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Aida
May 12-15, 2011
Fortune Favours the Brave
Book your audition today - click here The Community Players of New Hamburg are proud to present the Waterloo Region premiere of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida. Contemporary, edgy, romantic, tragic and inspirational are only a few of the words that can describe this epic musical. Building on a rich history of memorable theatre---Children of Eden, Titanic, Carousel, The Wizard of Oz and most recently Cats, TCP invites you to journey with us in the spring of 2011 to the distant lands of Egypt and Nubia for what promises to be another amazing theatrical journey: community theatre at its very best! Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida is a contemporary musical take on Guiseppe Verdi’s grand opera about the timeless bond between an enslaved Nubian princess and an Egyptian soldier. As forbidden love blossoms between them, the young lovers are forced to face death or part forever. Together, they set a shining example of true devotion that ultimately transcends the vast cultural differences between their warring nations, heralding a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity. With a pop-rock score that features stirring ballads and rousing choral numbers, Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida is a modern crowd-pleaser that embraces multicultural casting and exuberant dancing, staging and singing. Aida opened in Atlanta, Georgia in 1998, was revised for a run in Chicago starting in late 1999, and made its Broadway debut at the Palace Theater in March 2000. It was an instant audience favorite and received five Tony® nominations, winning for Best Original Score, Best Actress in a Musical and Best Lighting Design. The show also won the 2001 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album. A national tour began in the summer of 2000. Meanwhile, back on Broadway, a plethora of high-profile pop stars stepped into the title role, including Toni Braxton, Michelle T. Williams and Deborah Cox. In addition to the U.S. productions, Aida has been produced in Germany, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Uruguay, Australia, the Philippines, Mexico, Croatia, Peru, Argentina, Estonia, Canada, Hungary, Brazil, Sweden, Denmark, China and Israel. The show has been translated into 14 languages. Aida closed on Broadway on September 5, 2004, after an impressive run of 1,852 regular performances. The production was seen by more than 2.5 million people and grossed more than $150 million.
Director’s Note I was on a tour of the Stratford Festival many years ago and our tour guide mentioned that one of the reasons that the productions at the Festival are of such high calibre, is that they have actors who are willing to have a major role in one play and then be a messenger or a spear holder in another. I believe there is a lot of truth in that. Being a part of a community theatre company like TCP doesn't allow that to happen in the same "season", but the company grows and gains strength, year after year, if people are willing to be an integral part of each production, no matter how 'large' the role. Although I will be trying to feature as many people as possible with small groups and a much stronger stage presence for the ensemble, the solo roles in AIDA are limited to only a few. And soooo....In the upcoming auditions, I am looking for people who support each other.... people who are willing to use their strengths to make the musical the best it can be....people who will add their vocal strength to the absolutely gorgeous and challenging ensemble music....people who will be strong actors in the many speaking roles....people who are willing to challenge themselves and others physically, by experimenting with innovative dance and movement....people who are ready to give up a little of "self" to become part of "us". TCP's production of AIDA promises to be so incredibly creative and powerful, that it will be talked about for years to come. If you are "willing", I , and our amazing creative team, invite you to become a part of this amazing journey. Gord Davis
Directing Team Gord Davis, Director Jen Hoffman, Musical Director Richelle Hirlehey, Choreographer Brent Roth, Artistic Director
Characters AIDA (mezzo-soprano) Daughter of Amonasro and Princess of Nubia. With her royalty unknown to all except Mereb, she is taken into slavery with the rest of Nubia, but attracts the attention of Radames. She loves her people and will sacrifice everything for their happiness. AMNERIS (mezzo-soprano) Princess of Egypt, daughter of the Pharaoh, and Radames’ fiancée. She is known for her taste for fashion. Aida, given to her as a handmaiden, recognizes Amneris’ true nature: that her fashion-driven identity hides her insecurities. AMONASRO (non-singing role) Father of Aida and King of Nubia. An honorable and peaceful man. He is taken into slavery by the Egyptians after Aida and Radames have fallen in love, and commands Aida to break all ties with the Egyptians. MEREB (tenor) A Nubian servant to Radames, who was taken captive by the Egyptians as a youth. He is the first to recognize Aida as Princess of Nubia, and the first to tell the other Nubian slaves about it, in the hope that she can set them free. He is faithful to his Nubian heritage and he dreams of a better life for his people. NEHEBKA (mezzo-soprano) Nubian slave who speaks to Aida as a representative for the Nubian people. PHARAOH (non-singing role) Father of Amneris and King of Egypt. One of the arrangers of Amneris and Radames' much-delayed wedding, he is secretly being poisoned by Zoser to speed up Radames's succession to the throne. RADAMES (tenor) Captain of the Egyptian army, son of Zoser, and fiancé of Amneris. He is expected to succeed to the Egyptian throne after the Pharaoh's death, but instead finds himself intrigued by Aida, instead. He enjoys the adventures of war without realizing its devastation. He is a good man who wants to be a better man. ZOSER (baritone) Chief Minister of Egypt and father of Radames. He is eager for his son's succession to the Egyptian throne, and does all he can to bring it about—including poisoning the Pharaoh. He is power-hungry and unscrupulous. ENSEMBLE Men: Low G - High A Women: Low B flat - High A flat Song List ACT ONE ACT TWO
Elton John's music for Aida is stylistically eclectic. "Another Pyramid" is a modern reggae number; "My Strongest Suit" draws heavily on Motown, "The Gods Love Nubia" draws on gospel. There are numbers—"Not Me," "Elaborate Lives," "A Step Too Far," "Written in the Stars"—that reflect Elton John's pop style. There is also a strong influence of African or other “exotic” music. These styles are used without much attention to historical authenticity. Rather, there is a mix of African (mostly west African), Indian and Middle Eastern influences. Probably the nearest stylistic parallel to the work as a whole is Elton John's The Lion King, another musical with strong ethnic elements.
Production History Aida is a musical drama in two acts, based on Giuseppe Verdi's Italian-language opera of the same name, which was in turn based on a story by Auguste Mariette. The musical was produced by Hyperion Theatricals, a unit within Disney Theatrical, with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls and David Henry Hwang. Elaborate Lives: The Legend of Aida had its world premiere at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, in September 1998. A revised production opened on November 12, 1999, at the Cadillac Palace in Chicago. The Broadway production, named Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida, ran at the Palace Theatre from March 23, 2000, to September 5, 2004. Its 1,852 performances (and 30 previews) make it the 18th-longest-running show ever.
Important Upcoming Dates November 28, 2010 January 14-16, 2011 To read more - download our 2011 announcement package For more information, email us at onstage@thecommunityplayers.com. Audition information - click here
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