Joseph The Dreamer will have many "firsts"when it stages its 17-day run in BGC's Maybank Performing Arts Theater starting July 15. For starters, it is the first musical to be staged to the public after the two-year pandemic. It is also the first time for Paolo Valenciano to direct his dad, pop superstar Gary Valenciano, as Jacob, the father of Joseph.
The team at Trumpets believes that the return of Joseph The Dreamer after the long lockdown is emotionally significant for everyone and is a miracle that's meant to happen.
Paolo calls the 2022 edition of Joseph The Dreamer "an inspirational production."
" It is a show of hope, something that a lot of people lost in the last couple of years. What we hope to achieve is to inspire and move a lot of people. We pray that this will be the kind of escape from the challenges they are experiencing at the moment," he noted.
" In true Trumpets form, when God calls, we all answer," added founder and King of Philippine Musical Theater Audie Gemora.
Gemora revealed that the 2022 adaptation of Joseph The Dreamer is "mostly a Gary Valenciano run. Although I will also be playing the role of Jacob, I will just fill in on those days when Gary isn't available. In our mind, the show is going to be about Sam (Concepcion) and Gary."
Gary V comes full circle in his latest role as Jacob and proves to all his fans that this vigor as Mr. Pure Energy has not waned all these years. He was only 35 years old when he played the lead role in the musical in 1999 as Joseph, the son who was sold and then became a ruler of Egypt. Now that he's older (but still not looking old), theater lovers can see another side to Gary as he portrays Jacob.
" More than being nervous, am really excited. We have such a talented cast and I had no choice but to pour out all my energy so as not to be left behind," Gary candidly stated.
The pop idol said his vocalizing in the show should be something to look forward to by the audience.
"Joseph The Dreamer is the perfect platform to express my voice in a certain way. I will be using a different range of voice which will allow me to express myself in a better way. My role onstage will divert from the usual," he declared.
For his part, Sam Concepcion said reprising the role of Joseph is a very special one for him. It will be recalled that he played the lead in Joseph The Dreamer in 2020 before Covid shut down most parts of the world.
"We all went through the pandemic together, most of us have gone through personal hardships. It is very timely that Joseph The Dreamer is all about hope and forgiveness. Am coming into this run with a renewed energy. The show is really a celebration and a form of gratitude for me, knowing that God saw me through the past two years," Concepcion said.
Sam will be alternating with Neo Rivera as Joseph in the musical. The other cast members are Kayla Rivera as Asenath, Carlo Orosa as Pharaoh, and Bituin Escalante as Rachel, Joseph's mother. Alternating with her is Carla Guevara Laforteza.
Written by Freddie Santos, Joseph The Dreamer is the longest-running musical in Philippine history as it was first staged in 1989. Aside from director Paolo, the 2022 show has Nelsito Gomez as associate director, Myke Salomon as musical director, MJ Arda of the A-Team as choreographer, and Mio Infante as Production Designer.
Tickets are now available from Ticketworld.