BACKGROUND OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER & JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

MUSICAL
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lyrics by Tim Rice.

STAGE PRODUCTIONS
Originally produced in 1968 as a 20-minute oratorio performed by children at a private school in London, an expanded version of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT followed as a record album and was subsequently performed as a full-scale production in London in 1973. JOSEPH… was first performed in the United States in 1976 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. It was revived off-Broadway in 1981 in a production starring Bill Hutton and later, David Cassidy and ran for 824 performances. Recent productions have starred Donny Osmond in Toronto and Michael Damian on Broadway. A production for television was filmed in 1999 starring Donny Osmond and Maria Friedman.

(Taken from the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization web site.)
http://www.rnh.com/show_detail.asp?id=JO

AWARDS
1982 Tony Awards *
• 7 Nominations including Best Musical, Book and Score

1992 Laurence Olivier Awards (London) *
• 2 Awards for Best Set Design and Best Costume Design

SYNOPSIS OF JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT

Synopsis
The Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to vibrant life in this delightful musical parable. Joseph, his father's favorite son, is a boy blessed with prophetic dreams. When he is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, Joseph endures a series of adventures in which his spirit and humanity are continually challenged. He is purchased by Potiphar where thwarting advances from Potiphar's wife lands him in jail. When news of Joseph's gift to interpret dreams reaches the Pharaoh (wryly and riotously depicted as Elvis), Joseph is well on his way to becoming second in command. Eventually his brothers, having suffered greatly, unknowingly find themselves groveling at the feet of the brother they betrayed but no longer recognize. After testing their integrity, Joseph reveals himself leading to a heartfelt reconciliation of the sons of Israel. Set to an engaging cornucopia of musical styles, from country-western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock 'n' roll, this Old Testament tale emerges both timely and timeless.

(Taken from the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization web site.)
http://www.rnh.com/show_detail.asp?id=JO

Role	Voice Type (Range)	Dance	Age Range
Joseph	Tenor	Yes	18-28
Narrator	Soprano	Yes	18-65
Potiphar	Baritone	Some	35-55
Asher		Some	16-35
Simeon		Some	16-35
Butler	Tenor	Some	30-50
Pharaoh	Baritone	Some	35-45
Benjamin	Tenor	Some	16-35
Judah		Some	16-35
Reuben	Baritone	Some	28-35
Issachar		Some	16-35
Mrs. Potiphar	Alto	Some	20-50
Levi	Baritone	Some	22-32
Dan		Some	16-35
Naphtali	Tenor	Some	18-29
Jacob	Baritone	Some	60-99
Gad		Some	16-35
Baker	Tenor	Some	25-50
Zebulon		Some	16-35
Adult Chorus		Some	16-99
Children's Chorus		Some	8+

ORCHESTRA INSTRUMENTATION

Full Orchestration

JOSEPH SCENES

SETTING: This musical takes place "way, way back many centuries ago, not long after the Bible began" in the land of Canaan and Egypt.

LIST OF MUSICAL NUMBERS