[NEohioPAL] UPSTAGE PLAYERS Present's...

[Edwin Smith]

UPSTAGE PLAYERS Present's

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

April 3rd, 4th, and 5th 

Slovenian Workmen's Home
15335 Waterloo Road
Cleveland, Ohio, 44110

To GET TICKETS RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL!


 The story is based on the Biblical story of Joseph, found in the book of Genesis. A narrator is telling a story to children, encouraging them to dream. She then tells the story of Joseph, another dreamer.  In the beginning, Jacob and his 12 sons are introduced.  One son is Joseph whose brothers are jealous of him for his coat, a symbol of their father's preference for him. It is clear from Joseph's dreams that he is destined to rule over them. To get rid of him and make the dreams not come true, they sell Joseph to some passing Ishmaelites who take him to Egypt. 
Back home, Joseph's brothers, accompanied by their wives, break the news to Jacob that Joseph has been killed; the brothers show his tattered coat smeared with his blood – it is really goat blood – as proof that what they say is true.  The brothers celebrate after their  bereft father Jacob has tottered off the stage.
In Egypt, Joseph is the slave of Egyptian millionaire Potiphar. He rises through the ranks of slaves and servants until he is running Potiphar's house. When his master's wife makes advances, Joseph spurns her. Potiphar overhears, barges in, sees the two together – and jumps to conclusions. He jails Joseph. Depressed, Joseph sings andthen his spirits rise when he helps two other prisoners in his cell. Both are former servants of the Pharaoh and both have had bizarre dreams. Joseph interprets them.

The Narrator talks about impending changes in Joseph's fortunes because the Pharaoh is having dreams that no one can interpret. Now freed, one of Joseph's former cell mates tells the Pharaohof Joseph and his dreams interpretation skills.  Pharaoh orders Joseph to be brought in and the king tells him his dream involving seven fat cows, seven skinny cows, seven healthy ears of corn, and seven dead ears of corn.  Joseph interprets the dream as seven plentiful years followed by seven years of famine. An astonished Pharaoh 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. 
Back home, the famine has caught up with Joseph's brothers who express regret at selling him and deceiving their father.  They hear Egypt has food and decide to go there to beg for food and mercy, not realizing they will be dealing with Joseph. Joseph gives them food and sends them on their way, but plants a golden cup into the sack of his brother Benjamin.  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. The other brothers beg for mercy for Benjamin, imploring that Joseph take them prisoner and set Benjamin free.  Seeing their unselfishness and penitence Joseph reveals himself and sends for his father. Jacob and Joseph are reunited for a happy conclusion!


      
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.neohiopal.org/pipermail/neohiopal-neohiopal.org/attachments/20090309/391cb975/attachment-0003.htm>