Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat -
Top Stars

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 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"). The brothers are jealous of Joseph for his beautiful coat, which is a symbol of their father's preference of him ("Joseph's Coat"). Moreover, Joseph has dreams which makes it very clear that he is destined to rule over them ("Joseph's Dreams"). To get rid of him and make the dreams not come true, they sell him as a slave to some passing Ishmaelites ("Poor, Poor Joseph"), who in turn bring him to Egypt.

Back home, Reuben and the other 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's blood) to their father as proof that what they say is true ("One More Angel in Heaven"). In most productions, the brother Levi 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 Potiphar, an Egyptian millionaire. Joseph rises through the ranks of slaves and servants until he is running Potiphar's house. However, Potiphar's wife advances on Joseph, who spurns her. Potiphar hears them and barges in, seeing the two together. He throws Joseph in jail as punishment ("Potiphar"). Joseph has hit rock bottom ("Close Every Door"), but soon gets a chance to bounce back when two more prisoners are added to his cell. Both are former servants of the Pharoah, and both have had bizarre dreams recently. Joseph interprets that one, the Baker, will be executed, while the other, the Butler, will be returned to service ("Go, Go, Go Joseph").Though no intermission is specified by Webber and Rice, productions who wish to add one often do so at this time.

The story then moves back to the frame, and the Narrator talks about the impending change in Joseph's fortunes ("A Pharaoh Story") because the Pharaoh is having dreams that no one can interpret. The now-freed Butler tells Pharaoh (typically played by an Elvis Presley impersonator as a comic take on Pharaoh being a "King") of Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams ("Poor, Poor Pharaoh"). Joseph is brought to Pharaoh and the king tells Joseph 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 then interprets the dream as seven plentiful years being followed by seven years of famine ("Pharaoh's Dreams Explained"). Pharaoh, astonished by the interpretation, 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").

Back home, though, the brothers are caught in the midst of the famine and express regret at selling Joseph and deceiving their father, led by the brother Simeon ("Those Canaan Days"). Hearing that Egypt has food, they decide to go and beg there for food and mercy, not realizing who it is they will be dealing with ("The Brothers Come to Egypt"). Joseph gives them food and sends them on their way, but plants a golden cup into 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 as a prisoner and set Benjamin free ("Benjamin Calypso").

Joseph, seeing their unselfishness and penitence, reveals himself ("Joseph All the Time") and sends for his father Jacob. The two are reunited ("Jacob in Egypt") for a happy ending. The show ends with two reprises ("Finale: Any Dream Will Do/Give Me My Colored Coat"), and, in some productions, a rock/disco medley of most of the musical's major numbers ("Joseph Megamix").

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