In 1974, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was performed at the Playhouse in the Park in Philadelphia. The musical ran at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York in 1976 and in 1977 as "holiday fare". In the 1976 production, which opened on 30 December, direction was by John Dunlop, with a cast that featured Cleavon Little as the Narrator and David-James Carroll as Joseph.Barnes, Clive. "Stage:Technicolor Dreamcoat", The New York Times, 31 December 1976, p. 37 In the 1977 production, running in December through 1 January 1978, staging was by Graciela Daniele, with Carroll as Joseph, Alan Weeks as the Narrator and William Parry as Pharaoh/Elvis.Rockwell, John. "Rock: 'Joseph and Dreamcoat'", The New York Times, 16 December 1977, p. 88 In 1979, Joseph made its Connecticut debut at the historic Downtown Cabaret Theatre ahead of moving to New York City.
