Went to Joseph at Tuacahn tonight. I've only ever seem one small production of this show before. I doubt I will ever again see a production as over the top as this one featuring fireworks, ariel silks, cast members ziplining over the audience, a full stretch limo on stage alongside a live camel, and live Draft horses pulling a golden chariot. I couldn't help thinking that this might have been what is what like to see some of the spectacular put on at the Hippodrome at the start of the 20th Century.
David Archuleta left the show in September. His replacement, Josh Strickland, reminded me somewhat of Cheyenne Jackson.
Here's how the Pharaoh number was done tonight.
So initially, the actress playing Pharaoh in this production (Jalynn Steele) is dressed like Elvis in a blue jumpsuit with a big rockabilly style wig. She's at the top of a staircase on a pyramid & turns to the audience & says "Dude looks like a lady!" Then she goes into "Song of the King" and performs it as it traditionally is done, as Elvis. Then Joseph says something like, "Hmm I don't quite understand...could you repeat that?" Pharaoh says, " Do you want me to break it down for you? Let me break it down for you!" Then she strips off the jumpsuit & pulls off the big Elvis wig. Underneath she is dressed like Tina Turner, and the reprises "Song of the King" with dance moves reminiscent of how Tina would perform "Rolling Down the River," with the chorus girls all also now in miniskirts like Tina wore.
It was quite an extravagant performance, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to see it. I bought early enough that I had a good seat, pretty low down in the amphitheater with a fairly close view for only $75.
Sat beside a nice elderly lady who wanted to chat. She said this time of year is actually the best time to see a show there since it is not as unbearably hot as mid-summer - it is an open air theatre. It is 11pm as I write this & has cooled down to about 75°. I brought a jacket, but didn't use it. In mid-summer they have misters that spray out over the audience. St. George is somewhere a lot if people retire to, so I'd say the lady next to me at about 75 was the average age of tonight's audience. She called me a youngster when I said I'm almost 50!
I'm halfway through my trip, & spent a lot of time so far in some of the National Parks here in Utah. It is unbelievably beautiful. If you've never been, I highly recommend it.
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