The musical itself dates back to
1968, and was the second collaboration between composer
Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist
Tim Rice, the team who gave us
Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.
Based on the Biblical story of Joseph and his multicolored coat,
the show started as a 15-minute
cantata for school children. It was
gradually expanded until it was a
full-fledged musical, first in London’s West End in 1973 and then
on Broadway in 1982. A video
version starring Donny Osmond
appeared in 1999. Since its incep-
New Jersey Stage
tion, Joseph has been performed
by more than 20,000 school and
amateur groups worldwide. This
December, Joseph celebrates its
20th year in Middlesex County.
PIP’s Producing Director Gary
Cohen remembers that Joseph
wasn’t the first partnership with
the State Theatre, but it was by
far the most successful. “While all
the shows at the State did well,
this first year of Joseph had the
largest houses. It was actually the
State that suggested we bring it
back the following year.” It did
even better the second year and
December 2014
pg 58