Reality TV to find lead in `Joseph'

After solving a problem like Maria, Andrew Lloyd Webber hopes to find the stars for a London revival of his hit musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" on a television talent show.

Lloyd Webber used a BBC reality TV show to cast the lead role in "The Sound of Music" earlier this year. Now he's planning to do the same to find a singer to play the title role in the classic show that started out as a 20-minute school concert nearly 40 years ago.

Thousands of hopefuls are expected to attend auditions across Britain early next year for a chance to appear on stage in "Joseph," based on the Bible tale of Jacob's son and his 11 brothers. Since its first short performance at a London junior school in 1968, "Joseph" has grown into one of the biggest hits for Lloyd Webber and his collaborator Tim Rice. It has grossed more than $395 million worldwide.