I am thrilled to finally have the opportunity to spotlight Actress, Singer & Writer Desi Waters whom I have known since 2007.

Desi is currently starring in the Off Broadway play Dust of Egypt - The Story of Sojourner Truth.

In this interview, Desi answered my call to share:

• Exploring her connection to Dust of Egypt & why she chose to audition for the show
• Reflecting on her personal “firsts"
• How this role has opened up new ways for her to speak out
• Connecting the themes of the show (motherhood, justice, faith, forgiveness) to her own life as a mother & working actress today
• Sharing what she wants audiences to know about her beyond the role & why Dust of Egypt matters in the current moment
• So much more

Connect with Desi: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Dust of Egypt, a new one-act play, dramatizes the inspiring activist Sojourner Truth's little-known fight to rescue her young son Peter after he is taken from New York State down South.

The play explores tangled race relations, the price of injustice, forgiveness and faith, resiliency and releasing the past.

Dust of Egypt plays at The Frank Shiner Theater at The Sheen Center for Thought and Culture in NYC through March 29, 2026. Click Here for Tickets! 

Desi Waters as Sojourner Truth, Dust of Egypt
Photo Credit: Rainer DeLalio

1. What made you want to audition for Dust of Egypt? I remember auditioning for Dust of Egypt. I knew my schedule would make my Fall insane. I was bedeviled with conflicts as I looked at their production schedule.

But something about the idea of sharing Sojourner’s story and the script spoke to me. It was exactly what I wanted to do and could do. It felt as if all the work on historical dramas and immersive theatre was leading to this point.

2. Why do you feel audiences should come see this show? 

• Point 1. It is a beautifully directed show. Passion’s imagery, storytelling, and crafting make this piece inspiring.
• Point 1A. We are a talented cast and good-looking to boot.
• Point 1B. SUPPORT LIVE THEATER OR THERE WON’T BE ANY LEFT TO SEE.
• Point 1C. Karin Abarbanel, our playwright, has shared fascinating New York history.

3. Dust of Egypt, is based upon the real life story of Black activist Sojourner Truth who was a young mother determined to rescue her 5-year- old boy Peter after he was sold and illegally taken down South. How has preparing for this show allowed you to speak out in ways you had not before this show came along? Working on this show has given me empathy and opened my heart, even more, to help immigrant families, new Americans, and struggling mothers. I was already willing to help.

After Dust of Egypt, I am drawn to giving people the space to express their fears, their experiences, and to tell their stories.

4. Sojourner Truth was the first Black woman to sue a slave owner in court - and win. What is a first of something you had that you are still proud of to this day? This is slightly out there, but I was a part of a multicultural, youth empowerment performance company when I was a teen called CityKids. We did a lot of firsts. We wrote a TV show with Jim Henson’s Muppets, performed with Demi Moore at Carnegie Hall, and most memorable for me… we sang at Bill Clinton’s birthday celebration at Radio City Music Hall.

Our birthdays are one day apart. They sent me out on stage first to sing to him. However, he had jumped on stage to thank everyone and that was not the plan. He was supposed to stay in the audience. The Stage Manager made a split-second decision and pushed me out to sing solo. Bill, Hillary and Chelsea each gave me a birthday hug. I could see and feel the red laser on my chest from his security team’s sharpshooters. Scariest moment of my life and most memorable.

What I also remember about that night was after headlining at Radio City Music Hall and celebrating my birthday with Bill Clinton, I still needed my White friend to hail a cab for me. They would not stop for a Black teen, even in Midtown.

Desi Waters & Cast of Dust of Egypt
Photo Credit Rainer DeLalio

5. Press notes also state the show deals with faith & forgiveness. How do you find it in your heart to forgive someone who has wronged you? I am still working on this skill. I want to make sure my enemies suffer. I can hold a grudge. I am still bitter that my third-grade friend bought the Cabbage Patch Kid I wanted - his name was Harry Sparky. The Cabbage Patch Kid, not the friend.

6. How do you feel Dust of Egypt relates to the times we are living in today? We are witnesses to great hate, destruction, and Racism. Certain religious sects are held more important than our Constitution. The minerals and riches of the Sudan and Congo are more valuable than the lives of the people of the Congo and Sudan. Guns are more protected than our Children in America. Palestine has been turned to dust. As in the time of slavery, violence and discrimination prevail. And those of us on the right side struggle to be heard. WE struggle to uplift humanity.

Desi Waters as Sojourner Truth, Dust of Egypt
Photo Credit: Rainer DeLalio

7. How has motherhood changed the way you audition for shows or decide on what projects to go after? Motherhood has changed my relationship with time. Since becoming a Mom, family time is more important to me than I thought it would be. I love evenings with my kid. So it limits the types of projects that I am willing to take on.

I am no longer willing to take on projects that interfere with family time. It has to be a truly compelling project like Dust of Egypt to get me to miss bonding time with my kid, which is something I never thought I would say. Oh, and for auditioning, sometimes finding time and space to self-tape can get tricky.

The best time for me to self-tape is in the evening. My regular reader is available. There isn’t any construction noise. I can take my time. It’s the last thing I will do that day.

However, that is also after bedtime. So if there is screaming or cursing, I have to carve out a different time and space to work, which adds the time crunch and reader search into the mix.

Though my 8-year-old has become quite good at giving me notes.

Desi Waters, Jade Cayne, Eric Ruffin
Dust of Egypt, Photo Credit Rainer DeLalio

8. How do you balance being a mom and an actress?  The bigger challenge for me is balancing the entire family. My wife travels for work. Working on scheduling for gigs is not just my time. I have to look at my availability, my wife’s availability, the school calendar, and the extra-curricular activities calendar. So a simple question like “Can you do a press event next Thursday” becomes quite the undertaking.

In addition to being a native New Yorker, with friends and family at the ready, to help with childcare, I have been lucky to work with some amazing women-led production companies that take into account the load that parents and caregivers carry.

Royal Family Productions, for one, lets my child hang out with me in the theatre before a few shows when I just couldn’t find a sitter. Knowing that was an option made me rest easier. Well, not rest, but you know what I mean. 

Desi Waters and Jade Cayne, Dust of Egypt
Photo Credit: Rainer DeLalio

9. Have you had to miss out on any shows or auditions to be home for your daughter? Due to scheduling complications and my parental responsibilities, sometimes I don’t even submit to auditions. I would love to be on stage more. I want to do regional theatre, especially musicals, in places like Louisville, Seattle or St. Louis.

But the summer schedules don’t work for me because my kid’s birthday is on Juneteenth. Also, every important school event in NYC happens in June. June is when many theatres start rehearsal and/or their summer season. If I attempt to take off for the summer right now, I miss everything kid-related.

However, in a few years, when I have a teenager, I am pretty sure the kid will be more than happy to send me off singing somewhere.

10. What is something we didn’t get to talk about in this interview that you’d like my audience to know about you? 

Five things about me:

1. I can answer any question with a song from a musical
2. I am an “artivist” an artist and activist.
3. I am a nerd. One of my favorite books is The Power Broker about Robert Moses by Robin Caro.
4. Did I mention I was born and raised in Queens. A native New Yorker, I am.
5. I did not use ChatGPT to answer these questions. Do I get extra credit for that?

Desi Waters, Photo Credit: Jeffrey Mosier Photography

More on Desi Waters:

Desi Waters is honored to return to The Sheen Center to reprise her role as Sojourner Truth.

Her stage work includes Mary Poppins, Fame, Romeo and Juliet, Uncle Vanya, and Marilla of Green Gables
with Royal Family Productions.

Her television credits include The Blacklist, Harlem, CityKids: The TV Series, New Amsterdam, Broad City, Blue Bloods, Nickelodeon’s The Big Help, and Power.

She made her feature film debut in Tim Robinson’s Friendship.