Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was first performed at Colet Court School in London on March 1, 1968. The Head of the Music Department asked Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose younger brother attended the school at the time, to write a pop cantata that could be performed by the students at an end-of-term concert. Webber approached his friend, Tim Rice to assist him with the assignment, and after toying with several ideas, they decided that the story they would tell would be that of Joseph.
| The first performance of Joseph and the
Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was a mere fifteen minutes long, but
over the years expanded into what was to become one of the most successful
musicals in the world. It was also the beginning of a long and successful
partnership between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, culminating in
well-known musicals such as Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a poignant tale of faith and forgiveness.
It tells the captivating
Biblical story of Joseph, a handsome young man living in Canaan who is able to interpret
dreams. The score consists of a melodic and diverse collection blend of calypso, ‘50s rock and roll,
country and western, and even French art song.
Joseph, goes the story, is his father's favorite son, and Jacob demonstrates this by presenting Joseph with a beautiful multi-colored coat to wear instead of his sheepskin coat. Angry, jealous and resentful, Joseph's eleven brothers sell him into slavery to a "a bunch of hairy Ishmaelites". They return to their father, feigning sorrow at the "heroic death" of their unfortunate brother. Joseph tries to make the best of his adverse circumstances working for Potiphar, a rich property owner. However, things soon go from bad to worse when he refuses the advances of the beautiful, but evil Mrs. Poriphar. Joseph is sent to jail, where he soon becomes popular, due to his ability to interpret dreams. Pharaoh, king of Egypt, suffering from a spell of bad dreams, hears about Joseph's remarkable talent as an interpreter of dreams, and has the prisoner brought out of jail to interpret his disturbing dreams. Joseph rises to the challenge, telling Pharoah that Egypt would be experiencing seven years of plenty, which would then be followed by seven years of famine. The grateful Pharoah appoints Joseph as his "Number Two" with the important responsibility of preparing Egypt for the difficult days ahead. Years later Joseph's family suffers severely when famine hits the land. They remember those Canaan Days, and decide to travel to Egypt, where there was still plenty food, and beg for assistance. Joseph immediately realizes that his brothers had not recognized him, and decides to stage a surprise for them. He gives them several sacks of food, but unbeknown to the brothers, also places a golden goblet in one of them. Grateful for the food, the brothers prepare to return to Canaan. But Joseph stops them, because someone had stolen his "precious golden cup"! The goblet is found in Benjamin's sack, and Joseph threatens to have him locked up. With a "little help" from Bilhah, one of Jacob's four wives, the brothers plead Benjamin's case, and in doing so, convince Joseph that they have indeed changed their ways, and have become honest men. Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers, and the family is happily reunited.
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