Joseph and his amazing dream cloak

This musical is Webber and Rice’s second collaboration. The original version was a 15-minute cantata; production: March 1, 1968, Colette Kurt School, London.

By November 8 of the same 1968, the revised second version of the musical was expanded to 35 minutes. The work was called the pop cantata and was performed by a choir of schoolchildren; The performance was successful and was marked by several positive reviews.

In 1970, Webber and Rice, inspired by the success of their famous musical " Jesus Christ is a Superstar, " decided to return to their previous creation about Joseph and once again rework it, preparing for a large production. By 1976, a new, revised, version reached 90 minutes and was staged in New York at the Boston Academy of Music. The first official record dates back to 1974.

In 1981, the show was staged at the East Village Theater, and on January 27, 1982, after 77 performances, it was moved to the Royal Theater (Royale Theater), where it took place 747 times on stage.

In 2000, the film was shot in a musical.

Act I

The musical is based on the biblical story of Joseph ( Genesis ).

The musical is based on the Narrator's story (sometimes for children, inspiring them with dreams). She then tells the story of Joseph, another dreamer (Prologue, Any Dream Will Do). At the beginning of the main story, the Narrator introduces Jacob and his 12 sons (“Jacob and Sons”). Joseph’s brothers envy his multi-colored cloak - a symbol of Joseph’s preference for his father to all other sons (“Joseph's Coat”). From Joseph’s dreams it’s clear that he is destined to rule his brothers (“Joseph's Dreams”). To get rid of him and prevent his dreams from coming true, they try to kill him, but then they sell Joseph as a slave to the passing Ishmaelites (“Poor, Poor Joseph”), who bring him to Egypt.

Upon returning home, his brothers, led by Reuben ( Levi in the original Broadway production), accompanied by their wives, tell Jacob that they killed Joseph. They show him Joseph’s tattered cloak stained with his blood (actually the blood of a goat) as proof that they told the truth (“One More Angel in Heaven”). After this, Jacob leaves, and the brothers and their wives celebrate the deliverance from Joseph.

In Egypt, Joseph is the slave of the Egyptian rich man Potiphar. He goes through all stages of slavery and service, until he becomes the steward in the house of Potiphar. When Mrs. Potiphar flirts with Joseph, he rejects her. She rips off his shirt and covers him with kisses. Potiphar eavesdrops, breaks in, sees them together - and rushes to conclusions ("Potiphar"). Outraged, he throws Joseph into prison. Suppressed, Joseph complains about the situation (“Close Every Door”) - but his spirit rises when he helps two prisoners in his cell. Both are former servants of Pharaoh and both have bizarre, unusual dreams. Joseph explains them. One prisoner, the Baker, will be executed, but the other, the Butler, will return to service. Upon hearing this, the remaining prisoners surround Joseph and inspire him to follow his dreams ("Go, Go, Go Joseph").

Act II

The narrator talks about the upcoming changes in Joseph’s life (“A Pharaoh Story”), since no one can explain Pharaoh’s dreams. Now free, the Butler tells Pharaoh (presented in the style of Elvis Presley about Joseph and his amazing ability to interpret dreams (“Poor, Poor Pharaoh”). Pharaoh orders Joseph to be brought in and tells him his dream of seven fat cows, seven thin cows, seven ears of fat and the full and seven ears of skinny ("Song of the King").

Josephus interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams, predicting that the next seven years would be fertile, and then seven years of shortage would come (“Pharaoh's Dreams Explained”). The defeated Pharaoh appoints Joseph to take care of the preparations necessary to withstand the impending famine, and Joseph becomes the most influential and powerful person in Egypt after the Pharaoh ("Stone the Crows"). (In a London production of 2007, Pharaoh had a new song, “King of my Heart”).

Famine found Joseph's brothers, who, now led by Simeon, regret having sold their brother and tricked their father (“Those Canaan Days”). They learn that there is still food in Egypt, and decide to go there to beg and be fed (“The Brothers Come to Egypt”), not realizing that they will be dealing with Joseph (“Grovel, Grovel”). Joseph gives them food, but throws the golden goblet into the bag of his younger brother, Benjamin. When the brothers try to leave, Joseph stops them, asking about the “stolen goblet”. Each brother empties his sack, and it turns out that Benjamin has the goblet. Joseph accuses Benjamin of theft ("Who's the Thief?"). The other brothers, led by Judas (Naftali in the original Broadway version), ask for mercy of Benjamin, begging Joseph to arrest them instead of Benjamin ("Benjamin Calypso").

Seeing their sacrifice and remorse, Joseph reveals himself to them (Joseph All the Time) and sends for his father. They reunite (“Jacob in Egypt”), and Joseph again puts on his multi-colored cloak (“Finale: Any Dream Will Do (Reprise) / Give Me My Colored Coat”).

In some productions, the finale is accompanied by a rock / disco potpourri of major musical numbers ("Joseph Megamix").

• Official site
• Official site of Russian production