Overview
Synopsis
The biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes alive in the musical retelling. Joseph -- the favorite son of Jacob -- is blessed with vivid dreams that foretell the future. Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, Joseph endures a series of adventures which challenge him to his core. Soon he finds himself belonging to Potiphar, whose wife makes advances toward Joseph and ultimately land him behind bars. However, news of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams sparks the interest of the hilariously Elvis-like Pharaoh. Soon, Joseph is out of jail and well on his way to second-in-command. Eventually Joseph’s brothers find themselves unknowingly groveling at the feet of the brother they betrayed. As they fail to even recognise him, Joseph tests their integrity. He ultimately reveals himself and the brothers are reconciled. A truly timeless Old Testament tale, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is set to a multitude of musical genres, spanning from country-western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock and roll.
Show Information
- Music
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Lyrics
- Tim Rice
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- The Book of Genesis
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1973
- Genres
- Comedy, Fairy Tale/Fantasy, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- biblical times, the holy land
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Elementary School, Ensemble Cast, High School, Large Cast, Middle School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Religious Groups, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult Characters
Context
In 1967 Andrew Lloyd Webber was approached by Alan Doggett, the head of Music at Colet Court, St Paul’s Junior School, which Andrew’s younger brother, Julian attended. Doggett wanted Webber to compose a “pop cantata” for the school chorus to sing in their end-of-term concert. Andrew approached friend, Tim Rice, to write lyrics for the project. They toyed with several ideas, but eventually Rice suggested that they write based on the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis.
The first
to read the context for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The Narrator addresses the audience, telling them that if they have an hour or two, she will tell them the story of a boy who had a dream and how it came true (“Prologue”). Joseph appears and sings with the choir about his story: his beautiful coat, losing his coat, and being left alone (“Any Dream Will Do”).
The Narrator introduces Jacob and his twelve sons: Reuben, the eldest, Simeon, Levi, Naphtali, Isaachar, Asher, Dan, Zebulun, Gad, Benjamin, Judah, and Joseph, his
to read the plot for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Contralto |
Songs
Act One
- “Prologue” - Narrator
- “Any Dream Will Do” - Joseph
- “Jacob and Sons” - Narrator, *Joseph, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Wives, Ensemble
- “Joseph’s Coat” - Jacob, Joseph, Narrator, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Wives, Ensemble
- “Joseph’s Dreams” - Narrator, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Joseph
- “Poor, Poor Joseph” - Narrator, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Ishmaelites
- “One More Angel in Heaven” - Narrator, Reuben (soloist), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Wives, Jacob
- “Potiphar” - Narrator, Male Ensemble, Mrs. Potiphar, Potiphar, Joseph
- “Close Every Door” - Joseph
- “Go, Go, Go Joseph” - Narrator, Butler, Baker, Ensemble, Joseph
Act Two
- “Pharaoh’s Story” - Narrator
- “Poor, Poor Pharaoh” - Narrator, Butler, Pharaoh, Ensemble
- “Song of the King” - Pharaoh, Ensemble
- “Pharaoh’s Dream Explained” - Joseph, Ensemble
- “Stone the Crows” - Narrator, Pharaoh, Joseph, Female Ensemble
- “Those Canaan Days” - Simeon (soloist), Reuben, Jacob, Reuben, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin
- “The Brothers Come to Egypt/Grovel, Grovel” - Narrator, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Joseph, Female Ensemble
- “Who’s the Thief?” - Joseph, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Female Ensemble
- “Benjamin’s Calypso” - Judah (soloist), Joseph, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, *Benjamin, Ensemble
- “Joseph All the Time” - Narrator, Joseph, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Female Ensemble
- “Jacob in Egypt” - Narrator, Jacob, Ensemble
- “Any Dream Will Do (Reprise)” - Joseph, Narrator, Jacob, Ensemble
- “Joseph Megamix” - Full Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Telling a story, often accompanying or guiding the central action of the play.
A storyteller, or someone who provides commentary on the action of a play or musical.
A production designed especially to show off the talents of a particular performer.
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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