Coined originally as the “The Timeless Love Story,” Aida first premiered as an opera in Egypt and, centuries later, as an award-winning Broadway musical modernized by Elton John.
Grantsville High School will open its all-student produced version of the classic romance this weekend.
Aida — both the operatic version by Giuseppe Verdi and the modernized version that GHS will perform — tells the story of the forbidden romance between a captain of the Egyptian army and a foreign princess forced into slavery in Egypt.
The first act opens shortly after Radames and his soldiers have captured a group of Nubian women, including, unbeknownst to the Egyptians, the Nubian princess, Aida. Radames is immediately smitten by Aida, and has her assigned to serve the Egyptian princess, Amneris, who also happens to be Radames’ fiancé.
As Aida and Radames struggle to chose between love and loyalty to country, the plot thickens at the discovery that Pharaoh is dying, causing Pharaoh to mandate that Amneris and Radames must be wed in seven days.
Meanwhile, the Egyptians capture Aida’s father, prompting Aida and some of her fellow slaves to begin planning an escape, and Radames’ father, Zoser, discovers his son’s affair, prompting him to order his own servants to kill Aida.
And with all that, the modern musical features a contemporary rock-inspired score and sense of humor many locals will appreciate, said Matt Price, director of GHS drama.
“Although it’s pretty dramatic and very romantic, it’s also very fun and the music is awesome,” he said.
It’s not common for GHS to stage a musical in the fall, Price said, but it is his policy to allow the students to produce their fall show from start to finish. It was the students who chose Aida this year, and who have seen to every detail of the production.
“They’re pretty talented kids; it’s going to be a good show,” he said. “I’m pretty excited about it.”
All roles in the play are filled by students in Price’s theater production classes. Leads include Ayssa Hendricks as Aida, Kylee Robinson as Amneris, Wyatt Naplin as Radames and Liam Donovan as Zoser.
The show will open this Thursday at 7 p.m. in the GHS auditorium, with additional showings on Nov. 21, 22 and 24, also all at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $7 for adults, $6 for students and $5 for seniors and children 11 and younger.