Reviewed by Suzanne Angeo (American Theatre Critics Association), and Greg Angeo (Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle)
Ensemble cast
“Prince” Makes a Start for the Promised Land
“The Prince of Egypt”, a Metro Detroit premiere presented by Avon Players to kick off their 2025-2026 season, is a lightweight family-friendly musical. It was adapted for the stage by “Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz , with book by Philip LaZebnik, from the 1998 DreamWorks animated film. It’s a reimagining of the familiar story of the life of Moses and his journey from the bullrushes to Prince of Egypt to leader of Israel, and the many miracles in between. It had its debut in Mountain View CA in October 2017, and opened in London’s West End in October 2020. Schwartz, who wrote the music for the DreamWorks film, also wrote the new music for the adaptation, bringing over five songs from the film.
You won’t see any camels or actual chariots, but there is a great musical score with many memorable numbers, courtesy of the excellent 11-piece orchestra directed by Matt Kush: “Deliver Us”; “Dance to the Day”; “Through Heaven’s Eyes”; “Never in a Million Years”; and “When You Believe”, which won Schwartz an Academy Award.
Emily Brown
What really makes the show is the truly amazing lighting and projection effects by director JD Deierlein that smoothly transition us from scene to scene, transforming the stage from temple and palace interiors, to the river Nile, to the pyramids and deserts. Not to be missed is the “Burning Bush” encountered by Moses that’s really hard to beat for sheer stagecraft wizardry.
All of the main cast members have strong vocal talents that do justice to the score and make “The Prince of Egypt” well worth seeing. Drew Gale offers an amiable Moses with a fine voice (“Footprints on the Sand”, “For the Rest of My Life”). Moses’ wife Tzipporah is played by Kionna Dailey with (at times) restrained energy and a superb voice (“Dance to the Day”). Other bright spots: the standout performances by Lori Smith as Moses’ sister Miriam, and Adam Wager as Ramses. The rest of the key cast members include Matthew Cason as Aaron, Ryan Gigliotti as Pharaoh Seti, Katherine Whitton as Ramses’ wife Nefertari, Scott Wickson as Jethro, and RJ Miller-Zelinko as high priest Hotep.
Lori Smith, Drew Gale, Kionna Dailey
Those of you who have seen the film already know, but for those first-timers, keep in mind that the script takes broad artistic liberties with biblical events. It presents a brotherly relationship between Moses and Ramses that simply did not exist (if they even knew each other), and softens the brutality of some of the curses that befell the Egyptians when Pharaoh refused to let the Hebrews leave.
“The Prince of Egypt” alternates between exhilarating (great music, dramatic lighting, vivid special effects) and frustrating (flaws in the script, lack of key character development, and questionable costumes – like Ramses wearing a karate uniform). But this is an impressive show nonetheless, very much enjoyed by the audience and ideal for family outings.
Now through September 27, 2025
Tickets $32.00
Avon Playhouse
1185 Washington Rd
Rochester Hills, MI 48306
(248) 608-9077
www.avonplayers.org
Avon Players Theatre is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization
