‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ on stage May 10

JC McCann took a somewhat circuitous path to his starring role in Jam Theatricals’ national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

He majored in vocal performance at the University of Wyoming. But then after graduation, he spent about three years working as an insurance adjustor.

He also spent time laboring in the Wyoming oil fields.

Eventually, he ended up in New York, embarking on a stream of auditions.

The Joseph role turned out to be a perfect fit.

“There are messages in the show that speak to me in my life,” McCann said. “Joseph goes through big ups and downs, and so many things are out of his control. That can happen to all of us — we have big dreams, but life can bring us down. (For me), I knew there was something more.”

McCann and the rest of the Joseph crew will stop in Kennewick on May 10 for a performance at the Toyota Center. Showtime is 7 p.m.

Written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Weber, the musical is based on the Biblical story of Joseph, who was sold into slavery but eventually rose to become a powerful leader.

It opened on Broadway more than three decades ago, but the tour has fresh elements, including new lights and projection, some new songs and hip hop-inspired choreography, McCann said.

“You may have seen Joseph, you haven’t seen our Joseph,” he told the Herald.

McCann grew up in Wyoming, taking advantage of the vocal and theater programs at his middle and high schools.

He also dove into performance in college, participating in everything from a pop a capella group to musical theater.

Then came his stint working in insurance.

It was a good job, a good life, he said.

But his acting dreams ultimately won out.

He spent some time performing in the Bay Area, but was drawn to New York.

He saved money by working in the oil fields in his home state, earning enough to see him through a period of auditioning.

Before too long in the Big Apple, he’d won the role of Joseph.

The Kennewick show is the last U.S. stop on the tour. McCann will have some family in town for it — his mother and sister live in Northern Idaho and plan to make the trip.

Next up for McCann is a stint with the show in Tokyo.

It’s an exciting time, he said. He loves performing, and the show is a lot of fun.

It also has important themes, about enduring through hardship, about forgiveness, about hope, he said.

“I know when people come, they’re going to feel those elements of hope and forgiveness,” he said. “They’ll leave singing the songs, having had a great time.”

Tickets start at $32. They’re available through Ticketmaster and the Toyota Center box office. Tickets purchased through the box office avoid service charges.

This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 9:06 AM with the headline "‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ on stage May 10."