Published: November 04, 2009 04:13 pm      

‘Joseph’ director brings experience to Beef & Boards production

Doug King performed in national tour starring Donny Osmond

Indianapolis resident Doug King has something in common with Kym Johnson on “Dancing With The Stars.” He, too, has performed on stage with Donny Osmond — not as a ballroom dance partner, but rather as part of the national tour of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat,” which starred Osmond in the title role.

King played the roles of Dan, and later Levi, for the 1993-95 tour, which visited cities including Chicago, Minneapolis, Toronto, Vancouver, and Edmonton. The experience he gained ultimately led him to his current task: Directing “Joseph…” at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, on stage through Nov. 22.

“The experience I had on tour was an outstanding one,” King said. “The people I worked with, places I went, and the show and professional experience gained and applied was remarkable. Besides having employment for two and a half years, it has really provided an extended employment by being able to choreograph and direct this show for years to come.

“This production at Beef and Boards will be my fifth remount, with a sixth to follow this winter.”

King is no stranger to Beef & Boards, having performed at the northwest side theatre regularly for 22 years. Nor is he a stranger to the duties of directing and choreographing.

“(I have) choreographed and directed theatre, university, and high school groups from Chicago down to Alabama,” King said. He is also on Anderson University’s dance faculty and has a dance ministry at his church.

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor® Dreamcoat,” the first collaboration between composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice to be staged, is based on the Old Testament story of Joseph, the favorite of Jacob’s 12 sons.

“I like to remind (the actors) that these are real historical characters,” King said.

“I remember seeing this show in its first ’80s success,” he added. “There is a lot of simple charm that was attached to that show before the extravaganza of the ‘bigger is better’ revival tour. I try to bring in an exciting, high-energy extravaganza production, without losing some of the simple charm of the original Broadway run.

“I think it works very well, especially for our smaller, more intimate house. I hope audiences will find the same excitement and energy while maintaining that warm-fuzzy charm which this show was intended to do.”

There are 52 performances of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor ® Dreamcoat” at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre, 9301 N. Michigan Road. Tickets range from $34 to $57, and include Chef Odell Ward’s dinner buffet, fruit and salad bar, and unlimited coffee, tea, and lemonade. Parking is always free.

For reservations, call the box office at 872-9664 anytime between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays. For show schedule, visit the website www.beefandboards.com.