Winner of four Tony Awards, Elton John and Tim Rice’s 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.
With an unforgettable score featuring soaring ballads and rousing choral numbers by Elton John and Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Aida is a modern crowd-pleaser—an epic tale of loyalty, pride, betrayal and the love that transcends them all.
Kayla Cyphera plays Aida, a princess who was captured and made a slave.
“I am trying to keep that secret from everyone,” Cyphera said. “I definitely wrestle with getting back on that pedestal of being a princess and fighting for my people.”
In the show, Cyphera explains, Aida doesn’t view herself as a savior of her people. “Immediately they look at me as if I am the hope, I am the light, and I don’t feel that way,” she said.
Jenna Rubali plays Anmeris and loves the way the role is written. “She goes through this entire journey of finding her true self and her true power,” Rubali said. “As an actor being able to play a woman like this on stage is empowering and powerful to watch.”
Ken Allen Neely plays Radames, the man caught between the two lead women.
“He is captain of the Egyptian army, he is engaged to the princess of Egypt and he is getting ready to take the throne and settle down,” Neely said. “Being the adventurer that he is, he is sort of reluctant to do that.”
Neely also enjoys the modern pop-rock score. “It is really smart the way they juxtapose modern music with ancient times,” he said.
See the video above for featured interviews with the cast.
Aida plays through June 23 at the John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport, NY 11768. For tickets and showtimes, visit engemantheater.com.
