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Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Wiki Information

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is the second British musical theatre show written by the team of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Its predecessor, The Likes of Us , was not performed until 2005. Based on the "coat of many colours" story of Joseph from the Hebrew Bible (Book of Genesis), this light-hearted show was first presented as a fifteen-minute pop cantata at Colet Court School in London on 1 March 1968. It was adapted as a musical film (starring Donny Osmond) in 1999. Joseph was particularly recognized as one of the few major British musical theatre shows with hardly any spoken dialogue, being sung-through almost completely.

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History

Alan Doggett, head of the Colet Court's music department, commissioned the piece for their first musical and conducted the performance with an orchestra and singers from Colet Court, the preparatory school for St Paul's School. ^[1] This first performance was given on 1 March 1968. ^[2]

Lloyd Webber's father, William, felt the show had the seeds of greatness. He encouraged and arranged for a second performance – at his church, Westminster Central Hall – with a revised and expanded format. The boys of Colet Court sang at this performance on 12 May 1968, which also included a rock group. It received positive reviews: London's Sunday Times said it was a new pop oratorio. Novello agreed to publish the work and Decca Records recorded it. By its third performance at St Paul's Cathedral on 9 November 1968, it had been expanded to 35 minutes and included the first appearance of several songs, including "Potiphar". David Daltrey (front man of British psychedelic band Tales of Justine ) played the role of Joseph , and Tim Rice as the Narrator. ^[3]

In 1970, Lloyd Webber and Rice used the popularity of their second rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar , to promote Joseph – which was advertised in America as a "sequel" to Superstar . Riding on Jesus coattails proved profitable for this "Technicolor coat" and the US Decca recording topped America's charts for three months.

In September 1972, Joseph was presented at the Edinburgh International Festival, directed by Frank Dunlop and starring Gary Bond in the title role, Peter Reeves as the narrator, and Gordon Waller as Pharaoh. A month later the production played at London's Young Vic and Roundhouse theatres. It was preceded by an act of medieval mystery plays that led to the story of the "Coat of Many Colours". The Young Vic production was recorded for an LP released on the RSO label in 1973.

On 17 February 1973, theatre producer Michael White and impresario Robert Stigwood mounted another Edinburgh production at the Albery Theatre. It was accompanied by a piece called Jacob's Journey , with music and lyrics by Lloyd Webber and Rice and a book by television comedy writers Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. Jacob's Journey , which contained a great deal of spoken dialogue, was eventually phased out in favour of the sung-through score of Joseph . The first production of the show in its modern, final form was at the Haymarket Theatre (Leicester).

A recording of the full musical (at this stage) was released on the MCA label in 1974, again featuring Bond, Reeves, and Waller. This is the earliest recording of Joseph to still be available commercially. Waller would go on to appear on another recording, in 1979, this time featuring Tim Rice as the narrator and Paul Jones as Joseph, on the Music For Pleasure label.

The first American production was in May 1970, at Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in Douglaston, New York. Colleges and amateur groups expressed great interest in the show and there were two professional productions in New York. It was not until 27 January 1982 that it reached Broadway at the Royale Theatre where it ran for 749 performances. This Broadway production, starring Bill Hutton as Joseph, Laurie Beechman as the Narrator, and Tom Carder as Pharaoh, was recorded for release on the Chrysalis label, and is the first to feature the Prologue (dubbed on the Chrysalis release "You are what you feel").

Its family-friendly storyline, universal themes, and catchy music have made Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat one of the most dependably profitable titles in musical theatre, particularly when producers cast a headlining star – and, according to the Really Useful Group, more than 20,000 schools and amateur theatre groups have successfully put on productions.

With Jason Donovan, who had enjoyed a chart success after his role in the soap opera Neighbours , in the lead, the (expanded) show was restaged in 1991 at the London Palladium with Steven Pimlott as director, winning the 1992 Laurence Olivier Awards for set design and costume design. When Donovan left, former children's TV presenter Phillip Schofield portrayed Joseph. A "far more modest" production ^[4] starring former Boyzone singer "rather diminutive" Stephen Gately "with cartoon cut-out sets and props and naff panto choreography" ^[5] previewed in Oxford in December 2002 before moving to Liverpool over Christmas 2002 and finishing up in the West End at the New London Theatre in March 2003.

In 1998, a video version directed by David Mallet and Stephen Pimlott was released with Donny Osmond in the title role. Osmond had toured North America in the role and in 1992 had recorded a soundtrack CD. Maria Friedman appeared as herself who is known as The Narrator . Richard Attenborough and Joan Collins also appeared in the video. ^[6]

David Dixon toured with the show for a 12 week run in Singapore (ending 12 April 1998), New Zealand, and Hong Kong (summer of 1998).

A revival of the 1991 Palladium production would be the subject of BBC One's second search for a West End star, channel controller Peter Fincham announced", ^[7] after the success of 2006's BBC/Lloyd Webber Saturday evening prime-time talent show series, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? . That show's viewers had voted for Connie Fisher as a new West End leading musical theatre actor to play the part of Maria von Trapp in Lloyd Webber's London Palladium revival that year of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music , a format adapted for US television as NBC's 2007 series Grease: You're the One that I Want! .

Introduced by Graham Norton and with the participation of Lloyd Webber, Doctor Who , Torchwood and musical theatre star John Barrowman, West End and Broadway lead Denise Van Outen and impresario Bill Kenwright, the prime-time Saturday evening series Any Dream Will Do! , sought a new leading man to play Joseph. More than 3 million viewers cast telephone votes during the 9 June 2007 series final and, said Norton on air, they made 25-year-old West End understudy Lee Mead "officially the people's Joseph". Lee left the show in January 2009, and was replaced by Gareth Gates on 9 February 2009. The production closed later in 2009 to make way for Pak-Rat but it will come back in late 2010.

West End Josephs

2009: Gareth Gates
2007–2009: Lee Mead
Briefly 2005 Zachary Schellhase
Briefly 2004: Darren Day
2004: Ian Watkins
2003–2004, 2005: Andrew Derbyshire
2003–2004: Stephen Gately
1999: Patrick Cassidy
1998: David Dixon
1993–1997: Donny Osmond
1993: Michael Damian, Darren Day
1992–1993: Phillip Schofield
1991–1992: Jason Donovan
1982-1983: David Cassidy
1981-1982: Andy Gibb ^[8]
Others: Wesley Eure, Leif Garrett

Synopsis

Act I

The story is based on the Biblical story of Joseph, found in the Book of Genesis. It is set in a frame in which a narrator is telling a story (sometimes to children, encouraging them to dream). She then tells the story of Joseph, another dreamer ("Prologue," "Any Dream Will Do" ). In the beginning of the main story Jacob and his 12 sons are introduced ("Jacob and Sons" ). Joseph's brothers are jealous of him for his coat, a symbol of their father's preference for him ("Joseph's Coat" ). It is clear from Joseph's dreams that he is destined to rule over them ("Joseph's Dreams" ). To get rid of him and prevent the dreams from coming true, they sell Joseph as a slave to some passing Ishmaelites ("Poor, Poor Joseph" ), who take him to Egypt.

Back home, his brothers, accompanied by their wives, break the news to Jacob that Joseph has been killed. They show his tattered coat smeared with his blood – really goat blood – as proof that what they say is true ("One More Angel in Heaven" ). In most productions, one brother usually sings the solo; the song often segues into a celebratory hoedown after the bereft Jacob has tottered off the stage.

In Egypt, Joseph is the slave of Egyptian millionaire Potiphar. He rises through the ranks of slaves and servants until he is running Potiphar's house. When Mrs. Potiphar makes advances, Joseph spurns her. Potiphar overhears, barges in, sees the two together – and jumps to conclusions. He jails Joseph ("Potiphar" ). Depressed, Joseph sings Close Every Door – but his spirits rise when he helps two prisoners put in his cell. Both are former servants of the Pharaoh and both have had bizarre dreams. Joseph interprets them. One cellmate, the Baker, will be executed, but the other, the Butler, will be returned to service ("Go, Go, Go Joseph" ).

Act II

The Narrator talks about impending changes in Joseph's fortunes ("A Pharaoh Story" ) because the Pharaoh is having dreams that no-one can interpret. Now freed, the Butler tells Pharaoh (acted in the style of Elvis Presley) of Joseph and his dream interpretation skills ("Poor, Poor Pharaoh" ). Pharaoh orders Joseph to be brought in and the king tells him his dream involving seven fat cows, seven skinny cows, seven healthy ears of corn, and seven dead ears of corn ("Song of the King" ). Joseph interprets the dream as seven plentiful years of crops followed by seven years of famine ("Pharaoh's Dreams Explained" ). An astonished Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of carrying out the preparations needed to endure the impending famine, and Joseph becomes the most powerful man in Egypt, second only to the Pharaoh ("Stone the Crows" ). In the 2007 London revival, Pharaoh has a new song (King of my Heart).

Back home, the famine had caught up with Joseph's brothers, who – led by the brother Reuben – express regret at selling him and deceiving their father ("Those Canaan Days" ). They hear Egypt still had food and decide to go there to beg for mercy and to be fed, not realising that they will be dealing with Joseph ("The Brothers Come to Egypt" ). He gives them food and sends them on their way, but plants a golden cup in the sack of his brother Benjamin ("Grovel, Grovel" ). When the brothers try to leave, Joseph stops them, asking about the "stolen cup". Each brother empties his sack, and it is revealed that Benjamin has the cup. Joseph then accuses Benjamin of robbery ("Who's the Thief?" ). The other brothers, though, beg for mercy for Benjamin, imploring that Joseph take them prisoner and set Benjamin free ("Benjamin Calypso" ).

Seeing their selflessness and penitence, Joseph reveals himself ("Joseph All the Time" ) and sends for his father. The two are reunited ("Jacob in Egypt") for a happy conclusion. The show ends with two songs ("Finale: Any Dream Will Do (Reprise)/Give Me My Coloured Coat" ), and for curtain call in some big productions, a rock/disco medley of most of the musical's major numbers ("Joseph Megamix" ).

Commentary

The entire show runs under two hours and is occasionally performed without intermission.

The show's "book" is "a light sending-up of the Bible story on which it relies", according to Nicholas de Jongh, theatre critic of London's Evening Standard . ^[9] Though the show is not overtly religious, it is based on stories from the Hebrew Bible.

Musical numbers

;Act I

Prologue - Narrator
Any Dream Will Do - Joseph & Children
Jacob and Sons - Narrator, Brothers, Wives, Children, & Ensemble
Joseph's Coat - Jacob, Narrator, Brothers, Wives, Children, & Ensemble
Joseph's Dreams - Narrator, Brothers, & Joseph
Poor, Poor Joseph - Narrator, Brothers, Children, & Ensemble
One More Angel in Heaven - Solo Brother (usually Reuben), Brothers, Jacob, Napthali, & Wives.
Potiphar - Narrator, Potiphar, Mrs. Potiphar, Joseph, Children, & Ensemble
Close Every Door - Joseph, Children, & Ensemble
Go, Go, Go Joseph - Narrator, Baker, Butler, Joseph, & Ensemble

;Act II

Pharaoh's Story - Narrator, Children, & Ensemble
Poor, Poor Pharaoh - Narrator, Butler, Pharaoh, Joseph, & Ensemble
Song of the King (Seven Fat Cows) - Pharaoh & Ensemble
Pharaoh's Dreams Explained - Joseph, Children, & Ensemble
Stone the Crows - Narrator, Pharaoh, Joseph, & Ensemble
Those Canaan Days - Solo Brother (usually Simeon), Jacob, & Brothers
The Brothers Come To Egypt - Narrator, Reuben, Brothers, & Joseph
Grovel, Grovel - Joseph, Narrator, Brothers, Children, & Ensemble
Who's the Thief? - Joseph, Narrator, Brothers, & Children
Benjamin Calypso - Brothers, Solo Brother (usually Judah), & Ensemble
Joseph All the Time - Narrator, Joseph, & Children
Jacob in Egypt - Full Company
Finale: Any Dream Will Do / Give Me My Coloured Coat - Full Company
Joseph Megamix (curtain call) - Full Company

Notable in the composition of the music is the variety of styles used by Lloyd Webber, including parodies of French ballads ("Those Canaan Days"), Elvis-inspired rock and roll ("Song of the King"), western ("One More Angel In Heaven"), 1920s Charleston ("Potiphar"), Caribbean style ("Benjamin Calypso") and disco ("Go, Go, Go Joseph"). Often, productions will make costume and prop changes to reflect each of the various musical styles.

"Prologue" is a late addition to the show, not included in any recordings produced before the 1982 Broadway production; the use of "Any Dream Will Do" at the start of the show (and the renaming of the closing version as per the above list) dates from the 1991 revival.

The UK touring production circa 1983-1987 (produced by Bill Kenwright), included an additional song "I Don't Think I'm Wanted Back At Home", which was originally part of Jacob's Journey . ^[10] Sung by the title character, the brothers jokingly throw Joseph out of the family home, throwing a number of props at the lone Joseph who is seen in a spotlight – first a suitcase, then a cane and top hat, leaving our hero to tap-dance his way to the end of the number. The tune has been recycled into numbers in By Jeeves and The Likes of Us .

2007 production

On 9 June 2007 Lee Mead, who had given up his ensemble role in Phantom of the Opera (where he also understudied Raoul) to appear on BBC One's Any Dream Will Do! , was voted by viewers to star in the revival of the show's 1991 London Palladium production by Steven Pimlott, with Bombay Dreams lead Preeya Kalidas cast traditionally as female lead in the role of Narrator. The new production has been running at the Adelphi Theatre since 6 July 2007.

Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group donated all receipts from two special performances of the revived West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to the BBC's Children in Need charity appeal. Cast members, the Really Useful Group added, would not get the usual first night gifts on 17 July — the money would, instead, go to Children in Need . ^[11]

Tickets for the show's originally-planned six-month run sold so fast that Mead's home town newspaper, The Echo , reported on 30 June that in three weeks all tickets for the first three months were sold out, and the producers had extended the show's run — and Mead's contract — until 7 June 2008. ^[12] The Really Useful Group confirmed that on 3 July 2007, adding that Mead, who had already foregone a week of holiday to which he was contractually entitled, would be taking off four weeks — in January, March and May 2008. ^[13] Before opening night, the producers had banked £10 million in receipts from advance ticket sales, the Daily Telegraph's Arts Correspondent Nigel Reynolds reported. ^[14]

"Mead delivers...[He] is contracted for at least a year," David Benedict in his review for Variety , "For as long as Mead chooses to continue in it, Joseph is, commercially speaking, the safest of bets." ^[15]

In popular culture

In The Simpsons episode "We're on the Road to D'ohwhere", the devoutly Christian Ned Flanders is heard singing the ending of "Coat of Many Colours" when he finds his record of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Marge's yard sale. ^[16]
In the Seinfeld episode "The Wig Master," Kramer is seen wearing the coat, which he borrowed from the Broadway production's wig master. ^[17]
The Reduced Shakespeare Company has been known to mock the show during their performances, on one occasion suggesting that murdering an audience as they watched a performance of Dreamcoat would be an act of mercy killing.
In 2005, Irish radio personality Mario Rosenstock created a parody of "Any Dream Will Do", featuring his impersonation and send-up of José Mourinho, at that time manager of Chelsea F.C. The parody, "José and his Amazing Technicolor Overcoat", became an Internet sensation and was eventually released as a single in both Ireland and the UK.
An episode of The Venture Brothers introduced a villain named "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Nightmare Coat".