From the stage of American Idol to the theatrical boomtown of Ivins, Utah, David Archuleta bares his soul (and his chest) in a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Featuring music by Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Joseph premiered on the West end in 1973 and didn’t jump the pond to Broadway until 1982. Several successful revivals have been produced over the years, including ones with David Cassidy and Donny Osmond.
Related: 5 stage shows that had audiences gagging over full-frontal male nudity
Archuleta will be singing his way through the Old Testament in Webber and Rice’s Joseph, based on the story from the Book of Genesis. The show’s Act 1 finale, “Close Every Door” depicts a shirtless, jailed Joseph yearning for freedom and a land of his own. In some ways, the character parallels the singer’s journey as he openly explores and defines his queer identity, singing:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
“Do what you want with me,
Hate me and laugh at me
Darken my daytime
And torture my night
If my life were important I
Would ask will I live or die
But I know the answers lie
Far from this world”
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
“Anything I’ve really accomplished in life has come from doing things I don’t feel comfortable doing,” the singer told The Salt Lake Tribune. “I would’ve been fine if I was created as a rock in the desert, sitting still and basking in the sun. But alas, I am human, so I am expected to accomplish more in life that just sit motionless in the desert.”
David Archuleta appears in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at Tuacahn Amphitheatre through September 3 with the musical continuing its run through October 20.
averageguy40
I love this show (especially the Donny Osmond version). I think David would be an excellent Joseph. I would like to see it. The show pics look great.
ttenchantr
Not sure what he’s wearing but it’s not a lioncloth.
mz.sam
Looks like the Technicolor ex-Mormon girl is wearing a translucent thirst-trap kilt.
JPB
No, it’s a LOINcloth
dbmcvey
Which brings up the question, do you know what a LOINCLOTH is?
barkomatic
Still hunky and we know he can sing so I bet it’s a great show.
Anthonyshine
Holy Joseph!!!! He grew up!!
Rikki Roze
He was such a cutie on American Idol. Hope he can find himself in the theatre and get away from SLC and that awful church. Sweet voice.
Jim
Finally we get to see him shirtless
I’m glad his career is going well
kdhain12
Requisite jail attire… sheer loincloth and topsiders. Still adorable.
Mr-DJ
So happy to see that his talent is not being wasted, after he left the scene while on Mormon mission. Also, that he is finally living as his authentic self, since he finally came out, and no longer imprisoned by his religion.
Herman75
Would love to see it.
mr_ominous
I’d pay $1,000,000 to be that loincloth. ?
Cam
I felt bad for him when he was young, newly famous and talking about his religion.
I had a feeling he would go the way of so many LGBTQ Mormons, First deny themselves, then edge out of the closet and think that their religion will be reasonable, then finally a disappointed realization that the official LDS church position is bigotry and hate and they wasted years as members of the Church.
Glad he’s out and happy and working.
dbmcvey
I’m happy for him, he looks great!
But, I was in this show years ago and absolutely hate it now. The music annoys the Hell out of me.
UpperCasey
Erm. MORE BACKLIGHTING ON THE STAGE. And GET CLOSER WITH THE CAMERA!!!
missvamp
he is wonderful & did so great recently on the masked singer. i knew it was him pretty much from the beginning. his voice is so great.