Content Resources Page
Before the Show
Content Analysis
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
PLAY SYNOPSIS
In the biblical land of Caanan, Joseph is the favourite son of Jacob. As such, he encounters the jealousy of his brothers who object to his dreams in which he is the hero and the brothers have to pay homage to him. They arrange to have him killed and to prove his death, show their father the multicoloured coat smeared with blood. In fact, Joseph has been sold in slavery to the household of Potiphar who has him thrown in jail as he objects to the attraction between his wife and Joseph. Joseph's ability to interpret dreams is relayed to Pharaoh who has started to have a series of dreams. Joseph foresees seven years of full harvests and this to be followed by seven years of famine. Joseph is put in charge of preparing for the years of famine and, just as prophesied, the dreams came true.
Back in Caanan, the famine affected Joseph's family too. The brothers travel to Egypt to find work. They go to Joseph who recognises them but they don't recognise him. They bow down before him (just as foretold in an earlier dream). Joseph has a score to settle though and after giving his brothers grain, he hides a goblet in Benjamin's sack. Benjamin is accused of theft. The brothers plead for Benjamin's release from custody and Joseph relents and then reveals himself as their brother. The ending is a happy one.
PLACE
Canaan and Egypt
CHARACTERS
Narrator: A woman not of the time or place of the action. The Narrator tells the story through word and song, guiding the audience gently through the story of Joseph and his brothers.
Jacob: The father of twelve sons, his favourite being Joseph.
Joseph: Obviously his father’s favourite, Joseph early on shows a talent for interpreting dreams and telling the future.
Three Ladies: These multi-talented women appear in the play as many characters: Jacob’s wives, saloon girls, dancing girls, and so on.
Ishmaelites: Men of the desert, they buy Joseph as a slave, take him to Egypt, and sell him to Potiphar.
Potiphar: A powerful and rich Egyptian, Potiphar purchases Joseph and puts him to work in his household, where he soon realizes that Joseph is honest, hard-working, and a great addition to his pool of help.
Mrs. Potiphar: Beautiful and scheming, Mrs. Potiphar tries to seduce Joseph, but is unsuccessful.
Baker: One of Pharaoh’s servants, the Baker is in prison with Joseph.
Butler: Another of Pharaoh servants, the Butler is also in prison with Joseph.
Pharaoh: The most powerful man in Egypt. When Joseph interprets his dreams, he promotes him to one of the highest positions in his government.
Reuben: Eldest son of Jacob; showed kindness to Joseph and was the means of saving his life when his other brothers would have put him to death.
Simeon: Second son of Jacob; detained by Joseph in Egypt as a hostage.
Levi: Third son of Jacob, by Leah; he went down with Jacob into Egypt.
Judah: Fourth son of Jacob; he pleads with Joseph when Benjamin is falsely arrested for theft of a goblet.
Dan: Fifth son of Jacob, by Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid.
Naphtali: Sixth son of Jacob, by Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid.
Gad: Seventh son of Jacob, by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid.
Asher: Eighth son of Jacob, by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid;.
Issachar: Ninth son of Jacob.
Zebulun: Tenth son of Jacob; he had three sons.
Benjamin: Twelfth son of Jacob. Joseph accuses him of stealing the golden cup.
The Wives: The wives to the eleven brothers (ensemble).
MUSICAL NUMBERS
Act I
Prologue - Narrator
Any Dream Will Do - Joseph, Children
Jacob and Sons - Narrator, Brothers, Wives, Children, Ensemble
Joseph's Coat - Jacob, Joseph, Narrator, Brothers, Wives, Children, Ensemble
Joseph's Dreams - Narrator, Brothers, Joseph
Poor, Poor Joseph - Narrator, Brothers, Children
One More Angel in Heaven - Reuben, Narrator, Brothers, Wives, Jacob, Children
Potiphar - Children, Narrator, Male Ensemble, Mrs Potiphar, Potiphar, Joseph
Close Every Door - Joseph, Children
Go, Go, Go Joseph - Narrator, Butler, Baker, Ensemble, Joseph, Guru, Children
Act II
Pharaoh's Story - Narrator, Children
Poor, Poor Pharaoh - Narrator, Butler, Pharaoh, Children
Song of the King - Pharaoh, Ensemble
Pharaoh's Dream Explained - Joseph, Ensemble, Children
Stone the Crows - Narrator, Pharaoh, Children, Joseph, Female Ensemble
King of My Heart - Pharaoh
Those Canaan Days - Simeon, Jacob, Brothers
The Brothers Come To Egypt/Grovel, Grovel - Narrator, Brothers, Joseph, Female Ensemble, Children
Who's the Thief? - Joseph, Brothers, Female Ensemble
Benjamin Calypso - Judah, Brothers (but Benjamin), Female Ensemble
Joseph All the Time - Narrator, Joseph, Children
Jacob in Egypt - Narrator, Jacob, Children, Ensemble
Any Dream Will Do (Reprise) - Joseph, Narrator, Ensemble, Jacob, Children
Give Me My Coloured Coat - Joseph, Children, Ensemble
Joseph Megamix - Ensemble
THEMES
Dreams
Ambition
Family Jealousy
Prophesy
Betrayal
Forgiveness
God’s Provision
CONTENT FOR PARENTAL CONSIDERATION
Jacob had many wives and he also had a favorite wife and son.
Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him so they made a plan to leave him for dead in a pit but instead they sold him into slavery.
Joseph’s brothers lie to their father and tell him that Joseph was killed by an animal.
Potipher’s wife tries to seduce Joseph into bed with her. Joseph resists
RUNNING TIME
Act 1 - 55 minutes
20 minute intermission
Act 2 - 65 minutes
SHOW DATES
June 24 - August 2, 2026
WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED AGE FOR JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT?
If this play was a movie we would give it a rating of PG only because of some of the mature content that should be left up to the parent’s discretion.
HOW MUCH ARE TICKETS TO JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT?
Tickets prices vary between $25 and $80 depending on where you sit in the theater.
Executive Artistic Director’s Note
Sing it with me, “Go, Go, Go Joseph, you know what they say! Hang on now Joseph, you’ll make it some day!” This playful, campy, and thoroughly enjoyable take on the story of Joseph has been entertaining audiences world-wide since 1968. As it happens, A.D. Players is only one year older than the musical and this will be our first time producing it. I hadn’t given the story of Joseph that much credence over my years in consideration of scripture. But that changed a few years ago when I did a long study of the book of Genesis (which I would recommend to every person on Earth). Joseph’s story is one of betrayal, forgiveness, craftiness, creativity, and love for his people—and, as is with all things in the Old Testament—it’s also reflective of what’s to come. Fun for the whole family, Joseph will be a colorful, brilliant, spectacular production that our audiences are sure to enjoy.
After the Show
Theatre is an art form that from its inception has had the proven power to move and to stir the human spirit. This can have a wide variety of manifestations. We are often stirred up, and that kind of event can have us needing to talk to someone about it. We recommend that you find a licensed mental healthcare professional to help you work through difficult feelings that may have been stirred up by a play. You should always work with someone that you have a great connection with. If you need help starting that process, we recommend our partners at Ellie Mental Health as a starting place.
You might also be stirred to do something about how a particular play made you feel. Below we have provided a quick link to be able to donate to us here at the A. D. Players at the George Theatre. As a 501(c)3, we rely heavily on donations to continue the work that we do. If, however, you want to do something meaningful about some of the issues addressed by our shows, we are also including links to organizations that do meaningful work in the areas addressed by the content of our show. These are not exhaustive options, but merely starting places to help you on your journey to continue to effect change in your world.
