An Old Testament Story Hits the Big Stage

If you’re familiar with contemporary musical theater, you may already have guessed which Old Testament story the title above references. If you haven’t guessed, here’s a hint: the title of the Broadway musical based on this story is long, modern, and a little ridiculous. Still stumped? The musical I’m referring to is entitled Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Better known as “Joseph and his coat of many colors,” the Genesis account of Jacob’s favored son is the basis for this early work of lyricist Tim Rice and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is a joyous, colorful, musical celebration that bursts onto the stage so vividly that one hardly recognizes it as Scripture.

Yet Scripture it is, which is largely the reason why I chose it for my community theater troupe to perform this summer. Entertainment is a tough industry for devout Christian artists. Moral pitfalls dot the landscape, as even shows with admirable themes include problematic content. When my associate producer suggested Joseph for this summer’s musical, I quickly checked into it.

Holiness for a Secular Group

I should first note that my community theater is a secular group. We are a non-profit, public performing arts troupe, not associated with any church or religious organization. Our bylaws don’t dictate what kinds of shows the group performs. The only real hint toward morality is in our mission statement, which explains that we exist to “enrich the community with uplifting and inspiring quality theatrical productions.”

Admittedly, although I incorporated the group as a secular organization, I had the Holy Spirit in mind when I chose the words “uplifting and inspiring” for the mission statement. After all, we are called to evangelize in our dealings with the world. I do not cease to be Catholic when I direct a community group. Holiness belongs to actors, stagehands, musicians, dancers, tech assistants, and audience members as much as it does to a parish priest or religious sister.

When a Bible Story Becomes a Theatrical Hit

As has long been the case, entertainment pushes the limits with provocative material. We can work with choreography or costuming to add more wholesome appeal to a show, and occasionally an offensive line or lyric can be altered or cut. But show choice is the first order of business in establishing an uplifting and inspiring atmosphere in a production. Thus, when a Bible story has become a theatrical hit, it’s worth investigating.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat includes positive themes of parental love, faith, endurance, forgiveness, and brotherhood. The Old Testament family of Jacob and his wives and sons are introduced in a festive song celebrating the blessings of family life. The Lord’s faithfulness to his people is reflected in the lyrics, “Children of Israel are never alone,” which Joseph sings while in prison. Joseph’s dreams miraculously save Egypt from famine and earn Joseph a position of privilege with the Pharaoh, just as Scripture says.

The Effects of a Secular Culture

Yet we must keep in mind that the culture producing this musical is that of Hollywood and Broadway. Even in the Bible-inspired Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the effects of the secular culture are apparent.

Most notable is the omission of the name “God” or “Lord” or even “Spirit” anywhere in the script. Although Joseph expresses faith that he is “never alone,” he never says Who it is that remains with him once his brothers have sold him into slavery in a foreign land. The lyrics claim, “We have been promised a land of our own.” However, they never get around to saying Who has made this promise. The omission of God’s name leaves the entire piece somewhat hollow.

In addition, the culture’s secular humanism misinterprets the function of Joseph’s dreams. The Prologue introduces Joseph as “a boy whose dreams come true.” However, the script does not attribute the miracle of Joseph’s gift of prophecy to the Lord. The Narrator simply tells her listeners, “If you think it, want it, dream it, then it’s real.” Simply dreaming about something, then, makes it come true. Humans are self-sufficient, and no credit goes to the ever-faithful God who saved Joseph and his family and all of Egypt from famine.

These shortcomings of the script show that even a Bible story can be glossed over or presented inadequately in a culture that hesitates to acknowledge the existence of God.

An Evangelical Success in the World of Theater

Still, at least partially, I count this year’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat an evangelical success. This summer, our local community has been exposed to a Scripture story that some may not otherwise have heard. The actors approached the work with enthusiasm and joy. People of faith within the group sometimes shared the meaning of the story during rehearsal. One actor pointed to the faithfulness of God in times of adversity. Another chose Scripture verses to share when we interpreted various parts of the story. Along with the festive joy that the musical score inspires, the actors adopted an attitude of reverence when singing of the promise to Israel and when handling the coat which symbolized a father’s love.

When I expressed some doubt about the missing elements of the show to a Christian friend in the group, she replied, “We planted the seeds, though.” Sometimes in a secular society, we need to praise God for the opportunity to plant those seeds, and then pray for them to grow.

Work Cited
Rice, Tim and Webber, Andrew Lloyd. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Licensed by Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Really Useful Group. www.concordtheatricals.com.