Goldstar Member Tips

• TJ on What to Wear
  Business casual dress recommended
• Goldstar Member on What to Wear
  Parking is plentiful and at no charge
• TJ on Where to Park
  Plenty of free parking in the garage next door

107 Goldstar Member Reviews

AriaBella

Excellent casting, powerful voices, poignant acting, captivating story. I loved the show and the score. I disagree with RL's review. The costumes, music, script and staging are purposefully geared to complement this pop-culture version of AIDA. It is definitely NOT an opera, but rather a skeletal adaptation lifted from the original story line. Each actor / actress executed their lines and lyrics with a synchronized strength that was both Herculean yet heart-rending at the same time. Yes, the set is minimal, however the spine of AIDA takes place in FRONT of the backdrops with cast performances and vocal renditions exceptional enough to rival any Broadway production

Written on Apr 11 2011

Report as inappropriate

• 1 Good To Know
• 1 I Like Your Writing
• 7 I Went And I Agree

RL

Meh, the play left a lot to be desired.

Stage production was...well what stage production?

Costumes, er...aside from the supporting cast, what costumes? Couild someone PLEASE tell me why does Radames (the Captain) is wearing an outfit out of Battlestar Galactia??? Without a shirt under his jacket for 90% of the play for that matter. In "My Strongest Suit", Amneris is wearing modern day red-carpet type gowns. Seriously, she could have easily walked down the red-carpet at the Emmy's.

BTW, someone needs to clean the fog machine! Much of the play had fog rolling out onto the stage and the mildew smell! Ewww!

I don't think Aida was meant for a small stage like the one at Drury Lane. Sorry, but I've been to about 5 Drury Lane productions in the last year alone and this one was so bad that I felt I had to warn other patrons.

Written on Mar 21 2011

Report as inappropriate

• 16 Good To Know
• 1 I Like Your Writing
• 3 I Went And I Agree

Goldstar Member

Can I give this a 4.5? Strong voices. Nice, charismatic stage presence. Overall, very enjoyable production. Not bothered by the modern set, and what some found to be incongruous costuming. It's about the story and the singers' beautiful story-telling--heartfelt and genuine. A nice, entertaining afternoon.

Written on Mar 28 2011

Report as inappropriate

• 1 Good To Know
• 0 I Like Your Writing
• 4 I Went And I Agree

Mary Kling

Excellent voices!

Written on Mar 28 2011

Report as inappropriate

• 0 Good To Know
• 0 I Like Your Writing
• 2 I Went And I Agree

More Information About Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida

Website

http://www.drurylaneoakbrook.com/live_theatre/now_playing.php

Description

Drury Lane Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning international hit musical Aida, directed and choreographed by Jeff Award winner Jim Corti (Sweet Charity, Meet Me in St. Louis, Cabaret, and Sugar.) Featuring a dynamic cast led by Stephanie Umoh as Aida (Sarah in the 2009 Broadway production of Ragtime) and Jared Zirilli as Radames (first National Tour of Wicked).

Aida is a sweeping tale of conflicting loyalties and star-crossed lovers inspired by Giuseppe Verdi's 19th century Italian opera with the same name. The sensational pop-rock score by Elton John and Tim Rice (The Lion King) includes musical influences ranging from African to Middle Eastern to Indian. Aida made its Broadway premiere at the Palace Theatre in 2000, where it ran for 1,852 performances and has since been translated into 14 languages and seen around the world. The production won four Tony Awards in 2000, including Best Original Score, as well as a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album for Elton John and Tim Rice’s AIDA: Original Broadway Cast Recording.

Egypt has enslaved Nubia and the great power's prince, Radames, is engaged to be married when Aida, the princess of Nubia, comes to the palace as a slave. Forbidden love blossoms between them and the young lovers are forced to face death or part forever. The couple’s devotion ultimately transcends the vast cultural differences between their warring nations, heralding a time of peace and prosperity. This mesmerizing tale of the power of love and destiny features stunning choreography by Corti. Musical Director Ben Johnson breathes new life into a score complete with Motown, pop, reggae, gospel and tribal elements.

The Aida set is a brilliant combination of ancient and modern themes, including a massive plexiglass pyramid by New York City-based Set and Projections Designer Jim Dardenne (Radio City Music Hall, 25 world premiere productions.) Dardenne has created serene watercolor projections that evoke timeless images including lush Nile River scenery and breathtaking desert landscapes. Vibrant lighting by Jeff Award winner Jesse Klug transports audiences to the majestic world of ancient Egypt. Costume Designer Melissa Torchia puts a fashion-forward spin on historical pieces to create ethereal costumes and gorgeous natural stone and metal jewelry. The artistic team also includes Sean Kelly (Assistant Director), Monique Haley (Associate Choreographer), Tom Rapley (Associate Choreographer), Jeremy Drechny (Technical Director), Erika Senase (Costume Manager), Cecil Averett (Sound Designer), Meredith Miller (Props Designer), Earl Baum (Assistant Technical Director), Kristin Ligeski (Wardrobe Supervisor), Melissa Swanson (Wardrobe Assistant), and Sophia Briones (Props Master.)

Aida stars Nicholas Foster as Pharaoh (Jeff Award Winner for Actor in a Principal Role-Musical or Revue for Parade, Sweet Charity at Drury Lane Theatre); James Earl Jones II as Mereb (Spamalot and Ragtime at Drury Lane Theatre); Donica Lynn as Nehebka (Once On This Island at Marriott Theatre); Darren Matthias as Zoser (Shakespeare Theatre Company); Erin Mosher as Amneris (first National Tour of 101 Dalmations and Mamma Mia! in Las Vegas); Bruce Young as Amonasro; Stephanie Umoh as Aida (2009 Broadway production of Ragtime and Tin Pan Alley Rag at the Roundabout Theatre Company); and Jared Zirilli as Radames (first National Tour of Wicked, Equity Regional Premiere of Rent, Altar Boyz Premiere in Washington, D.C.) The production also features Melanie Brezill, Karen Burthwright, Mathew deGuzman, Stephane Duret, Michael Glazer, Monique Haley, Pia Hamilton, Pegah Kadkhodaian, Jarret Kelly, Adriana Parson, Todd Rhoades, Jeffrey Rieber, Jaquez A. Sims, Brandon Springman, Eleho Temuru, Grant Thomas, Peter Vandivier, and Natalie Williams.

Director/Choreographer Jim Corti directed Cabaret, Sweet Charity (Jeff Award for Best Director), and Meet Me In St. Louis at Drury Lane Theatre and The Full Monty, the premiere production at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place. At Writers’ Theatre he directed the Jeff Award-winning revue Oh Coward! with Doug Peck, and at Victory Gardens’ Biograph Theatre he directed Lonnie Carter’s The Lost Boys of Sudan, Michael Smith’s The Snow Queen, and Doug Post’s Antigone. At Northlight Theatre, Corti directed Sheldon Epp’s Blues in the Night (Jeff Award for Best Director), and choreographed City on the Make. Corti directed Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure by Steven Dietz for the Peninsula Players and directed Santa Anita ’42 by Allan Knee for the Illinois Theatre Center. He has been involved with productions for Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, The Goodman Theatre, Marriott Theatre and Second City. He has also appeared on Broadway (Ragtime, A Chorus Line, Candide) and the national tour of Urinetown. Corti is the Artistic Director at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora.