Muslim actor Omar Uddin on joining Christian musical ‘Joseph The Dreamer’: ‘I feel connected with the story’
Omar, who is Muslim, is part of the cast of Trumpets’ restaging of the beloved musical, which is back onstage for a short run at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium in Makati’s RCBC Plaza from November 6 to 22. He plays Potiphar, the Egyptian official who brings Joseph into his household after the young man is sold as a slave by his own brothers.
The musical retells the story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament. Joseph is also honored in Islam, where he is known as the prophet Yusuf, and an entire chapter of the Quran is devoted to his life.
Omar said playing Potiphar helped him see how every part of the musical works together.
“What I discovered, not just with Potiphar but with the other characters in the show, is that it all connects with Joseph’s story. And every character is so important,” he said.
For Omar, the story still speaks to what is happening today, especially its ending.
“When it became clear that the story is still happening now – with whatever is happening in the world – I just loved the ending, which has a huge decision for Joseph: that forgiving someone is the best way to move on with life. But it also doesn’t mean we should forget what happened,” he said.
“At the end of the day, every story that we tell, not just in Joseph The Dreamer but in every story that we tell in the theater, connects with life situations,” he added.
That sense of connection, he said, goes beyond religion.
“It also reminds me that even though I am from a different religion, I still feel connected with the story, and I am so thankful that I get to be part of this show,” he said.
Taking turns in the title role this year are Neo Rivera and Jordan Andrews, while acclaimed stage and screen actor Nonie Buencamino plays Joseph’s father, Jacob.
Jordan was still a child when he first stepped onstage, appearing in Miss Saigon and The King and I on Broadway and in London’s West End. Filipino TV viewers got to know him as “The Musical Dream Chaser” when he became a housemate on Pinoy Big Brother Kumunity Season 10: Celebrity Edition. Local theater fans have since seen him in Ang Huling El Bimbo, Tabing Ilog: The Musical, Rent, Shrek The Musical, and, most recently, A Chorus Line.
Jordan took on Joseph for the first time in 2025, and he hopes the role touches audiences the way it has touched him.
“Playing Joseph means being part of a story that might reach someone exactly when they need it,” he said. “If I’ve done my job right, someone else goes home wearing their own coat of hope, integrity, and forgiveness.”
Neo, meanwhile, wears many hats. Aside from acting, singing, and dancing, he also does photography, visual art, and content creation. He had starring roles in Going Home To Christmas and The Quest For The Adarna, then stepped away from the stage for a while. His return came through A Christmas Carol, where he played Fred. This year, he drew praise for playing music executive Phil in On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan.
The two actors share a similar history with the musical. Both started out playing Judah, Joseph’s older brother, and took turns as Joseph on select dates. Neo first joined the production in 2020 as an understudy and got his shot at the title role as an alternate in 2022.
“Truly, it was God’s hand at work when the opportunity to play this role presented itself,” Neo said. “Beyond the pressure of living up to our predecessors, what I choose to focus on is bringing my own interpretation of Joseph to life.”
Those predecessors include some big names: Audie Gemora, Gary Valenciano, Franco Laurel, Alvin dela Peña, and Sam Concepcion have all worn Joseph’s famous coat.
Nonie steps into the role of Jacob, which Gary played in last year’s run. A familiar face in Filipino films and TV shows for over 30 years, he played Felipe Buencamino, his own real-life ancestor, in Heneral Luna and Goyo: The Boy General, and Elias in the 1998 film Jose Rizal. His stage work has been just as strong. He took home a Gawad Buhay award in 2025 for Balete, where he played three characters in one production, and earlier this year he starred as Don Quixote in Repertory Philippines’ Man of La Mancha.
Naya Ambi and Iya Villanueva take turns as Asenath, the Egyptian princess who also narrates the story, with Lorenz Martinez as the Pharaoh. Opposite Omar, Jannah Baniasia and Dippy Arceo share the role of Mrs. Potiphar.
Rapah Manalo plays Judah and Boo Gabunada plays Reuben. Joining them as Joseph’s other brothers are Matthew Barbers, Renz Bernardo, Carlos Canlas, Luis Marcelo, Sam Panlilio, Anton Posadas, Daniel Solis, Gabo Tiongson, and Antonio Valdez. The roles of young Joseph and Manasseh, Joseph’s son, go to Enzo Isaac and Liam Nery.
Julia Serad, who was also part of the 2025 run, plays Rachel, Joseph’s mother. She sings “He Opens A Window,” one of the show’s most emotional numbers. Rounding out the ensemble are Gabby Concepcion, Jim Ferrer, Kathleen Francisco, Justine Narciso, and Coleen Paz.
In the story, Joseph is the 11th of Jacob’s 12 sons and his father’s clear favorite. Jealous and resentful, his older brothers get rid of him by selling him as a slave. He ends up in Egypt, survives false accusations and prison, and rises to power after interpreting the Pharaoh’s dreams – until, years later, he comes face to face with the brothers who betrayed him.
The musical was Trumpets’ very first production. Its songs come from a cantata by Cam Floria, while Freddie Santos wrote the script. It opened in Cebu in 1989 and spent the next decade playing everywhere from Manila to Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, and Dagupan.
It was one of the final productions staged before the COVID-19 lockdown shut theaters in 2020, and it came back in 2022, when live shows were starting up again.
Today’s version of the show traces back to a reimagined staging helmed by director Paolo Valenciano – Gary’s son – with Myke Salomon handling the music and MJ Arda the choreography.
Audie, who originated the role of Joseph in 1989 and is now Trumpets’ artistic director, credits the show with changing his life.
“Of all the musicals I’ve done, there was only one show that changed my life — that is Joseph The Dreamer. The same goes for everyone who has been part of this show. It reminds us that God truly has a plan for all of us,” he said.
“I think it’s time the next generation of theatergoers get to experience JTD, and the powerful story it has to tell,” Audie added.
Behind the scenes, Bernice Aspillaga takes charge as staging director. She has worked on shows for Trumpets as well as Theatre Group Asia. Jim, who is also in the cast, serves as the show’s dance captain and Bernice’s assistant director, while Jay Pangilinan handles musical direction.
Tickets, priced from P1,680 to P3,850, are available at Ticket2Me.net and through official show buyers. Trumpets shares news and a peek at rehearsals on Instagram through @trumpetsph and @jtdthemusical.
—By Paolo Lim