I wasn’t sure what to expect when I attended CASA 0101 Theater’s production of DreamWorks “The Prince of Egypt: The Musical,” but I was pleasantly surprised.
The production runs through December 21, 2025, at CASA 0101 Theater – 2102 East First Street in Boyle Heights, 90033. For information and tickets, click here.
CASA 0101 has included musicals such as The Prince of Egypt: The Musical into its repertory to allow people who cannot afford to attend theater in larger venues to experience them in an affordable setting.
The theater has also created a musical workshop for youth, and two of its participants, Aiden Ricardo Heredia and Sofia Lopez, appear in the play.
The Prince of Egypt: The Musical
If you are unfamiliar with the plot, it is based on the Old Testament Book of Exodus, with songs from the 1998 DreamWorks animated film.
Moses and Ramses II were brought up as brothers after Moses’s mother, Yocheved, put infant Moses in a basket on the Nile to escape being murdered as a firstborn son. He was rescued by Pharaoh Seti’s wife, Queen Tuya, and adopted into the family.
As a young man, Moses discovers that he is a Hebrew and chooses to free his people.
Ramses II succeeds Seti and is pressured by his high priest Hotep and his wife Nefertari to cast out Moses and keep the Hebrews enslaved.
Diego Huerta-Gutierrez astonishes as charismatic Moses and has a powerful singing voice. He holds the audience’s attention throughout the performance with pure authenticity.
Christopher J Thumé plays Ramses II with a youthful swagger, is torn between remaining loyal to his “brother” Moses and doing what is best to ensure his dynasty will continue.
Ramses II marries bossy and cold Nefertari, played by Naledi Miga, in an arranged marriage to ensure the success of his reign. She softens in an emotional scene when both she and her husband bury their firstborn infant, struck down by the plague.
Joslynn Cortes as Tzipporah is first seen as a fiery, enslaved dancer given to Ramses II as a gift. Moses helps her escape. She later meets Moses after he leaves the palace to free his people. At first, she rejects him as a brother of Ramses II, but they develop a relationship and get married. At times, her microphone was soft when she sang, but it was more of a technical glitch that could be easily fixed.
Tal Toker, as Hotep the high priest, exudes evil and self-righteousness. He also has a strong singing voice and is delightfully nasty.
Toni Elizabeth White as Yocheved, Julian Armaya as Seti, Chrissi Erickson as Miriam, Danielle Johnson as Queen Tuya, and Sammy J Kohler and Aaron also deliver commanding performances.
The ensemble cast, who play multiple roles, was tight and cohesive.
Choreography by Tania Possick was inventive and energetic. Tony Iniguez’s costumes were showstopping and sparkly. The production was directed by Rigo Tejeda with musical direction by Gabrielle Maldonado.
Always Running Photography Exhibit
CASA 0101 also features the artwork of local artists and is currently displaying photographs by Luis J. Rodriguez. The exhibition was produced for the 30th anniversary of the book “Always Running: Photography by Luis J Rodriguez.
The photos depict scenes from Los Angeles barrio life and capture many of the characters and scenes from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. It is curated and produced by Noé Montes and supported by a grant from the Eastside Arts Initiative.
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