In its 14th year of production, right in time for Passover, the Performing Arts Academy @ GBDS presented Red Sea Blues on Wednesday, April 10, to a sold our theater at the Wayne Y. The talented team of directors, Beth Paley, Einat Pinsker and Zina Knop meshed seamlessly, and the creative juices overflowed! Red Sea Blues is very much an ensemble show, with no leading characters and lots of opportunities for every actor to steal the spotlight.

The story of Exodus is well-known to us all, but this version focuses on the everyday lives of the Israelites as they shlep through the desert to Mount Sinai. You can’t see Moses, Aaron or Miriam on-stage, although their actions impact every aspect of life for the people. While they follow their leaders, the Israelites encounter troubles big and small, from Pharaoh’s wrath to monotonous manna meals… not to mention no cellphone service for a few thousand years!

The audiences enjoyed this comedic yet poignant journey of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt all the way to receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. With hit musical numbers like “When you Believe” from the movie Prince of Egypt,“It’s Raining Manna,” and the title song, “Red Sea Blues,” the audience members were dancing in their seats the entire time.

To learn about Academies @ GBDS and to schedule a tour, contact Lina Shuster at 201-337-1111 ext 208 or visit www.ssnj.org.�