Aida - St. Louis, MO (Regional) Creative Team

David Henry Hwang is a Tony Award-winning playwright, screenwriter, and librettist. Born in Los Angeles, California in 1957, Hwang grew up in a Chinese American household and attended Stanford University where he earned a degree in English. Hwang's breakthrough came in 1988 with his play "M. Butterfly," which won the Tony Award for Best Play and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. The play is based on the true story of a French diplomat who carried on a 20-year affair with a Chinese opera singer, only to discover that she was actually a man. "M. Butterfly" explores themes of gender, ... read more Elton John began his professional music career as a teenager performing as a pianist at the Northwood Hills Hotel. In 1962 he formed the band Bluesology, which by the mid-1960s backed touring American artists including the Isley Brothers, Major Lance and Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. In 1967 he answered an advertisement in New Musical Express, leading to his songwriting partnership with Bernie Taupin. The pair joined DJM Records as staff songwriters in 1968. John released his debut album, Empty Sky, in 1969. His self-titled album Elton John (1970) included the hit single “Your Song.” He followed with Tumbleweed Connection ... read more Sir Tim Rice is an author and Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Emmy Award, Tony Award, and Grammy Award-winning lyricist. He is best known for his collaborations with Andrew Lloyd Webber, with whom he wrote Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Evita; with Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson of ABBA, with whom he wrote Chess; for additional songs for the 2011 West End revival of The Wizard of Oz; and for his work with Alan Menken on Disney's Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and the musical King David. He also worked with Elton John on Disney's ... read more