Johnson City Arts Center 2024
Digital Program (Director's Cut)
Director
Chloe Garbe
Stage Manager
Chloe Garbe
Costume Design
Christina Ward
Lighting and Sound
Calvin Price
Cast
Moses...................................................................................................Analia Malcolm
Rameses........................................................................................................Maia Ross
Miriam..........................................................................................................Lilly Anglin
Moses's Mother..........................................................................................Abbie Ryan
Pharaoh's Daughter.................................................................................Greta Anglin
Burning Bush....................................Alaina Brown, Geneva Schepers, Aidyn Patton
Sinnerman............................................Analia Malcolm, Karsyn Potter, Sophie Tolley
Priest of Midian.......................................................................................Abigail Salyer
Snake...................................................................................................Reese Campbell
Court Magicians........................................................Maddie Denham, Esther Knopp
Angel of Death......................................................................................Ellie Woodbury
Young Miriam.....................................................................................Alexandria Kiech
Young Rameses..........................................................................................Sailor Jones
Young Moses.............................................................................................Callie Athon
Murdered Overseer.........................................................................Abigail Woodbury
Royal Attendants.........................................................Holly Herndon, Abigail Rainey
Act I
Prologue
1. "Deliver Us"
Artist: Original West End Cast Recording
Performers: Hebrew slaves (Ballet 6 & 7), Moses's Mother, Overseers
Choreography: Kathryn Price
The Hebrews have been enslaved by Egypt, and they call out to God for deliverance.
2. "River Lullaby"
Artist: Ashley Serena
Performers: Moses's Mother, Young Miriam, Nile River (Ballet 1), Pharaoh's Daughter, Royal Attendants
Choreography: Eden Huhn, Makaila Wooten
Desperate to keep him safe from the Egyptians, Moses's mother and sister, Miriam, place him in a basket and hide him amongst the reeds of the Nile. Pharaoh's daughter finds the basket and takes the child home as her own.
The third verse of this song repeats the first verse, but in Hebrew.
3. "Deliver Us" (Reprise)
Artist: Original West End Cast Recording
Performers: Hebrews (Ballet 6 & 7), Moses's Mother, Young Miriam
Choreography: Kathryn Price
Young Miriam prays for baby Moses and returns home.
Into the Wilderness
4. "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight"
Artist: Jennifer Hudson
Performers: Pharaoh's Daughter, Young Rameses, Young Moses, Hebrew children (Modern 3)
Choreography: Eden Huhn
The Pharaoh's daughter raises Moses in the Egyptian court, along with her son, Rameses. Young Moses is troubled by the presence of Hebrew slaves. Moses and Rameses grow up.
We don't know how or when Moses learns of his true heritage. In this interpretation, we explore what it may have been like for a young Moses to handle conflicting identities as a member of the Egyptian court and a Hebrew slave.
5. "Pursuit in the Desert"
Artist: Jeff Danna
Performers: Moses, Murdered Oversser, Hebrews (ballet 6)
Choreography: Chloe Garbe
Moses sees an overseer beating a slave and intervenes, killing the overseer. Afraid of the consequences, he flees Egypt.
6. "Sinnerman"
Artist: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Performers: Moses, Sinnerman duo
Choreography: Kathryn Price, inspired by Alvin Ailey
Moses feels guilt over what he has done and fears for his future.
Choreography for "Sinnerman" draws inspiration from a famous piece choreographed by Alvin Ailey for his work, "Revelations." This ballet, set to gospels and traditional spirituals, reflects on the experiences of African Americans - "sometimes sorrowful, sometimes jubilant, but always hopeful."
Midian
7. "Across Light and Time"
Artist: Assia Ahhatt
Performers: Midians (Ballet 5), Moses
Choreography: Mia Matthews
Moses arrives in Midian, where a local tribe finds and welcomes him.
8. "Through Heaven's Eyes"
Artist: Brian Stokes Mitchell
Performers: Priest of Midian, Midians (Jazz 5), Moses
Choreography: Christina Ward
The Priest of Midian teaches Moses about God and helps him grow past his mistakes.
The Burning Bush
9. "A Beautiful Young Girl"
Artist: J.A.C. Redford
Performers: Sheep (Ballet Basics), Shepherds (Ballet Basics Helpers), Moses
Choreography: Lilly Anglin, Chloe Garbe
Moses lives in Midian for several years. He becomes a shepherd.
10. "Burning Bush"
Artist: Hans Zimmer
Performers: Burning Bush Trio, Moses
Choreography: Mia Matthews
One day, Moses encounters a bush that burns without being consumed by the flames. God speaks to him through the bush, calling Moses to return to Egypt to free the Hebrews from slavery.
Listen closely! The "Burning Bush" theme will return several times throughout the story as a representation of God's power.
How do you represent a bush that does not burn speaking to Moses? We chose to represent the voice of God with three dancers, referencing the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Act II
The Confrontation
11. "Let My People Go"
Artist: 103rd Street Gospel Choir
Performers: Moses, Miriam, Hebrews (Jazz 3/4)
Choreography: Christina Ward
Moses returns to Egypt, where he meets his sister. He tells the Hebrew people that God sent him to free them, and they rejoice.
12. "Ostrich Race"
Artist: Harry Gregson-Williams
Performers: Rameses, Egyptian Court (Pointe 7)
Choreography: Mia Matthews
Rameses is now Pharaoh, and he is in charge of the Egyptian Court.
13. "The Hour of Trouble" / "Cry"
Artist: J.A.C. Redford / Ofra Haza
Performers: Rameses, Moses, Egyptian Court (Pointe 7), Snake
Choreography: Chloe Garbe / Eden Huhn
Moses and Rameses reunite, but things turn sour when Moses demands that the Hebrews be set free, under God's authority. Rameses questions the authority of God, so Moses summons the Snake as a show of God's power.
14. "Harvest Dance"
Artist: Alan Menken
Performers: Snake, Court Magicians, Little Snakes (Jazz 1 & 2)
Choreography: Christina Ward, Cassidy Kent
Rameses summons the Court Magicians to replicate the miracle using magic. The Magicians successfully summon snakes, but their snakes are defeated by Moses's snake.
15. "A Single Act of Disobedience"
Artist: J.A.C. Redford
Performers: Rameses, Moses
Choreography: Chloe Garbe
Rameses doubles down on his own authority, denying God's authority. Full of resentment and pride, he refuses Moses's request for the Hebrews to be set free.
The Plagues
The Bible famously tells the story of the 10 Plagues God set upon Egypt. For the sake of brevity, we have grouped several together for our interpretation.
16. "Wade in the Water"
Artist: Babbie Mason
Performers: Nile water, Nile blood (Jazz 6 & 7)
Choreography: Christina Ward
The Nile turns to blood.
17. "Summer—Epic Trailer Version"
Artist: L'Orchestra Cinematique, Alala
Performers: Frogs (Pre-Ballet & Helpers), Moses, Rameses
Choreography: Greta Anglin, Chloe Garbe
The plague of frogs. Moses again asks Rameses to let the Hebrews go, but the Pharaoh refuses.
18. "Drums of Drakkar"
Artist: Amoebacrew
Performers: Hail (Beginner & Intermediate Tap), Moses, Rameses
Choreography: Grayson Buchanon, Chloe Garbe
The plague of hail. Moses again asks Rameses to let the Hebrews go, but the Pharaoh refuses.
19. "Exalted"
Artist: Michael Gordon, Kronos Quartet, The Young People's Chorus of NYC
Performers: Insects (Modern 5), Darkness (Modern 4), Moses, Rameses
Choreography: Eden Huhn
The plagues of insects and darkness. Moses again asks Rameses to let the Hebrews go, but the Pharaoh refuses.
The words to this song are the opening lines to the Jewish Kaddish for mourning, sung in Aramaic: "May the great Name of God be exalted and sanctified, throughout the world, which he has created according to his will." (More info here.) The composer wrote this piece as the finale of a suite that featured recordings of interviews with children regarding their experiences of 9/11.
The Passover
20. "Ma Nishtana"
Artist: Yaffa Yarkoni
Performers: Hebrew children (Ballet 3), Moses
Choreography: Makaila Wooten
The Hebrews prepare for the Passover as instructed by God. Among them, they must sacrifice a lamb and paint its blood upon their doorframes, bake unleavened bread, and stay indoors. The blood acts as a sign to God, so that God will pass over the houses of the Hebrews.
"Ma Nishtana" is a prayer sung at a Jewish Passover celebration, typically sung by the youngest member participating. It generally translates to "Why is this night different?" Click here for a resource of more information.
21. "Kyrie Eleison"
Artist: Salt of the Sound
Performers: Angel of Death, Hebrew families, Egyptian families, Pharaoh, Moses
Choreography: Katie Greene
An Angel of Death passes through the kingdom of Egypt, striking dead all firstborn. The angel passes over those families that have followed the preparations set by God, sparing them. Rameses, grieving his firstborn, orders Moses and the Hebrews to leave.
"Kyrie Eleison" translates to "Lord have mercy." Versions of this song are often sung at Catholic funerals.
The Red Sea
22. "Now we are Free"
Artist: 2CELLOS
Performers: Hebrews (Ballet 6), Miriam, Moses, Red Sea (Ballet 4)
Choreography: Mia Matthews, Chloe Garbe
The Hebrews leave Egypt. They travel until they reach the Red Sea.
23. "Red Sea"
Artist: Hans Zimmer
Performers: Miriam, Pharaoh, Egyptian Soldiers (Ballet 7), Moses, Red Sea (Ballet 4)
Choreography: Kathryn Price, Chloe Garbe
Miriam warns that Rameses is approaching with his soldiers. God parts the Red Sea and Moses leads the Hebrews across to safety. When the Egyptians try to follow, the Red Sea rises again.
24. "When You Believe"
Artist: West End Cast Recording
Performers: Miriam, Hebrews (Ballet 6 & 7), Moses, Hebrew Children (Ballet 2)
Choreography: Chloe Garbe, Eden Huhn, Kathryn Price
Miriam and the Hebrews rejoice that their prayers have been answered. Now they are free.
Letter from the Director
Our adaptation aims to respect the numerous people, throughout time, for whom this story is personally, culturally, or spiritually foundational.
Though a few changes had to be made to suit the medium of dance, we hope that this production conveys what we believe to be the heart of the story:
God is faithful, God is Almighty, and God will and has delivered us.
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