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Constellation Theatre Company's Season Continues with AIDA
By: Julie Musbach Sep. 14, 2018
Constellation Theatre Company continues its 2018/19 Season: Epic Love with Elton John and Tim Rice's epic musical Aida. Aida will perform from October 11 - November 18, 2018 at Source, at 1835 14th Street NW, Washington DC 20009. Tickets are $25-55 and can be purchased online at www.ConstellationTheatre.org or over the phone at (202) 204-7741.
Michael J. Bobbitt, Artistic Director of Adventure Theatre MTC, makes his Constellation debut as Director. He is joined by Helen Hayes Award-winning music director Walter "Bobby" McCoy, choreographer Tony Thomas II, and an ensemble of fourteen triple-threat performers of color. With a Tony Award-winning pop-rock score featuring hit songs such as "My Strongest Suit" and "Written in the Stars," Aida will leave audiences moved and inspired by the power of love to transcend politics, war, and even death.
Brilliantly brought to life by the legendary musical duo behind The Lion King, Aida is a timeless story of star-crossed lovers set in ancient Egypt. The handsome but arrogant captain Radames and his soldiers return to Egypt following a successful conquest of the nation's longtime enemy, Nubia. Having unwittingly captured the Nubian princess Aida, they force her into slavery in the royal palace. Though Radames is reluctantly engaged to the Pharaoh's vain and materialistic daughter, Amneris,he and Aida find themselves passionately drawn to each other. As their forbidden love intensifies, Aida must choose between her heart's desire and her responsibility to the people of Nubia.
Based on the 19th-century opera by Giuseppe Verdi, Aida originally premiered on Broadway on March 23, 2000. It ran for 1,852 performances and closed on September 5, 2004. The show was nominated for five Tony Awards and won four, including Best Original Score and Best Performance by a Leading Actress (Heather Headley in the title role), and was also named by Time Magazine as one of the top ten theatre productions of the year.
At the center of Aida's star-crossed love triangle are Shayla S. Simmons (Signature Theatre: Dreamgirls) in the title role, Jobari Parker-Namdar (Ford's Theatre: The Wiz) as Radames, and Chani Wereley (Monumental Theatre Company: Pippin) as Amneris.
In the Egyptian palace, Greg Watkins (WSC Avant Bard: The Gospel at Colonus) plays Radames's father, the scheming Chief Minister Zoser; Kaylen Morgan (Keegan Theatre: Chicago) plays the Pharoah and doubles in the Ensemble.
Da'Von Moody (Ford's Theatre: The Wiz) and Ashley Johnson (Toby's Dinner Theatre: Sister Act) play Mereb and Nehebka, respectively - both Nubian slaves in the royal household who befriend Aida and aid her in her quest for freedom.
Wendell Jordan (Olney Theatre Center: Once on This Island) plays Aida's father, the Nubian king Amonasro, and doubles in the Ensemble.
Portraying both Egyptians and Nubians in the Ensemble are Ian Anthony Coleman (Constellation Theatre Company: The Wild Party), Ashley K. Nicholas, Tara Lynn Yates-Reeves, Topher Williams, Lawrence Hailes, and Amber Lenell Jones.
Director Michael J. Bobbitt (Artistic Director at Adventure Theatre MTC) has directed, choreographed and performed at many theatres in the DC region, including Arena Stage, Ford's Theatre Society, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Roundhouse Theatre, The Music Center at Strathmore, The Kennedy Center, and the Washington National Opera.
Walter "Bobby" McCoy, who was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Best Musical Direction for last season's The Wild Party and received the Award for In The Heights at GALA Hispanic Theatre returns to Constellation as Music Director.
Tony Thomas II, who worked on last season's The Caucasian Chalk Circle, will choreograph the ensemble in exhilarating dance sequences.
Rounding out the creative team are Kenann M. Quander
(Costume Designer), A.J. Guban (Scenic & Lighting Designer), Roc Lee (Sound Designer), Tony Koehler (Properties Designer), and Ryan Sellers (Fight Choreographer).
Constellation Theatre Company tells big, powerful stories in an intimate space. Constellation sparks the curiosity and imagination of the people of greater Washington, DC with world-class entertainment that features visual spectacle, dynamic movement, live music, and passionate acting ensembles. Drawing from the genres of fantasy, farce, and epic adventure, Constellation transports audiences to new and exciting worlds where the action is larger than life.
The remaining productions in Constellation's 2018/19 Season: Epic Love are The Master and Margarita (February 1 - March 3, 2019) and The White Snake (April 25 - May 26, 2019).
Email: BoxOffice@ConstellationTheatre.org
Phone: (202) 204-7741
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