‘Dreamcoat’ choreographer still dreams big

March 2, 2014 at 12:05a.m.

Any dream will do.

That’s not only a song from Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” but it also epitomizes Andy Blankenbuehler’s experience with the Tony Award-nominated production.

Today, Blankenbuehler is a Tony Award-winning choreographer; however, in 1987 he was an awkward high school theater kid getting his feet wet.

“‘Joseph’ was actually the very first show I ever choreographed,” said Blankenbuehler, calling from New York City. “It was at a time when, like, I really got bit by the theater bug. For me, that’s where it all began.”

When looking back to that high school production, which he said amazingly included five cast members who would go on to Broadway, Blankenbuehler said his work was decent despite the fact it was really long and “overstayed its welcome.”

You can bet Blankenbuehler’s new production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” which debuts in Cleveland on Tuesday and runs through March 16 at the Palace Theatre, won’t suffer the same fate.

During the more than a quarter of a century that has passed since the last time he tackled the show, Blankenbuehler has been a busy guy exploring all avenues of dance and theater. Not only did he win the 2008 Tony Award for his choreography in “In The Heights,” but he also choreographed Broadway shows “Bring It On,” “9 To 5,” “The People In The Picture,” “The Apple Tree” and the recent revival of “Annie.”

Outside of that, Blankenbuehler has done concert work for Elton John and Bette Midler, and he conceived, directed and choreographed the Las Vegas hit production “Nights On Broadway.” He also ventured into television, working on “America’s Got Talent,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” “The Sopranos” and more.

“Now, my life is in a different place compared to high school, where ‘Joseph’ is different,” Blankenbuehler said. “To me, the show has nothing to do with the coat. Of course, we have a beautiful coat, but to me the idea of the coat is synonymous with possibility and dreaming.

“And it’s not dreaming dreams but dreaming of life goals. So the show is very much about saying don’t forget the fires that drove you to begin with. I could only do this new production of ‘Joseph’ in the past two years, where my adult life has many stresses and deadlines that I’ve had to be reminded that it all started for very important reasons. It really is a full circle for me. I’m able to be like Joseph when he’s reunited with his father.”

As far as Blankenbuehler’s current role as director and choreographer of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” he’s keen on the idea of presenting a unified vision of the musical known for popular songs such as the aforementioned “Any Dream Will Do,” as well as “Those Canaan Days” and “Close Every Door.”

He stresses there’s also a modern flair that incorporates a hip-hop vibe.

“The choreography functions as almost like a sign language or story language,” Blankenbuehler said. “There’s a little bit of hip-hop and contemporary movement, but the exciting thing about ‘Joseph’ is that it’s a pastiche score, so there’s a hoedown, a go-go number and all different styles.”

He quickly added, “But in this show, all of those styles are in this sort of blanket lens of having a contemporary funkiness to it. So in that way, I feel like it’s a fresh take.”