Ciemiewicz Appearing In Fifth Production Of 'Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'
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David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
Marc Ciemiewicz is no stranger to “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” as he’s now in his fifth production of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. The first time he performed in the Broadway show he played Reuben. In the second production, he was Naphtali; Levi and Potiphar for the third production; Reuben again in the fourth production; and now he’s Jacob and Potiphar for the national tour. “The biggest difference was all of the other productions were short runs of two, three, four weeks. National tours are much longer than that,” Ciemiewicz said in a telephone interview Nov. 24. “In a national tour, you get to tour to audiences all over the country. The show is such a wonderful gift to everyone. It’s accessible to everyone. It has a wonderful message of forgiveness and love.” The national tour of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” part of the Wabash Valley Music Association Series, will take to the Ford Theatre stage at the Honeywell Center, Wabash, at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 8. Tickets are $24, $38 and $54 and can be purchased online at honeywellcenter.org In the musical, Jacob is the father of 12 sons, his favorite being Joseph. Describing the other character he plays, Potiphar, Ciemiewicz said, “He is the Donald Trump of his time.” Ciemiewicz has toured in Yeston & Kopit’s “Phantom,” “Footloose” and “The Wedding Singer”; appeared in selected regional productions of “Fiddler on the Roof” as Tevye, “42nd Street” as Julian Marsh, “Wonderful Town” as Appopolous and “Jesus Christ Superstar” as Herod. He earned his bachelor of fine arts degree from Shenandoah Conservatory and master of fine arts from San Diego State University. He said whether he’s in a Biblical-based musical like “Technicolor Dreamcoat” or “Jesus Christ Superstar” or a secular show like “Footloose,” there’s not really a difference in acting. Actors just have to allow “yourself to immerse in the character and do the show. I was raised Catholic so there are a couple of moments that hit home. But for the most part, you just do what you need to do for the audience.” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is about family, and Ciemiewicz said “there is something that is bonding on a tour like this” where everyone becomes like a family. The cast and crew are on a holiday break until after Christmas, and Ciemiewicz said that separation sometimes is needed, but, “I wouldn’t say no one on this tour doesn’t love one another. The show is about family and I think that’s what makes us stronger as a family.” In the national touring production, Ciemiewicz said he has a lot of downtime backstage, but that allows him to take in the show behind the curtains. He said his favorite moments are the songs “Those Canaan Days” and “Pharaoh’s Story.” “Just because they’re so unique and our director and choreographer, Andy Blankenbuehler, brought such an incredible vision to the numbers,” Ciemiewicz said. While Ciemiewicz’s family won’t get a chance to see the production until after the new year, he said a number of his friends around the country have and they “absolutely loved it. They were truly impressed by it.” He said “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is one show you can never be bored with because everything is constantly moving and going. The styles of songs also change so if you don’t like one song, you’ll probably like the next. There is no dialogue in the show as it’s a musical completely sang from beginning to end. “I think it fits the show perfectly. I couldn’t imagine ‘Joseph’ having any dialogue,” Ciemiewicz stated. It started as a chamber piece, he explained, but Rice and Webber kept expanding on it. “I think it’s what the show needs. Each show requires its own sensibilities. With ‘Joseph,’ being completely sang through fits it perfectly,” Ciemiewicz said. One thing that sets this production apart from others, Ciemiewicz said, is that Blankenbuehler brought some modern sensibilities to it mixed with the Biblical times. He said none of the other productions of the show he’s been in have really done it in the way that Blankenbuehler has. The use of projections tie everything in together, moving audiences from one location to another, he said. “Our projections are phenomenal. It’s really neat to see,” he said. Ciemiewicz encouraged everyone to come out and see it. “Just because it’s a musical doesn’t mean you won’t like it,” he said. “I found people who said musicals are not their thing enjoy this show. It’s one of those shows, you’ll come and like it. It does have a message of love and family and I don’t think people have enough of that in their lives.”
