By Carla Debbie Alleyne
This year Princeton University’s Office of Religious Life Hallelujah! will be producing a hip-hop musical entitled “The Mogul,” starring Jon Cortez ’16 on May 1st – 3rd at 7pm at the Frist Performance Theatre. Tickets are free and the show is open to the community. The musical is written and directed by Carla Debbie Alleyne. Carla, a Master of Divinity candidate at Princeton Theological Seminary, is an intern seminarian at Princeton University Office of Religious Life Hallelujah!. Hallelujah! is a student led Christian worship service established during the academic year of 1990-1991 at Princeton University.
Under the mentorship and guidance of Dean Alison Boden, Associate Dean Deborah Blanks, and Professor Gordon Graham, Carla wrote, directed and produced the hip-hop musical The Mogul, which is a full-length musical production about a music impresario’s rise and fall in the hip-hop industry. This musical explores faith, family and redemption. The show has brought together a cast of actors, rappers and singers from Princeton University, Princeton Theological Seminary, Westminster Choir College and New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Princeton University through the Office of Religious life is hosting the presentation. Carla’s goal in writing this musical was to create a bridge to a creative space where different communities can engage. The story focuses on hip-hop mogul Maximilian Macabees who “thinks” he is on top of the world. Max has it all – money, power and fame. But, he will soon learn that the same evil that enabled him to get his start and realize his dreams can just as easily destroy them. After losing his wealth, Max is forced to find and mend his relationship with his long lost son, who is now a popular and rogue underground rapper, signed by a street gang affiliated with the Bloods. Max must fight for his son’s life and career or lose him to a life of crime and imprisonment forever. The theme of the story is redeeming Fatherhood.
Jon Cortez ’16, a gifted songwriter and rapper, will be playing the role of Max’s son, Zion, an underground rapper gone astray. Max will be played by legendary Christian rapper Solomon Starr who is currently working on his D.Min. at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Music for the show will be provided historical rapper from the first female hip-hop crew in the Bronx, Mercedes Ladies, DJ Flame. This is not Carla Alleyne’s first musical. She had also written the book for the Apollo Theatre’s first musical production, Bring In the Morning, starring rap legend Lauryn Hill. Carla received a B.F.A. and a M.F.A. in Film and Television and Dramatic Writing from New York University and will serve as Student Government President of Princeton Theological Seminary for year 2014-15. There will be after-events subsequent to each show. On Thursday night, May 1st, the Office of Religious Life will host a reception. On Friday night, May 2nd, documentary filmmaker Kobie Brown will facilitate a panel and discussion on Fatherhood, and on Saturday night, May 3rd, there will be an Open Mic Night hosted by DJ Flame for singers and rappers to display their talents. Please come and join the community of festivities.

