Joseph’s timeless story of faith and hope has been the main inspiration for Christian theater group Trumpets to stage “Joseph the Dreamer” again and again for the past 17 years. Accomplished thespians Franco Laurel and Alvin dela Peña alternate in the lead role of Joseph on all weekends of September at SM Megamall Cinema 4.

Based on Cam Floria’s cantata, “Dreamer: What Really Happened to Joseph,” writer/director Freddie Santos rewrites the script for this particular production with a younger audience in mind, and directs a relatively young cast.

“Joseph the Dreamer” premiered at St. Theresa’s College Auditorium in Cebu amid the coup d’ etat in 1989. As fate would have it, part of the audience, in an extended run in Cebu, was a group of Manila-based journalists who were impressed by the production led by former Trumpets president Audie Gemora as Joseph. These journalists later on encouraged Trumpets to mount the show in Manila.

Two years later, “Joseph the Dreamer” opened at the Meralco Theater, which prompted the show’s phenomenal run of more than 100 performances. From simple black and white costumes and sets in the original run, the play has evolved into a spectacle of colorful costumes, stunning sets, and engrossing musical arrangements by Mon Faustino.

The show celebrated its 10th anniversary with a casting coup that had Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano, sharing the charismatic character of Joseph with Audie Germora.

“Joseph the Dreamer” has had record-breaking runs despite several coup attempts, typhoons, earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions. The production has managed to pack the crowd in Manila, Davao, Bacolod, Iloilo, and Pampanga to the sheer power of its message, and soul of its performance.

For the September-slated production, Franco Laurel, fresh from his critically-praised performance in Dulaang UP’s grand musical “St. Louis Loves Dem Filipinos,” steps into the lead role of prisoner-turned-ruler Joseph. Franco won an Aliw Award for Best Stage Actor in a Musical for another Trumpets’ production, “Honk! The Ugly Duckling” in 2003.

Alvin de la Peña, new Trumpets president, shares the role of Joseph. Portraying Joseph is not really new to him since he has been essaying the role at certain performances prior to this restaging. He has been part of many theatrical productions including “Godspell,” “Les Miserables,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown,” and “Little Mermaid.”

Written and directed by Freddie Santos, Trumpets’ new production of “Joseph the Dreamer” comes alive onstage at SM Megamall Cinema 4 on September 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 at 3 p.m. and September 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30 at 7 p.m. For ticket inquiries, you may contact Trumpets at (02) 635-4478 or 636-2842. Ticket prices: PhP350 and PhP250.