One, at New Candlelight Theatre just across the Pennsylvania line in Ardentown, Del., has a 33-member cast that includes a children's ensemble, and is backed by recorded orchestration the dinner theater generally uses.

The other, at the Devon Theater in the city's Mayfair section, has a still-impressive 15-member cast backed by an excellent four-piece orchestra. Both are entertaining, ultimately joyful (as in the Bible), and well sung - especially numbers with the entire ensembles.

Alas, the production at the Devon - the nifty, revitalized old moviehouse that gave Northeast Philly a new producing company in March - will be the last of the season, its operators have announced, due to a budget crunch that came when anticipated state funds were cut. (Story on D1.)

Meanwhile, this particular show goes on, with lovely, birdsong-voiced Liz Filios as the singing narrator of the Devon's version, and Matthew Rusk as Joseph.

The two productions have many small differences, which come in the casting and from each show's creative team. Under Kimberly Reilly and Matt Silva's direction, set against a sky of stars for dreaming, the Devon's Joseph stresses the music, sung fluidly and with strength by Filios and Rusk.

At New Candlelight, the acting is what comes through in Chris Alberts' production - acting sung through the lyrics. Melissa Joy Hart, a New Candlelight regular, is the snappy narrator - you get the feeling she controls the story, with divine help only when requested - and a hale and charismatic Edward Egan as Joseph.

Both Josephs are stirring in their signature "Close Every Door" number, and both shows' accompaniment overpowers the words when Pharaoh (Devon's Jeremy Sartin and New Candlelight's Joe Mallon) tries, Elvis-style, to sing about his troubling dreams. The audience, at each performance I saw, didn't seem to mind.

And, to my great pleasure, each show excels in one particular clever Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice song, when Joseph's 11 brothers sing about those old Canaan days as if they were forlorn Frenchmen at a bistro for the heartbroken. It's one of those deliciously silly ensemble pieces that, done right - as in these productions, and especially at the Devon with some added flourishes - makes you wish you were up there, singing with them.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Presented by Devon Theater, 6333 Frankford Ave., through Dec. 13. Tickets: $25. Information: 215-338-6300 or www.devontheater.org.

Presented by New Candlelight Dinner Theatre, 2208 Millers Rd., Ardentown, Del., through Dec. 20. Tickets are $50-$55 and include a buffet dinner. Information: 302-475-2313 or www.newcandlelighttheatre.com.