MCP Joseph - Vosk, Espinosa & Newell

I wasn't thrilled when they announced that Noah Galvin would replace Ari'el Stachel (anyone know why?) but they got me re-interested today with Eden Espinosa, Jessica Vosk and Alex Newell as the 'Narrator'.

I wonder if they'll split the part or sing together? Or both?

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Eden-Espinosa-Alex-Newell-and-Jessica-Vosk-Will-Play-Narrator-in-MCPs-JOSEPH-AND-THE-AMAZING-TECHNICOLOR-DREAMCOAT-20191217

I went from not much interest at all to absolutely no interest whatsoever with this announcement.

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I just think this was an odd show for Manhattan Concert Productions to choose. It's not like Crazy for You or Parade where there are a ton of meaty ensemble parts made for a truly "starry performance."

In fact, aside from Joseph and the Narrator, everyone else seems to be virtually a bit role woven into the greater chorus tapestry...excuse the metaphors.

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With Andy Karl, I'd love to. But it looks like most of the good seats are gone.

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Sadly tonight is all Sold Out.

Reports will be greatly appreciated

bwaylyric said: "What a joyful night. Highlights were A Pharaoh’s Story led by Jessica Vosk, Those Canaan Days led by Bonnie Milligan, and of course, the mega mix. The previous two got well-deserved extended applause. There were some missed lyrics in the beginning, but the big issue was the withthe sound design — there were mic and sound balancing problems throughout the show."

I went to MCP's production of Scarlet Pimpernel last year. *Really* fun night, but there were also sound issues. I wonder if it's just the space?

I ran into a friend at intermission, who asked if I felt the sound was also fuzzy (we were both in the third tier). She hadn’t attended the Pimpernel concert but I had, so that wasn’t a surprise for me. It’s just unfortunate!

The Zabar’s bags when Joseph gives his brothers food at the end was hilarious. As were the [live camel] and [live/dead goat] signs.

The Potiphar Trump thing was… fun but also kinda low-hanging fruit. It was funny but I’m not sure it needed that many ad-libs. If they were going to go with that, I might’ve been happier with more obvious other satirical takes with other minor characters.

Everything else was such a joy. I never, EVER dance around other people but everyone else was during the megamix, so I did as well. So much fun. I’ve loved this show for 20 years and I hadn’t seen it in about 10. I didn’t realize how much I’d needed to see it again until tonight!

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bwaylyric said: "The Beyoncé pharaoh was a brilliant move!"

It took me a minute, but then I realized they were doing that. Loved it. I do agree that the Potphar/Trump thing was exaggerated a bit too far.



I THOUGHT THOSE WERE ZABARS BAGS!! I actually turned to the person I went with and asked them just to be sure. Hilarious.

A decision to do CIVIAL WAR –– and an announcement a year out –– is so unfathomably misguided. Especially considering a show about the Civil War has an entirely white (& male) writing team and creative team. Someone must be paying them big money to do it...

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "A decision to do CIVIAL WAR –– and an announcement a year out –– is so unfathomablymisguided. Especially considering a show about the Civil War has an entirely white (& male) writing team and creative team. Someone must be paying them big money to do it..."

<<edited by BWW staff>> please Ermengarde, do tell us rubes what the politically correct and "woke" makeup of the creative team should be -- how many blacks, how many asians, how many whites, how many each of male, female, trans, etc etc.??

Updated On: 2/18/20 at 11:40 AM

I could see them having chatted with Wildhorn while doing Pimpernal last year and liked working with him enough to start a conversation over what shows of his they could work with.

Being one of the few that actually got to see Civil War's original production.... I don't think this is a bad choice per say. Oh the original production was a misguided MESS, do not get me wrong, but the music and the use of actual quotes from history into monologues and as transitions into the original songs, while not playing well in a fully staged production, is going to fit VERY well in a concert setting. And it is going to allow for a who's who of talent to be involved because there are SO many roles features in the songs.

I can echo everyone about the sound mixing issues. Couldn’t hear soloists over the HUGE choir sometimes. It was better in Act 2 at least.

Standouts for me were Jessica and Eden as the Narrator. I’ll admit I was disappointed in Alex after loving him in Island. Alex seemed bored and the least prepared of them all.

Merle doing Pharaoh as Tina Turner was incredible haha. I saw someone said it was Beyoncé, but based on the costume and choreo I interpreted it as Tina.

Bonnie Milligan can sing anything and we don’t deserve her. She was WAILING up there and you could hear her over everyone during her song. Incredible.

Overall, I had fun. The cast sounded INCREDIBLE, but Joseph is still just a terrible piece of theater.

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Also agree about the sound issues - I was near the front of the orchestra, I couldn't hear most of the Pharoah song and I had to strain to hear some of the singing over the music. Still, it was some of the most fun I've ever had in a theater. I was lucky enough to see Bonnie Milligan in the one-night "Camelot" last year, too, and now after hearing her "Canaan Days," I wish someone would give her her own show. Brooks Ashmanskas and Gavin Lee were also incomparable, and I was a big fan of the Andy Karl/Trump imitation, wish it was on video! Also, I found the flubbed lines charming.

BTW, there ARE videos of the Megamix all over Instagram, and Bonnie posted one of Canaan Days, too.

I was not into the sequence where they held up signs with names -- I understood "Joseph," "Greta," "Martin" etc. but got confused by "Harvey." Didn't realize until I read the Vulture story that they meant Harvey Milk!

Updated On: 2/19/20 at 10:00 AM