Thu 16th – Sun 19th May 2024
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice
Joseph is a completely sung-through musical with lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the character of Joseph from the Bible’s Book of Genesis.
Four years after having to cancel our season one week out from opening Joseph is returning to the Criterion stage!
The story of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a tale that follows the journey of a dreamer. Joseph is the son of Jacob and one of twelve brothers. He is given a coat of many colors by his father, which is symbolic of his favor and an object of his brothers’ jealousy. The brothers decide to sell Joseph into slavery after initially plotting to have him killed. Convincing their father that his favorite son has died, they reveal his tattered coat and believe that they are rid of him once and for all. From his homeland of Canaan, Joseph is taken to Egypt where he becomes the slave of Egyptian millionaire Potiphar and earns his trust. Managing his household, he soon has to ward off the affections of Potiphar’s wife. Enraged and unwilling to assess the situation, Potiphar has Joseph thrown into jail where he interprets the dreams of his cellmates. The prisoners are awed by his hidden talents of interpretation and encourage Joseph to pursue dreams of his own.
Joseph’s fortunes take a turn for the better as the Pharaoh hears rumors of his talent. Having strange recurring dreams about cows and ears of corn, the Pharaoh asks Joseph what his mysterious dreams could mean. Joseph determines that they are omens of a famine that will swipe the land in seven years. This foresight allows actions to be made to prevent devastation and grants Joseph a position as the second most powerful man in Egypt. Back in Canaan, Joseph’s brothers are afflicted by starvation and regret their treatment of Joseph. Hearing of the prosperity of Egypt, they unknowingly ask for Joseph’s help. He devises a test to see if his brothers have changed their ways, and finally reveals himself donning his Technicolor Dreamcoat once again.
