Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA begins May 29
Carolyn Hebert 860-987-6085; e-mail: carolyn_hebert@bushnell.org
April 26, 2002, Hartford CT - Casting has been announced for the new national touring company of Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA, Disney's Tony Award(-winning musical love story. The newest blockbuster musical from Disney Theatrical Productions will makes its Hartford premiere as part of the Phoenix Broadway Series at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. Based on the ancient legend of the doomed Nubian princess, AIDA will come to The Bushnell Wednesday, May 29 through Sunday, June 9 for a limited two-week engagement. Tickets for AIDA are available by visiting The Bushnell Box Office located at 166 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. Tickets are also available by calling 860-987-5900, or online at www.bushnell.org. Groups of 20 or more may call 860-987-5959.
Paulette Ivory stars as Aida, a Nubian princess who falls in love with the Egyptian captain Radames. British born, Paulette is one of London's most versatile West End performers, gracing the stage with lead roles in Disney's The Lion King (Nala), Smokey Joe's Café, The Hot Mikado, and West Side Story. Playing the Egyptian Captain who falls in love with Aida is Jeremy Kushnier, who originated the role of Ren in the Broadway production of Footloose and has been seen as Roger in the national tour of Rent. Kelli Fournier stars as Amneris, the Egyptian princess betrothed to Captain Radames. Kelli comes from the original Broadway cast of AIDA. Rounding out the cast is Eric L. Christian as Mereb, Robert Neary as Radames' father Zoser, and Mark La Mura as the Pharoah.
Based on an ancient legend, Elton John and Tim Rice's AIDA is a musical love story bursting with contemporary energy that tells the story of two star-crossed lovers on the banks of the Nile. AIDA features new music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice, their first effort since writing The Lion King together. The production, which received four 2000 Tony Awards, opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on March 23, 2000 and has been playing to capacity audiences ever since.
"With a gorgeous Tony Award-winning score written expressly for Broadway by Elton John and Tim Rice, we are sure that AIDA will enthrall audiences in Hartford while continuing to delight theatergoers in New York," said Thomas Schumacher, producer, Disney Theatrical Productions, a division of The Walt Disney Company.
AIDA is directed by Robert Falls; features a book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls and David Henry Hwang; and is choreographed by Wayne Cilento. The sets and costumes are by 2000 Tony Award-winner Bob Crowley and the lighting design is by 2000 Tony Award-winner Natasha Katz. Music supervision and orchestrations are provided by Paul Bogaev.
Ticket and Performance Information AIDA will play May 29 through June 9 at The Bushnell. Performances are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. There will be a special, weekday matinee on Thursday, May 30 at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are available now by visiting The Bushnell Box Office, located at 166 Capitol Avenue in Hartford. Tickets are also available by calling 860-987-5900 or online at www.bushnell.org. For special group rates on 20 or more people, call 860-987-5959. For more information on AIDA, visit www.disneyonbroadway.com.
About The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts The Bushnell is Connecticut's premier performing arts center, hosting more than 450 events yearly, including major Broadway tours, symphony orchestras, family presentations, local arts and community events. In November 2001, The Bushnell completed a $45 million expansion project that added a second, 907-seat theater to the existing historic structure. The new, state-of-the-art performance hall allows for expanded arts, entertainment and community offerings. The Bushnell's nationally-recognized arts-in-education program, PARTNERS (Partners in Arts and Education Revitalizing Schools), is a cross-community educational effort serving 40 schools in 17 districts throughout the Greater Hartford area. The Bushnell opened in January 1930 and is a non-profit organization. For more information, call The Bushnell at (860) 987-6000, The Bushnell Box Office at (860) 987-5900 or visit our website at www.bushnell.org.