Charlottesville High School presents Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida at the Martin Luther King Jr. Performing Arts Center from March 17-20, 2016. Aida tells a love story that transcends national barriers and brings unity to warring countries. Set in Egypt, this Tony and Grammy Award-winning “pop opera” is based on Verdi’s classic of the same name.
Performances will be Thursday and Friday, March 17-18, at 7:30pm; on Saturday, March 19, at both 3pm and 7:30pm; and on Sunday, March 20, at 3pm. Tickets for most performances are $10, but two performances are donation-only. For a sneak preview and reservations, visit charlottesvilleschools.org/aida.
The musical tells the wartime story of Aida, a princess kidnapped from Ethiopia, as she arrives in Egypt. A love triangle unfolds as Aida and Egyptian explorer Radames grow attached to one another despite his politically-arranged engagement to Egyptian princess Amneris. The musical explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and a love that triumphs over barriers – all the while set to award-winning, chart-topping music by Elton John.
Directed by David Becker, TheatreCHS has won numerous Virginia High School League awards. Student leadership in directing, costuming, poster design, and more is a hallmark of the program. (The attached poster image was illustrated and designed by Sahara Clemons and Risa Purow-Ruderman, a 9th and 10th-grader at CHS.)
The $10 ticketed performances are Friday and Saturday, March 18-19, at 7:30pm and Sunday, March 20, at 3pm. The donation performances are Thursday, March 17, at 7:30pm and Saturday, March 19, at 3pm. Some of the lead parts are double-cast to avoid vocal strain. To see which actors are performing when, to make reservations, or to purchase tickets, visit charlottesvilleschools.org/aida. For more information, call 245-2410.
