AIDA Brings Forbidden Love For Valentines Day to Seattle Musical Theatre

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Seattle Musical Theatre presents Elton John & Tim Rice's AIDA. Based on Verdi's beloved 19th century opera, AIDA is a story of forbidden love set on the banks of the Nile. Conflict between Egypt and Nubia gives birth to star-crossed lovers Aida and Radames. Together they must decide to follow their hearts or lead their people

For 13 performances a diverse cast of fresh local talent brings this timeless tale to the stage. Director Troy Wageman trucks in 1100 pounds of sand and designs a modern set to compliment his bold choreography and new orchestrations of the Tony and Grammy award-winning score. The rousing rock numbers and heart-wrenching ballads keep the story fresh while the stylistically eclectic reggae, gospel, Motown, African, Indian, and Middle Eastern music influences solidified Aida's place in history.

Aida ran for nearly 2000 Broadway performances. This Seattle Musical Theatre revival features American Idol finalist Tanesha Ross (Aida), Matthew Lang (Radames), Alyssa Mass (Amneris), Timothy Glynn (Zoser), DeSean Halley (Mereb), Bethanie Willis (Nehebka), VJ Orduna (Amanasarano) and Michael Ingersoll (Pharoh). Ensemble includes: Andrew Bullard, Saige Hawthorne, Matt McFadden, Aaron Parisi, Cammi Smith, Megan Tyrell and Emily Welter.

Direction, choreography and set design for Elton John & Tim Rice's AIDA is by Troy Wageman; music direction by Brandon Peck; costume design by Sadiqua Iman; lighting design by Kenrick Fischer and sound design by Michael Connolly. Katerina Gawlak is the stage manager.

Performances are February 8 - 24 at 7:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. There is an additional evening performance on Thursday February 21st at 7:30 pm. General Admission tickets are $40. Senior, Student and Military tickets are $35. Tickets are available at www.seattlemusicaltheatre.org

About Seattle Musical Theatre

Seattle Musical Theatre (SMT) was founded as Seattle Civic Light Opera (CLO) in 1977 by a group of Seattle opera enthusiasts, including Joan Galstaun and Barbara McHargue. With a keen interest in offering theatre to North Seattle communities, they pooled personal resources, located a venue above a music store in Northgate, (Heritage Theatre), and launched CLO's first season with German composer Johann Strauss' "The Gypsy Baron". By 1978, the venue was running at capacity so the troupe moved to the 750-seat auditorium in the Jane Addams School in Lake City. In response to audience requests, CLO began including musicals as part of their 1980 season. CLO remained at the Jane Addams stage through 2002 but a school remodel forced them to relocate. From 2003 to 2008 CLO operated, temporarily, from the Shoreline Community Center; it was during this time (2006) that a rebranding campaign for SMT was launched. In 2008 the newly branded Seattle Musical Theatre moved into Building 47 of the Historic Magnuson Park.

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