Aida brings music alive on Centerpoint stage
Robin Auva’a plays Aida in the Centerpointe Theater production of "Aida."
Robin Auva’a plays Aida and Jared Haddock plays Radames in the Centerpoint production of "Aida." The roles are double cast for the play, which starts Monday, Oct. 5.
CENTERVILLE — Brightly colored costumes, big dancing and, of course, big, loud music will wow audiences for the next month at Centerpoint with the musical Aida.
The show starts Oct. 5 and will run nightly Monday through Saturday until Oct. 31.
The music of Aida is written by Elton John and Tim Rice.
“They are both musical geniuses and Tim Rice’s lyrics are just moving,” said Angie Winegar, who plays one of the leads in the show, Amneris.
The show is based around a Nuberian princess, Aida, who falls in love with an Egyptian prince, Radames. But, Radames is already betrothed to an Egyptian princess, Amneris. No one knows that Aida is a princess at first because she is brought to Egypt with a group of Nuberian slaves and is brought to specifically work for Amneris. Aida is torn between the man she loves — Radames — and saving her people.
“It is an interesting love triangle and one of my favorite Broadway plays of all time,” Winegar said.
Brock Dalgleish, who plays Radames, agreed. He first saw the show in 2000 on Broadway when he was in fifth grade. “I grew up knowing the music word for word,” Dalgleish said. “It’s an amazing love story.”
Both Dalgleish and Winegar said the costuming is amazing and unique to the show. “There is a fashion show scene that really makes the show incredible. Everyone should see it,” Winegar said.
Dalgleish said the costuming has a European style that is current, something that most Aida audiences haven’t seen before.
Plus, he said the show is grittier than a Disney “campy” musical. “It’s a love story that’s got some grit to it,” Dalgleish said.
The show is completely double cast, so every other night audiences will see a different cast. Centerpoint does that because there are performances every night and because actors are volunteers, it gives them a chance to have a bit of a break. Coincidentally, Winegar has been double cast in Aida with her double cast mate, Holly Jo Cushing, for this show before — eight years ago at Rogers Memorial Theater. The two were also double cast for Jekyll and Hyde at Centerpoint last year.
“I love my double. We work so well together and when we heard Centerpoint was doing this, we knew we wanted to do it together again,” Winegar said.
Winegar loves doing double-cast shows because she learns so much from her “double.” Both casts rehearse together until it gets to dress rehearsals and then one cast watches the other. Winegar said that is extra helpful to see how other casts make things work and how your particular double does things. “I think it makes the characters stronger,” she said.
Winegar has noticed with the cast that it has been a happy environment. Winegar has done several shows at Centerpoint and enjoys it because everyone is happy to be there. “It’s a great production and a great theater company,” she said.
“This is a show everyone can relate to. There are so many character viewpoints and it is visually fantastic,” Winegar said.
Tickets are $17 to $22 and can be purchased online at www.cptutah.org or at the box office, 525 North 400 West. The show is directed by Scott Montgomery.