MUSICAL GETS CHILDREN INVOLVED IN THEATER : THE FACTS.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

What do you get when you mix rock n' roll music, a Bible story, and a splash of color and imagination with 178 children? Answer: ``Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.''

The Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical will be revisited this weekend by the Children's Theater Experience, which uses a changing cast of local youngsters behind touring professionals in the lead roles.

``This is the biggest, monstrous show we've taken on because of all the elements,'' said Christopher Robertson, 30, co-owner of the Encino-based organization, which travels throughout California recruiting and rehearsing casts and putting on performances. ``We have kids everywhere.''

``It's a feel-good show,'' added Robertson. ``It's got great energy and is dazzling. I can't think of anyone who can leave without a smile of his face.''

With 178 children from kindergarten age on up in the cast, the high-energy musical is an adaptation of a Bible story put to rock music and vaudeville tunes.

The second youngest of 12 brothers, Joseph has special powers of interpreting people's dreams. Their father's favorite, Joseph is sold into slavery in Egypt by his jealous older brothers.

The play takes Joseph through many trials and triumphs as he is jailed temporarily and then becomes the right-hand man to the Pharaoh, who in this version bears more than a passing resemblance to Elvis Presley. The play comes to an end when Joseph is reunited with his brothers.

Joseph is played by 19-year-old Vacaville college student Matthew Teague Miller, who was cast for the part after the artistic director saw him play the same role in a Northern California production.

Minoring in theater at Solano College, Miller finds his lead role a bit ironic, since six years ago he worked in the same production as part of the lighting crew, handling the spotlight.

``When I got asked to do play the lead, it was a dream come true,'' said Miller, who intends to become an elementary school teacher. ``It's something I really wanted to do.

``Though I've done this show before, each time is different,'' said Miller. ``It's new costumes, new people and different concepts. Each experience is a new journey.''

Quartz Hill High School senior Kellee McDonald is the student director and played the part of narrator during a Wednesday morning performance for school children.

``This was a lot of fun,'' said McDonald, who has been singing since she was a little girl and started performing with Children's Theater Experience four years ago. ``I've waited to do this for a long time. It's my favorite, I think.''

``Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat'' will plays at 8 tonight, and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster Blvd. Tickets are $14 for adults and $12 for children. For reservations or more information, call [phone].

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2 Photos

Photo: (1--AV edition only--Color) Performers with the Children's Theater Experience sing in a number from ``Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,'' a biblical story set to contemporary music by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

(2--Color only in AV edition) Matthew Teague Miller, center, plays Joseph in ``Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,'' to be staged in Lancaster tonight.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News