2009 Aida

Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida is a musical bursting with contemporary energy that tells of the love triangle between Aida, a Nubian princess stolen from her country, Amneris, an Egyptian princess, and Radames, the soldier they both love. Based on Verdi's opera of the same name, Aida is an epic and classic tale of love, loyalty, betrayal, and courage, with an exhilarating Tony and Grammy award-winning score by Elton John and Tim Rice, their first collaboration since writing the music for The Lion King together.

The original Verdi opera follows a story by Egyptologist Mariette Bey who said it was based on a historical incident, but never pegged the incident to a specific date. At the time of the story, there was, no doubt, great conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia. Disney has given their Aida much comic relief, however, to balance the tragic love triangle.

The story follows the young Egyptian general and King-in-the-making, Radames (played by Adam Pascal who made his Broadway debut in Rent), who first meets the title character, Aida, as a slave girl who has been captured by his army. Aida hides her true identity, but Radames is smitten by her regal bearing and beauty. She shows no fear in standing up to him; her demeanor is certainly not that of a slave.

Aida, however, is not the only princess in the story. Radames' bride-to-be is the Egyptian Princess Amneris, who in this version of the famous story, is portrayed as a valley girl princess to whom nothing in life is more sacred than her wardrobe. Sherie René Scott plays and sings the role to a hilt. But when she has to deal with the fate of Aida and Radames, she assumes a more regal bearing as she ascends to the throne.