Aida revival coming

[Theatrefanboy1]

On show people today they talked about an Aida revival in the works. I of course would love to see Aaron tveit, Cynthia erivo, and Megan Hilty.

But what would people like to see of the show. Actors? Cuts or additions? What would you like to see reimagined and what would you like to keep?

[TotallyEffed]

I’d settle for a reunion concert.

Anything to hear Sherie sing those songs again!

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

If this is legit I wonder what timeline its working on...considering Disney is also working on a Beauty and the Beast revival.

Aida has always been a guilty pleasure of mine though, so I'd be happy to have it back. Of course, they won't get away with casting blonde haired/blue eyed stars as the Egyptians this go around, so let's hope the casting is appropriate. 

[WestEndGal]

Omg I’d love there to be an Aida revival! I listen to the OCR about once a month still! <3 I love the score.

Ramin Karimloo as Radames would be my dream omg, and I’d love to see Kat McPhee as Amneris (on Show People she said she auditioned for Amneris back in the day!) and she’d kill it singing My Strongest Suit and I Know The Truth. I’m not Cynthia Erivo’s biggest fan personality-wise, but she’s super talented and would probably make a great Aida! 

 

 

[Theatrefanboy1]

But really. I LOVED Sherie Rene in that role. So disappointing that I never got to see her in it

[WestEndGal]

 

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Theatrefanboy1 said: "But really. I LOVED Sherie Rene in that role. So disappointing that I never got to see her in it"

Sherie Rene Scott is great! I love this Strongest Suit performance. It’s so camp and she’s got a terrible wig but it’s also a lot of fun lol!

https://youtu.be/fT6JfdqiAuA

 

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[Dave28282]

In 2017 a genetic study was conducted on mummies from northern Egypt, which constituted "the first reliable data set obtained from ancient Egyptians using high-throughput DNA sequencing methods." The study of 83 mummies, of which three were tested for sub Saharan African ancestry, showed that Ancient Egyptians had significantly more affinity with Europeans than with sub-Saharan Africans.

There were indeed many black people too, as seen in tomb paintings and reliefs, and they were portrayed as slaves and inferior. This given has been unpopular in the USA, the debate over slavery in the United States escalated towards the time of the civil war and that is where modern notions come in.

Applying modern notions of black or white races to ancient Egypt is anachronistic. Skin color varied between white and black.

So no change in casting needed.

About the show itself, I think the music from Elton John is fantastic and works very well. It's the spoken scenes in between that are written very poorly and have very unnatural lines and transitions to the songs. It would need some serious re-writing.

[ACL2006]

I always thought that a scaled down version of this would work very well. Rework some of the songs and staging and this could do well. Just a matter of when Disney wants to bring this back. Before or after their B&TB revival? Might not see this until 2024/2025.

[CATSNYrevival]

From the interview it sounded like they're still working with Bob Crowley and some of the original creative team for this project so that makes me excited. I liked Bob Crowley's work on Aida a great deal and I'd love to see what he comes up with to freshen it up.

[ViniFromBrazil]

Dave28282 said: "In 2017 a genetic study was conducted on mummies from northern Egypt, which constituted "the first reliable data set obtained from ancient Egyptians using high-throughput DNA sequencing methods." The study of 83 mummies, of which three were tested for sub Saharan African ancestry, showed that Ancient Egyptianshad significantly more affinity withEuropeans than with sub-Saharan Africans.

There were indeed many black people too, as seen in tomb paintingsand reliefs, and they were portrayed as slaves and inferior. This given has been unpopular in the USA,the debate over slavery in the United Statesescalated towards the time of thecivil war and that is where modern notions come in.

Applying modern notions of black or white racesto ancient Egypt is anachronistic. Skin color varied between white and black.

So no change in casting needed.

About the show itself, I think the music from Elton John is fantastic and works very well. It's the spoken scenes in between that are written very poorly and have very unnatural lines and transitions to the songs. It would need some serious re-writing."

White people can always count on Dave to keep their jobs safe, what a guy.

[Bwaydreamer3]

I would still love to see an all black cast of Aida. I know its been done before but I really think that would elevate the show to a new level. 

[bwayrose7]

I could see Adrienne Warren or Ariana DeBose as Aida. And maybe Ari'el Stachel for Radames?

[Synecdoche2]

They'd better not cast a bunch of white people of f'ing Egyptians this time around...

[jimmycurry01]

Synecdoche2 said: "They'd better not cast a bunch of white people of f'ingEgyptians this time around..."

I thought the racial devide between the Egyptians  and Nubians was meant to be a commentary on slavery and racial tension. Was that not the point of the piece, as well as the point in casting the show the way it was cast?

[Dave28282]

Bwaydreamer3 said: "I would still love to see an all black cast of Aida. I know its been done before but I really think that would elevate the show to a new level."

Why?

Black people were used as slaves by white people. That is what the whole story is about. Aida is Radames' slave at first and then they fall in love.

Tomb paintings show white Egyptians using black Nubians as slaves. It is the whole point of the story of the show and also truthful to reality and history.

[Dave28282]

ViniFromBrazil said: "
White people can always count on Dave to keeptheir jobs safe, what a guy."

What a bizarre comment. This is a show where 3/4 is always cast as poc. 

 

[Dave28282]

jimmycurry01 said: "I thought the racial devide between the Egyptians and Nubians was meant to be acommentary on slavery and racial tension. Was that not the point of the piece, as well as the point in casting the show the way it was cast?"

Exactly. The show is written in this accurate way for a reason. To show what happened then.

Why on earth should we allow recent racism of color and job counting to change the show now?

[Dave28282]

Synecdoche2 said: "They'd better not cast a bunch of white people of f'ingEgyptians this time around..."

You can't erase history and you can't erase the story of a show which is about racial tension. On what planet do you live?

[Lot666]

bwayrose7 said: "And maybe Ari'el Stachel for Radames?"

YES! Does anyone know if he's got anything else in the works, now that The Band's Visit has closed?

[Justin D]

What I love about this show is that is is one of Disney's few gimmick-less shows. No talking objects, wild animals, fish etc, just about people, that way the focus is on the story and music (and if cast right, the kick ass vocals) therefore i do hope they put it into a smaller house. I also loved the scenery, one of the few times I liked what Bob Crowley did, where he uses a 'music video' approach. So if they do a redesign I hope they keep it modern and simple and stay away from anything realistically egyptian in themes.

[somecheapfrenchthing]

Is anyone in the NYC area going to see the production at the John W. Engeman Theatre in Northport? I saw Man of La Mancha there last October and wasn’t wild about the production... but I’m tempted to give it another try because I’ve always wanted to see AIDA.

[Bwaydreamer3]

Dave28282 said: "Bwaydreamer3 said: "I would still love to see an all black cast of Aida. I know its been done before but I really think that would elevate the show to a new level."

Why?

Black people were used as slaves by white people. That is what the whole story is about. Aida is Radames'slave at first and then they fall in love.

Tomb paintings show white Egyptians using black Nubians as slaves. It is the whole point of the story of the show and also truthful to reality and history."

I'm aware of the plot Dave... However like I said in my post I think if they used all poc the story would be elevated. Yes, It's very clearly why they casted the original production of Aida the way they did. But frankly Im grossed out and tired of the white man falling in love with his slave story. It's gross and often times itself a rewriting of history. (Yes I'm aware Aida is supposedly a true story but from the research I've done I have yet to find any facts on what is true or not about the story.) With a poc cast we get to focus on different aspects of the story. It feels fresh and honestly doesn't detract at all from the story. It just paints it in a new light... thats all...

The production I referred to in my last post was Artscentric in Baltimore, MD

http://www.theatrebloom.com/2018/08/aida-at-artscentric/

[Becky]

For long time, I’ve thought Adam Pascal would now make a fabulous Zoser.

And I’m SO HERE for an Aida revival.

[Emmaloucbway]

somecheapfrenchthing said: "Is anyone in the NYC area going to see the production at the John W. Engeman Theatre in Northport? I saw Man of La Mancha there last October and wasn’t wild about the production... but I’m tempted to give it another try because I’ve always wanted to see AIDA."

 

I wanted to bump this thread since I just went to the Engeman last night for a performance of Aida. Like somecheapfrenchthing, I've always wanted to see the musical live (the score is one of my all-time favorites), and was quite impressed with the performances (especially the 3 leads), as well as costumes and choreography. I'd say go and make a summer day trip to Northport! :) 

[EdEval]

Oh no.  The worst show and the first show I ever walked out on. It just didn't appeal to me.  I see many here did enjoy it and it managed to run a least 1,000 performances, but it wasn't my cup of tea but I wish it well.