Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. It is based on the Book of Genesis from the Hebrew Bible.
Early History
Originally commissioned for Colet Court prep school, the musical began as a 15-minute cantata. It was expanded and promoted following the success of Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar.
Broadway
The Broadway production premiered in January of 1982. It opened at the Royale Theatre and ran for 749 performances.
Earliest Performances
Dreamcoat was first performed in 1968 at Colet Court in London.
Fun Fact
Andy Gibb of the BeeGees played Joseph in a West End production in the early 1980s. He was fired after his drug problem caused him to miss several shows; he eventually died of drug-related illness in 1988 at age 30 (see Resources).
Any Dream Will Do
A reality TV show called "Any Dream Will Do" was produced by the BBC in 2007. It was a contest for unknown actors, with the prize being the role of Joseph in a West End production of the musical. The contest was won by Lee Mead.
