Lake County’s Marriott Lincolnshire Resort invites you to a lavish birthday celebration of its half-century of award-winning success. Hotel guests, theater enthusiasts, and dining patrons will first experience a signature upscale-themed dinner event coordinated with current onstage theater productions. An extravaganza of riches, a treasure trove of curated exotic adventure, and an exciting transport to Egypt through a two-part show await you beginning on February 5 and continuing through March 30, coordinated with its stellar production of the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
I cannot imagine a more romantic gift or a special treat to yourself than an indulgent, well-deserved Marriott Lincolnshire getaway. This an experience you will enjoy and recall with fondness forever. The evening begins with Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat dinner, designed to coordinate with the WOW main stage musical. This is the first of five brilliantly imagined immersive dining experiences at the fine dining upscale Three Embers Restaurant. Marriott Theatre’s design team, along with events company Ravenswood, Milo Bue Scenic Designs, and designer Anthony Churchill, transport you to a magical environment coordinated with each stage production in their spectacular 50th anniversary season.
Three Embers Restaurant transforms into Joseph’s Dream Grill. It replicates the world of Joseph with stunning aesthetics, bringing the restaurant to amazing technicolor life. Dreamy lanterns, colorful scarves, suspended stars, and a starlit framed screen will play immersive visuals for guests to dine back in time, with a special photo op for diners to commemorate their experience. Palm trees and brightly adorned fabrics will fill the restaurant, which looks out onto the lake and lakeside pavilion with its fire pits.
Guests are invited to indulge in a specialty-themed menu led by Chef de Cuisine Jonathon Silver. Silver’s pre-fixe menu features Egyptian delicacies. The menu starters include a choice of either Nile Red Lentil Soup, with herb oil and micro cilantro, or Salata Baldi with cucumber, tomato, onion, dill, and lemon coriander vinaigrette. The second-course entrees are a choice of either Jacob’s Beef Shawarma, Chicken Shish Tawook, a yogurt-marinated chicken kebab, or Sea Bass Sayadieh, a classic Middle Eastern dish of fish, rice, and caramelized onions. The entrees are accompanied by Rox Bel Shareyz (Egyptian Rice and Toasted Vermicelli). If you are a vegetarian, try the national dish of Egypt, Koshari (Roz Bel Shareya, Macaroni, Dim’a Musabika, Lentils, & Chickpeas). Dessert is the decadent specialty “Fit for a King” raisin cake dessert.
Three Ember’s Main Menu is also available and has Joseph-themed dishes such as the Pharaoh’s Memphis-style BBQ pizza and the Wood-Fired Shrimp Creole. I tried both, and they were delicious choices. Joseph’s Dream Grill is open five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday, from 5 pm to 9 pm throughout the run of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. To book your reservation at Joseph’s Dream Grill today, please visit www.threeembersrestaurant.com or call 847-634-0100. Follow Lincolnshire Marriott Resort @lshiremarriott on Instagram and @MarriottLincolnshireResort on Facebook to stay on top of all updates.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was the first Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical to be performed publicly. The biblical story of Joseph, Jacob’s favorite son and dream interpreter, revolves around the themes of jealousy, betrayal, deceit, false imprisonment, and, ultimately, love and forgiveness. Try to imagine yourself trying to forgive such a heinous, treacherous act as selling a beloved brother into slavery and telling his father he is dead. We are challenged to reconcile ourselves to simple, unintended slights. This biblical story reminds us that we must be kind, understanding, and forgiving to achieve peace.
With her experience as a choreographer, producer, and dramaturg educator, Northwestern graduate Amber Mak skillfully directs and choreographs Marriott Lincolnshire’s lively production. It is imaginative and creative, with unique staging choices. The pom-pom cheerleaders for the “Go, Go, Go Joseph” song received wild applause. Mak reminds us, “Joseph is a show that has captivated audiences worldwide. Its universal themes of love, loss, and redemption resonate deeply, while its sheer exuberance and joyous energy provide an escape from the everyday. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to this musical, I hope you’ll find something to delight in as you let the music transport you through this colorful, dreamy journey. Just remember, any dream will do.” and that he popped out of an Egyptian coffin. This is a rich, vibrant, brilliant show sparkling with an infectious energy that will shake the winter doldrums right out of you. The ensemble explodes on stage with a dynamic energy that never ceases. Their dancing, singing, and acting are stellar.
Chicagoland Theatre favorite Devin DeSantis stars as Joseph. He has a personable manner and a fabulous voice. His singing will enthrall you. Jeff Award Winning, Star of Marriott’s Beautiful Kaitlyn Davis, is the narrator. Davis is clear and in her delivery perfection. She has the voice of an angel. Her duets with Avelyn Lena Choi are beautiful harmonies. Choi is only ten years old and has quite a resume, including the national tour of Frozen as Elsa. She is already well on the road to becoming a star performer. Three-time Jeff Award Winner Lorenzo Rush Jr. is a convincing, charismatic Pharaoh who congenially engages with the audience. I loved his Elvis costume. George Keating plays both Jacob and Potiphar adroitly. His wigs really identified his character.
The cast and ensemble players are all fabulous. They play their parts with flawless gusto. The Ishmelites: Kayla Kennedy, Ron King, Sophie Liu David, Maxel McLoud Schingen as a hippy rock band with captive Joseph as a slave roadie is truly comic genius. Lillian Castillo portrays Reuben. Christopher Kale is cast as Issachar. Kayla Kennedy is a slinking, beguiling, evil temptress as Potiphar’s wife who ensnares poor Joseph. Michael Ervin Martin is Levi. Teah Kiang Mirabelli is Asher. Leah Morrow is Simeon. Justin Payton Nelson is Benjamin. Tommy Rivera Vega is Zebulon. Maxel McLoud Schingen is the butler, and Elizabeth Telford is Naphtali. Amanda Walker is Gad. J. Tyler Whitmer plays both Dan and the baker.
Theresa Ham’s plethora of costume designs is phenomenal. She captures the story and mood of the musical perfectly. Kudos to Miguel A. Armstrong’s fabulous Wig and Makeup design. Scenic Design by Jeffrey D. Kmiec sets the mood inventively. The lighting design by Jesse Klug was fantastic and magical. The patterned stars changing light and colors were so engaging and gorgeous. My guest commented she wants that look for her outdoor garden. The stage floor was covered by photos of Berger Carpets, which set the location. Sound Design is by Michael Daly. Sally Zack expertly crafts Properties Design. Music Director/Orchestrations Ryan T. Nelson and Conductor Rick Bertone Music Coordinator do Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice’s beloved score proud. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is packed with pop and musical theatre classics, including Any Dream Will Do,” “Close Every Door,” “There’s One More Angel In Heaven,” and “Go, Go, Go Joseph”. It will have you tapping your toes and clapping your hands and wanting to sing out loud. With its glittering costumes and medley of songs, the finale was Broadway and Vegas wrapped up as a gift. The icing on the cake was Joseph exhorting us to find love and joy. Yes, we did. Please pass it on.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is scheduled to run on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. with select Thursday 1:00 p.m. shows. Call for group, dinner-theatre, student, senior, and military discounts. Please call (847) 634-0100 to make a restaurant reservation. Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets or become a Marriott Theatre Subscriber during the 50th Anniversary season, please call the Marriott Theatre Box Office at (847) 634-0200 or go to tickets. Visit Marriott Theatre for further information.
Photos Courtesy of: Brett Beiner and Heron Agency
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Loved the show and the food looks delicious.