Uptown Players & Turtle Creek Chorale to Stage AIDA in January

Following the smashing success of the 2014 production of Sweeney Todd, the critically acclaimed Uptown Players and the Turtle Creek Chorale (TCC), Dallas' award-winning men's chorus, are thrilled to collaborate again to present a concert version of Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida from January 15-17, 2016 at Dallas City Performance Hall.

Uptown Players and the Turtle Creek Chorale join forces with a combined cast of more than 100 actors, singers, and members of the TCC for a concert version of Aida. With music by Elton John & lyrics by Tim Rice, the musical opened on Broadway in 2000, won four Tony Awards, a Drama Desk Award, a Grammy for the cast album and played for nearly 2,000 performances. This musical collaboration celebrates the best artistic talents of these two organizations - the innovative acting of Uptown Players coupled with the powerful sound of TCC.

Aida is an epic tale of love, loyalty and betrayal chronicling the love triangle between Aida, a Nubian princess stolen from her country, Amneris, an Egyptian princess, and Radames, the soldier they both love. An enslaved Nubian princess, Aida, finds her heart entangled with Radames, an Egyptian soldier who is betrothed to the Pharaoh's daughter, Amneris. As their forbidden love blossoms, Aida is forced to weigh her heart against the responsibility she faces as leader of her people. Aida and Radames's love for one another becomes a shining example of true devotion that ultimately transcends the vast cultural differences between their warring nations, heralding a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity.

Aida is directed by Ann Nieman with musical direction by Kevin Gunter, assisted by TCC's Artistic Director Sean Baugh. An all-star cast joins members of the Turtle Creek Chorale, including Feleceia Benton as Aida, Grace Neeley as Amneris, Kyle Igneczi as Radames, Alex Heika as Mereb, and Jonathan Bragg as Zoser.

The production runs for one weekend only, January 15 through 17, 2016, with shows at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Performances take place downtown at the Dallas City Performance Hall, 2520 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201. Tickets are $40-$55 and can be purchased online at www.uptownplayers.org or by phone at (214) 219-2718.