We found ourselves in Saint George, Utah this weekend. We have heard over and over again about the popularity of this destination, so thought we would check it out for ourselves as we celebrated our anniversary. Whenever we hear people tell us about going to this little town in Southern Utah, right away it’s always recommend to visit Tuacahn Amphitheatre and see whatever show is playing. Full disclosure for you–I’ve seen hundreds of musicals and plays on Broadway and might be a bit of a snob when it comes to what I think is considered good theater and what can’t be missed. Maybe at one point in time, when I first started seeing shows on the stage, I would be apt to think most productions are going to be high quality. I have learned, unfortunately, through experience that isn’t the case and all shows are not created equal. I have my favorites and I have several that were so bad that I had to leave the show early because it wasn’t worth sticking around. So now that you know where I am coming from, whenever someone would say that, I would kind of roll my eyes and laugh a little, thinking the chances of the theater being of a high caliber probably wasn’t the greatest. I mean, why would I expect that in the middle of the desert? But, I was looking forward to finding out for myself, especially when I saw that one of my favorite musicals, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was gracing the stage there.

When we arrived at the venue, I was surprised to see the tall orange cliffs surrounding the theater. This venue is nestled in the rocks, an outdoor stage and seating unlike any other I had ever seen before. It was stunning! We grabbed our tickets and enjoyed the food trucks, music and shopping in the courtyard while we awaited the doors to open. When we found our way to our seats, I realized there was no bad seat in the house, as it was an intimate gathering of people. Stadium seating chairs provided perfect views, no matter where you were sitting in the house. If you had premium seats, you were closer to the stage with an added seat cushion for extra comfort and an ice cold water awaiting your arrival. A much welcomed benefit in the hot Southern Utah air. As the sun went down, and we anticipated the start of the show, you could simply enjoy being in such a scenic amphitheater. It’s not often you would find yourself surrounded by such spectacular sites when going to the theatre.

Now, although I was excited to see the show, I was guarded. I figured it would be a local production and just a fun way to spend the evening, but nothing really more. When the stage lights turned on and we heard David Archuleta begin singing, I knew this was far from an amateur theater production. In fact, I felt like I was back in New York City–actual Broadway! Was it a fluke and just a really good singer starting off the show? No, not at all!

The entire cast was absolutely fabulous! The entire musical was everything I’ve always known and loved about the best of the best productions. The music and sound was fantastic. The sets were wonderful. The actors and singers abundantly talented. Looking through the program, it was confirmed that many of the actors had actually been in Broadway productions of shows I have seen and National tours. There were even some fun additions to the show that were unique to Tuacahn that I absolutely loved. There may or may not have been an actual camel onstage at one point–seriously, so cool! All of this even before the intermission! At that point in the show, my husband and I looked at each other and expressed our amazement at how phenomenal this production was. I was absolutely blown away at the quality.

The show resumed and continued to impress me. From start to finish, the high energy was contagious and so much fun. I absolutely loved Tuacahn’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. If I were in town longer, I would have surely taken in the other two summer season productions of Mary Poppins and Wonderland. I don’t doubt they would be just as incredible, as the performers at Tuacahn play multiple characters throughout the season in multiple shows. That, to me, is incredibly impressive. But given the talent I saw displayed on stage that night, I am sure they successfully do so. We happened to see David Archuleta as Joseph, which he will continue to do until September 3rd. After that, the show will continue until October 20, 2022.

You can purchase your own tickets to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat or the other current productions by visiting their website. Not only do they have their Broadway in the Canyon shows, but also concerts and comedians on their calendar. I highly recommend browsing their website and picking up some tickets for you and your family to enjoy in the upcoming weeks and months. If you act quickly, you can even receive some special Back to School pricing! I was so wrong about my assumption that it would be local theatre. It was as good as any Broadway show I have had the pleasure of seeing. This particular production ranks high in my top five list of all time favorites and that is really saying something!

Go be amazed for yourself and see what I am talking about it. You will not regret it!

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT 

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SHOW DATES: JULY 16 – OCT 20, 2022

OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATRE

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DAVID ARCHULETA WILL BE PLAYING THE ROLE OF JOSEPH FROM JULY 16 – SEPT 3. 

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From the musical genius of Andrew Lloyd Weber (Phantom of the Opera) and Tim Rice (Beauty and the Beast) comes one of the most popular musicals of the last 50 years. This telling of the biblical story of Joseph and his brothers is filled with great music, costumes, laughter, joy, and heart. Utilizing many different styles of music from pop/rock to country to musical comedy this sparkling show follows young Joseph as he faces adversity and triumphs through his dreams and his strong, unwavering faith. Joseph includes the unforgettable classics “Any Dream Will Do” and “Close Every Door.” This show has entertained tens of millions of people and is guaranteed to thrill and delight your family! 

David Archuleta will be playing the role of Joseph from July 16 – Sept 3. 

Director: Michael Heitzman

Choreographer: Robbie Roby

Music Supervisor: Christopher Babbage

Music Director: Cameron Kinnear

Associate Music Director: Daniel Mollett

^{*we were invited to visit to facilitate a feature, all opinions are my own*}