Sir Elton John and Sir Tim Rice's pop-rock musical about a love triangle set in ancient Egypt is coming to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point stage March 3-5 and 8-12.

"Aida," a Tony Award-winning musical that spent four years on Broadway, will be performed in Jenkins Theatre of the Noel Fine Arts Center by students in the Department of Theatre and Dance and directed by Theatre Professor and Department Chair Ken Risch, with musical direction by Theatre Professor Alan Shorter.

Performances will begin on Friday, March 3, at 8 p.m. and continue at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 4, and Wednesday through Saturday, March 8-11. Matinees will be held at 2 p.m. on the Sundays of March 5 and 12.

Tickets are $17 for adults, $16 for senior citizens and $12 for youth. UWSP students with a valid ID may purchase tickets in advance for $3.50 per show or get in free the day of the show if seats are still available. Tickets may be purchased at the University Box Office, located in the University Center, Room 103, between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or by calling (715) 346-4100 or (800) 838-3378. Visa, Mastercard and Discover are accepted.

Set against the backdrop of a politically unstable Egypt during the time of the pharaohs, "Aida" tells the story of an Egyptian captain, Radames (performed by Curt Hansen of Hartford), who falls in love with Aida (Marie Martinez of Kenosha), a Nubian princess he has taken captive. Now a servant, Aida befriends Radames' betrothed, the Egyptian princess Amneris (Marie Holzmann of Fond du Lac). Caught in a tragic triangle, the three are forced to make choices that will change their lives as well as alter the course of history.

"While it's a romantic tragedy, there is a lesson to be learned," says Risch. "It's about stepping back, accepting others and finding beauty in diversity."

"Aida" becomes a statement about forgiveness, loyalty and true love," says actress Sherie Rene Scott, who played Amneris on Broadway.

With a cast of 50 and large-scale set pieces, the show is one of UWSP's largest productions to date, says Risch, and for the first time in recent history, the hydraulic orchestra lift is one of the major scenic pieces.

Composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice also collaborated to create the music and lyrics for Disney's "The Lion King," for which they won an Academy Award for best song. "Their music in "Aida" embraces many styles," says Shorter, "from pop-rock to reggae to gospel to Broadway ballad."

"It's exciting, moving and exotic in feel, as well as laden with a familiar Elton John style," adds Shorter. "At times it is huge and full and rich; other times the music is delicately simple and reflective. I think audiences will be enthralled."

Risch and Shorter agree that their students have risen to the challenges posed by the music of the show, which requires a full range of voices and switching between various styles.

December musical theatre graduate Daniel Gutierrez of Milwaukee, and junior musical theatre major John Keating of North Branch, Minn., are creating choreography for the production.

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