Michael Harrison and the Really Useful Group have announced that Jason Donovan will return to the London Palladium in the new production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to star as the Pharaoh.
Jason made his defining stage performance as the title character of Joseph in the 1990s, also at the London Palladium, in a sold-out 18-month run which produced a No.1 single and best-selling soundtrack album. It remains one of the most successful revivals of all time. Jason now returns to the show as Pharaoh, who rocks ‘Song of the King’ in the iconic musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, soon to be re-imagined in this brand new production.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will play a strictly limited 11-week season from Thursday 27 June (Press Night: Thursday 11 July 2019).
Jason joins Sheridan Smith, with the double Olivier Award-winning actress recently announced as The Narrator. Casting for the role of Joseph is to be announced soon.
Jason commented: “You never know the measure of a moment until it becomes a memory, and what a moment that was for me. Joseph was a groundbreaker in 1991, and what a blast it will be to be back on the prestigious Palladium stage and be part of it all again with a brand new cast in this re-imagined 2019 production. I’m looking forward to breathing new life into Pharaoh and I’m so relieved he doesn’t wear a loincloth!”
Jason became an international star with the role of Scott Robinson in Neighbours. The series went on to become one of the highest-rating shows in the UK, which led to Jason’s association and huge success with acclaimed producers, Stock, Aitken and Waterman. His debut album Ten Good Reasons was the biggest selling album of 1989, with career sales of 13 million albums and 4 UK No.1 singles.
Following his Olivier-nominated portrayal of Joseph, he has gone on to star in The Rocky Horror Show, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Priscilla, Annie Get Your Gun, The Sound of Music, The King’s Speech and Million Dollar Quartet. On television he has featured in I’m A Celebrity and Strictly Come Dancing, Who Do You Think You Are, ITV’s Superstar and Piers Morgan’s Life Stories. Jason also appeared in ITV’s drama Echo Beach and he continues to play sell-out tours across the country.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be directed by Laurence Connor (School of Rock Miss Saigon). Laurence will be joined on the creative team by Choreographer JoAnn M Hunter, Morgan Large who will design the set and costumes, Lighting Designer Ben Cracknell and Sound Designer Gareth Owen.
Released as a concept album in 1969, the stage version of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat has become one of the world’s most beloved family musicals. The multi-award-winning show, which began life as a small-scale school concert, has been performed hundreds of thousands of times including multiple runs in the West End and on Broadway, international number one tours, and productions in over 80 countries as far afield as Austria and Zimbabwe and from Israel to Peru! The show features songs that have gone on to become pop and musical theatre standards, including Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door To Me, Jacob and Sons, There’s One More Angel In Heaven and Go Go Go Joseph.
Told entirely through song with the help of the Narrator, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat follows the story of Jacob’s favourite son Joseph and his eleven brothers. After being sold into slavery by the brothers, he ingratiates himself with Egyptian noble Potiphar, but ends up in jail after refusing the advances of Potiphar’s wife. While imprisoned, Joseph discovers his ability to interpret dreams, and he soon finds himself in front of the mighty but troubled showman, the Pharaoh. As Joseph strives to resolve Egypt’s famine, he becomes Pharaoh’s right-hand man and eventually reunites with his family.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is produced by Michael Harrison.
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
PRODUCTION INFORMATION
Director Laurence Connor
Choreographer JoAnn M Hunter
Set and Costume Designer Morgan Large
Lighting Designer Ben Cracknell
Sound Designer Gareth Owen
Hair, Wig & Make Up Designer Richard Mawbey
Musical Supervisor John Rigby
Casting Director Stuart Burt
Children’s Casting Director Joanne Hawes
London Palladium
8 Argyll Street
London
W1F 7LA
PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES
Thursday 27 June – Sunday 8 September 2019
Press Night: Thursday 11 July 2019