half run time it won't consume your entire schedule. If Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is anything to go on, the Temple Theatre's Centennial Season is sure to be absolutely electric!

Temple Theatre's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is running September 5-22. Visit templeshows.com for details and tickets.

KC's Final Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

What do you think are some fast-food items that need to make a comeback? Some of our favorite menu items are missing from our go-to restaurants, and it's time they make their return.

Menus are constantly changing, and that's understandable. You need to adjust with the times and keep up with what the customers want. However, sometimes you just need to listen. The people are asking for these fast-food items to make a comeback. Can you think of any you'd like to see make a return to the menu? We've thought of 5 (once) popular fast-food items that need to make a comeback!

Right now, the popular craze in fast-food is Bargain Bundle Meals. It seems like every restaurant is coming out with a new menu bundle aimed at saving you money. McDonald's has a $5 meal deal, as does Burger King. Taco Bell has a new $7 combo bundle, and even Sonic recently debuted a $1.99 Value Menu. That's great that they're thinking about our wallets during this time, where even fast food seems to cost a ridiculous amount of money. However, is it enough? There's still a lot more these restaurants can do for us. All they need to do is pay attention. I'm sure you've seen people calling for certain items to come back on social media. Chances are you even have a couple of examples in mind yourself.

Admittedly, some fast-food items leave the menu for a good reason. If people aren't buying the product, then you should probably remove it from the menu. That makes sense financially. Also, I think these restaurants should stay in their lane. I don't need a burger from Taco Bell and I don't need a taco from McDonald's. Focus on what you do best and execute. What doesn't make financial sense is when you know people are clambering for one of your delicious items to return to the menu, but you don't make it happen. Seriously, fast-food chains would make so much more money than they already do if they re-introduced these five items to the public.

We've been asking... nay, we've been demanding and yet our voices have gone unheard. So, I'm trying again. Here are five once-popular fast-food items that need to make a comeback! If you can think of any that didn't make the list, make sure to let us know!

https://youtu.be/wy9lMmxNh-o?si=e9WXL-ksKNEXOm4i You probably expected to see this on the list and I can't not include it. Seriously, people don't talk about fast-food items that need to make a comeback without talking about McDonald's Snack Wraps. They were a COVID casualty and the restaurant chain has blamed supply chain issues for it not making its return to menus across the country. People keep asking and asking but it hasn't happened yet. They'll create a new value bundle but won't give us our Snack Wraps. It's going to happen one day, I just hope it's soon.

https://youtu.be/1oNf6NOQCFU?si=J1_VPlwNYiv56sUT The Twister at KFC might have been one of my favorite fast-food menu items of all-time and sadly you can't get them anymore. They were different than your ordinary Chicken Wraps and even better than the previously mentioned Snack Wraps, if I do say so myself. The chicken was crispy and delicious, the lettuce was also crispy and delicious, but it was that spice that got your attention. It wasn't overwhelming but you knew it was there. It was the perfect flavor. I miss it every day.

https://youtu.be/_oT3VHK0X2w?si=Zix2uBa5G56-WNn7 Saving Silverman is one of my favorite movies and every time I watch it I'm reminded of the monster roast beef sandwich that was Arby's Big Montana. It always looks so tasty when Amanda Peet's character Judith eats one. Sure, Amanda adds to why it looks so good, but you can't help but to want a bite. This thing was huge! It was a half-pound of Roast Beef! That's probably why they ended up having to pull it off menus. They still have the meats, but back then they REALLY had the meats.

https://youtu.be/eQkFvfiWNpI?si=eVEoQlnRYPwm0XMU It wasn't very long ago that we were enjoying Double Chalupas at Taco Bell. They were seemingly double the size of an ordinary Chalupa and resembled a boat. Yes, a taco boat! How tasty is that? It also had Nacho Cheese on it, which makes me miss their Nacho Cheese Chalupa. I loved the big version of the popular taco. It wasn't long ago that they had it on menus, and it always could make a comeback. I wouldn't be surprised. Taco Bell seems to understand the assignment and give people what they want.

Of course Szechuan Sauce makes the list! The people need it to come back! It's one of the best sauces not only that McDonald's has ever released but in all of fast-food! The sauce made its debut in 1998 as a promotion for Disney's Mulan and then took a nearly 20-year hiatus before coming back thanks to a Rick and Morty promotion. People again went crazy for it during its limited release and would horde the sauce. Hopefully it will return for good one day because it's that good. Mmm how I miss that garlicky spicy goodness. It's truly one-of-a-kind.