Casting
Character Breakdown
Playful, but with a soulful core. Ages throughout the show. He begins the show as a devil-may-care young man, a bit of a clown and playboy, secure in his privileged identity as a prince of Egypt. But after his devastating discovery that he was born a slave, he grows into the strong and compassionate leader of the Hebrew people. A high tenor (sings up to Bb) with a thrilling voice and large range.
A prince of Egypt, heir to the throne, who ages throughout the show. He loves his brother Moses, but is also quite competitive with him, since Moses’s winning personality continually puts him in the shade. His father expects a great deal from him as the future Pharaoh, and Ramses is wracked by self-doubt. Through trials of great pain over the course of the show, he ultimately becomes a great leader of the Egyptians. A strong tenor (sings up to G#), but with a well-developed lower range.
Moses’s Hebrew mother. She sets her son afloat in a basket on the Nile in order to save him from the Egyptian soldiers. Rich alto voice, sings in Hebrew and English.
Moses’s Hebrew sister. Good singing voice.
Regal, wise, deeply loving. She always wanted another son after Ramses was born, and believes Moses was a gift from the gods. Over the course of the show she changes from being a vibrant, clever, and even playful woman to a broken creature devastated by the loss of her adopted son. Rich alto voice.
The Pharaoh of Egypt. Commanding, carries himself with great dignity and authority. As a young man, he brought Egypt back from the brink ofcivil war. He is a great general and still leads his army into battle. He loves his sons deeply,but he loves Egypt more and everything he does is to protect and preserve his country.A low baritone/bass.
The High Priest of Egypt. Though pompous and self-important, he is deeply committed to the ancient gods of Egypt and above all fears the heresy of the one god which brought down the previous dynasty. His support is crucial to the well-being of the 18th Dynasty. He despises Moses for his lack of reverence and seeks to preserve the Egyptian hierarchy at all costs. Strong baritone.
A Midian princess, fiery and rebellious, who ages throughout the show. She is full of spirit and strength, and wants nothing more than for her people to be free. Deeply committed to her family, and eventually to her love for Moses. Must have a thrilling high belt, but also a well-developed and beautiful mix; must also dance well.
Moses’s Hebrew sister. Devout, unswerving, simple-hearted, optimistic. A prophetess. She believes in God and in Moses as the Deliverer and never wavers in her faith in both. Strong rich belt.
Moses’s Hebrew brother. Intellectual, sardonic, skeptical, funny. Aaron has reached an accommodation with his life as a slave; he makes a joke of everything to diminish the pain. Aaron is the last Hebrew to believe in Moses; when Moses returns to Egypt and confronts Ramses, asking him to let his people go, Aaron’s skepticism is borne out when the Hebrews’ labor is doubled. But when Aaron is finally won over, he becomes Moses’ most loyal follower. Tenor or high baritone.
Ramses’s wife and his Queen of Egypt. Imperious and haughty. Scion of an ancient royal family, she is keenly aware of her position and her importance to the dynasty. She is supremely self-confident and looks down upon Ramses as a member of an upstart family. But at the end, her heart is broken by the death of her son and she reveals her humanity and love for Ramses. Strong rich belt, high alto.
The High Priest of Midian and Tzipporah’s father. A powerful, wise presence, exuding a joy of life and a deep empathy for others. Full of love and buoyancy, with a deep spiritual center. A high baritone (must sing up to G) with a strong warm voice.
One of Tzipporah’s younger sisters. Feisty and willing to fight when threatened. Good-humored, she and Keturah think their older sister is a bit of a head case, and they happily welcome Moses into their tribe.
One of Tzipporah’s younger sisters. Feisty and willing to fight when threatened. Good-humored, she and Leah think their older sister is a bit of a head case, and they happily welcome Moses into their tribe.
Singers and dancers who portray Hebrew slaves, members of the Egyptian court, Priests, and Midianites.