How proud Joseph felt when his father presented him with a beautiful and colorful coat. How jealous his older brothers acted after again witnessing the favoritism displayed.

The story of Jacob’s youngest son, Joseph and his 10 older brothers, who conspired against him and sold him to slave traders, is an Old Testament parable, which has become well-known to all through the Broadway musical, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Under the direction of Tracy Smithey, the musical is set for the Vicksburg stage beginning at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Parkside Playhouse Theatre.

“We had auditions is early May and have been working on the musical ever since,” Smithey said.

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is a main stage season show for the Vicksburg Theatre Guild, kicking off its 2016-2017 season.

Smithey, who is also serving as the show’s musical director said “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” is one of her favorites because of the variety of musical styles in the production.

“My favorite part about this show is it is all music and it has every style and genre. There is calypso music, there is country music, and there is even a little bit of rap. There is also a good bit of rock and roll,” she said.

“And there are a couple of good solid ballads,” Jim Shirley added.

Shirley is serving as the assistant director and staging director.

“This is an Andrew Lloyd Webber classic. He wrote it (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”) as a school project.  It sat in the drawer for many many years, and finally he took it out and cleaned it up, and it became this monster hit,” Shirley said.

“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” first opened on Broadway in 1982 followed by some major revivals and a 1999 straight-to-film, which starred Donny Osmond.

This will be the third time the Vicksburg Theatre Guild will be performing the popular musical, first in 1994 and again in 1999. Vicksburg High School, under the direction of Smithey, also performed the musical in 2011.

“This has been one of the most popular shows at the Vicksburg Theatre Guild. We have sold this sucker out,” Shirley said.

In addition to its musical qualities, Smithey said, the production is also visually entertaining.

“And what stands out about this production is choreography, costuming and extremely high talent level,” Shirley said.

Andrea Fairchild will be the narrator of the show with Tyler Gardner portraying Joseph and David McHan as Pharaoh.

“We also have fabulous choreography headed up by Amelia Brame and her husband Jon,” Shirley said.

Shirley’s wife, Teresa, is in charge of costumes.

“There are over 150 costumes in the show,” he said, adding his wife made the costumes for the 1994 VTG production.

“Paul Ballard and his wife saw the show on Broadway. They brought a souvenir program back to Teresa, and she designed and constructed all the costumes herself in the attic of our home,” Shirley said.

Unfortunately, all of the costumes were destroyed in the 2006 fire at the Parkside Playhouse.

More than 40 performers have been cast in this year’s production, which does not include the children’s choir, Shirley said.

In addition to Thursday’s opening night show, the musical will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Aug. 11, 12 and 13 and at 2 p.m. Sunday and Aug. 14.

Tickets are $20, $15 for ages 65 and older and $10 for ages 12 and younger and are available the day of the show at the VTG Box Office.

Advance tickets are available online at showclix.com/events/10243.

“This show will sell out. I would strongly suggest buying advance tickets,” Shirley said.

A 10 percent discount on tickets will be offered to groups of 15 or more, but you must call ahead to make arrangements, he said.

Patrons with online tickets may go straight to the usher at the auditorium door to avoid the line at the box office, and members may go straight to the membership desk adjacent to the box office.

Members need to notify the theatre on when they plan to attend by completing the Attendance Notification Form or by calling 601-636-0471.