Ahkenaten & Nefertiti is the first play in a series of four that focuses on bringing the Ancient Egyptian culture to life. An undertone interwoven within the series is the complex story of the time the Hebrews spent in Egypt. Akhenaten & Nefertiti starts with the Biblical character Joseph winning the Pharaoh's favor by deciphering his dreams. Joseph's prophetic ability piques Pharaoh's interest in Joseph's god; and this interest would later foster itself in Pharaoh's son, Akhenaten. Akhenaten would take Joseph's god and base his entire rule around Him, transforming Egypt into the first monotheist society, which in the end leaves Egypt in ruins. The series leads through the Hebrews' enslavement and ultimately ends with their exodus from Egypt as told from the perspective of Ramses the Great.

The mystique and mystery of the Ancient Egyptians entrances the world round, but only a privileged few know anything about the lives these haunting figures led. Thus it was felt that this interest combined with the international fame of names such as Tutankhamen would be a viable topic to market. It is our intention to bring the vivid dramatic lives of these people to the stage for the public to enjoy what only scholars have been privy to. This, coupled with the researched that unearthed the historical figure of Joseph, a find that would give the first historical face to a figure from the Bible, will bring these plays a light of stirring controversy that will only amplify the interest in this body of work. It is our hope to entertain, inform, and challenge the mind of the public.

Russell J. McGee warmly introduces Akhenaten & Nefertiti, first in his series of four Egyptian plays, to the Bloomington area with high anticipation of its reception. Mr. McGee is an actor, director, and playwright from Indiana. He attended Indiana State University, studying Theater and Creative Writing. While at ISU, Mr. McGee started writing his series of Egyptian-themed plays. He also wrote several lesser works including stories, poems, songs, and two one act plays: Night light and Reality's Fading, a non-verbal experimental piece. One of his poems was selected by the National Library of Poets to be published in their annual anthology. In the summer of 2000, while in Chicago, he had a reading of his play Tutankhamen at the Chicago Dramatist Guild, and he was the assistant director of the play Take All of Us With You, a new work featured at the Strawdog Theater. He has also recently directed Rapunzel for the Bloomington Playwrights' Project (BPP) and My Life and Death Inside Santa Clause, which recieved third place in the BPP's first annual Mini Playoff Festival.