I will really watch this whether I am alone or with friends. :)
These infos are obtained from wikipedia.org.
Synopsis
Act I
Suburban mother Diana Goodman waits up late for her curfew-challenged son and comforts her anxious and overachieving daughter, Natalie. Dan, her husband, then rises to help prepare her family for "Just Another Day." But when her lunch-making takes a turn for the bizarre with sandwiches covering the table, chairs, and floor, the rest realize something is not right. As Dan helps the disoriented Diana, Natalie hurries off to school and the refuge of the piano practice room ("Everything Else"), where she's interrupted by Henry, a classmate who likes to listen to her play — and clearly likes her.
Over the ensuing weeks, Diana makes a series of visits to her doctor, while Dan waits in the car outside, questioning how to cope with his own depression ("Who's Crazy?/My Psychopharmacologist and I"). Diana has suffered from bipolar disorder coupled with hallucinations for sixteen years; Doctor Fine continually adjusts her medications until she says that she doesn't feel anything, at which point he declares her stable. Natalie and Henry grow closer until one day he professes his love for her ("Perfect For You") and they kiss for the first time. Diana witnesses this and realizes that her best years may be behind her, but she misses feeling her high highs and her low lows ("I Miss the Mountains"). With her son's encouragement, she flushes away her medication.
A few weeks later, Dan looks forward to dinner with his family ("It's Gonna Be Good"), but when Diana emerges with a cake singing "Happy Birthday" to her son, Dan and Natalie are devastated. Dan holds Diana and explains that "He's Not Here". Their son died sixteen years ago from an intestinal obstruction before Natalie was born. Natalie storms off. Dan mentions a return to the doctor, but Diana refuses, saying that he can't possibly hurt the way she does ("You Don't Know"). Dan tries to coax her into trusting him, and their dead son joins them onstage, convincing his mother to trust him rather than his father ("I Am The One"). In her room, Natalie vents her anger to Henry, then refuses Diana's apology as her brother watches and taunts her ("Superboy and the Invisible Girl").
A few days later, Diana starts work with Doctor Madden. As her son rises to assert his presence ("I'm Alive"), Dan and Natalie doubt the sessions are helping, but Doctor Madden proposes hypnosis to help Diana discover the roots of her trauma ("Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I'm Falling"). Finally, Diana agrees it's time to let her son go. Diana goes home to clean out her son's things, pausing to listen to a music box ("I Dreamed a Dance"). Her son appears and dances with her, then invites her to come away with him ("There's a World"), and she does.
At the hospital, where Diana lies sedated and restrained, with self-inflicted gashes to her wrists, Doctor Madden explains to Dan that ECT is the standard course of treatment for drug-resistant patients who are imminently suicidal. Dan goes home to clean up after Diana and decide what to do ("I've Been"). The next day, Diana lashes out at Doctor Madden, refusing the treatment ("Didn't I See This Movie?"), but Dan arrives and convinces her it may be their last hope ("A Light In The Dark").
Act II
Diana receives a series of ECT treatments over two weeks.[45] Meanwhile Natalie explores clubs and drugs ("Wish I Were Here"). Diana returns home from the hospital, but she has lost nineteen years of memory ("Song of Forgetting"). At school, Henry confronts Natalie about her avoiding him, and invites her to the spring formal dance ("Hey #1").
Dan and Diana visit Doctor Madden, who assures them that some memory loss is normal ("Seconds and Years") and encourages Dan to use photos, mementoes, and the like to help Diana recover. Dan gathers the family to do so ("Better Than Before"), with minor success, but when Natalie pulls the music box from a pile of keepsakes, he whisks it away, leaving Diana puzzled. Her son appears, unseen ("Aftershocks"), while Diana tells Dan there's something she's desperate to remember that's just beyond her reach. When Henry arrives looking for Natalie, Diana is given great pause, studying his face and asking his age. He reminds her of someone. Unnerved, Henry hurries up to Natalie's bedroom, to convince her to join him at the dance the next night ("Hey #2").
Diana returns to Doctor Madden ("You Don't Know [Reprise]") who suggests she further explore her history and talk more with her husband. Diana goes home and searches through the boxes of keepsakes, finding the music box, Dan tries to stop her, but the memories of her baby son rush back ("How Could I Ever Forget?"). When Diana confesses remembering her son as a teenager, and demands to know his name, Dan refuses and instead insists they need to return for more treatment ("It's Gonna Be Good [Reprise]"). Henry arrives to pick up Natalie, who has dressed for the dance, just in time for both of them to witness an agitated Dan grab the music box from Diana's hands and smash it to pieces on the floor.
Diana confronts Dan, wondering why he perseveres after how much trouble she's given, while upstairs, Natalie asks Henry much the same question ("Why Stay?"). Dan answers, echoed by Henry, both vowing to stay steadfast ("A Promise"), but just as both couples embrace, their son reappears ("I'm Alive [Reprise]"), sending Diana running to Doctor Madden, asking Natalie to drive her, leaving Dan and Henry behind.
Diana asks Madden what can be done if the medicine has missed the true problem. With her questioning comes the realization that it's not her brain that's hurting: it's her soul ("The Break"). Madden assures her relapse is common, and suggests more ECT ("Make Up Your Mind/Catch Me I'm Falling [Reprise]"). Diana refuses, and though Doctor Madden urges her to continue treatment for her chronic, deadly disease, she thanks him and goes. Natalie, waiting outside, is distressed to learn her mother has left treatment, and Diana explains herself ("Maybe [Next to Normal]"), opening up to her daughter for the first time. She urges Natalie on to the school dance, where Henry awaits to comfort and embrace her ("Hey #3/Perfect for You [Reprise]").
Diana tells Dan that she is leaving him, explaining that he can't always be there to catch her; she needs to take a risk and deal with things on her own for once ("So Anyway"). She goes, leaving their son with him. As Dan wonders how she could have left him after he stood by her for so long, their son approaches, telling Dan he's not going anywhere ("I Am The One [Reprise]"). Dan grows more distraught until at last he faces the boy and calls him by his name for the first time: Gabriel.
Natalie comes home to find her father sitting alone in the dark, in tears. She comforts him and turns the lights on in the room, before assuring him that the two of them will figure things out ("Light"). Henry arrives to study, and Natalie tells him Diana has gone to stay with her own parents. Diana is alone and still hurting, but hopeful. Dan visits Doctor Madden hoping to talk about Diana, but stays to talk about his own struggle. Once again Gabriel watches over them all, as life goes on.
[edit] Musical numbersNote: The song titles are not listed in the program
Act I
"Prelude" – Orchestra
"Just Another Day" – Diana, Natalie, Gabe, Dan
"Everything Else" – Natalie
"Who's Crazy" / "My Psychopharmacologist and I" – Dan, Doctor Fine, Diana, ensemble
"Perfect for You" – Henry, Natalie
"I Miss the Mountains" – Diana
"It's Gonna Be Good" – Dan, Natalie, Gabe, Henry, Ensemble
"He's Not Here" – Dan
"You Don't Know" – Diana
"I Am the One" – Dan, Gabe, Diana
"Superboy and the Invisible Girl" – Natalie, Diana, Gabe
"I'm Alive" – Gabe
"Make Up Your Mind" / "Catch Me I'm Falling" – Doctor Madden, Diana, Dan, Natalie, Gabe
"I Dreamed a Dance" – Diana, Gabe
"There's a World" – Gabe
"I've Been" – Dan
"Didn't I See This Movie?" – Diana
"A Light in the Dark" – Dan, Diana
Act II
"Wish I Were Here" – Diana, Natalie
"Song of Forgetting" – Dan, Diana, Natalie
"Hey #1" – Henry, Natalie
"Seconds and Years" – Doctor Madden, Dan, Diana
"Better Than Before" – Doctor Madden, Dan, Natalie, Diana
"Aftershocks" – Gabe
"Hey #2" – Henry, Natalie
"You Don't Know" (Reprise) – Diana, Doctor Madden
"How Could I Ever Forget?" – Diana, Dan
"It's Gonna Be Good" (Reprise) – Dan, Diana
"Why Stay?" / "A Promise" – Diana, Natalie, Dan, Henry
"I'm Alive" (Reprise) – Gabe
"The Break" – Diana
"Make Up Your Mind" / "Catch Me I'm Falling" (Reprise) – Doctor Madden, Diana, Gabe
"Maybe (Next to Normal)" – Diana, Natalie
"Hey #3" / "Perfect for You" (Reprise) – Henry, Natalie
"So Anyway" – Diana
"I Am the One" (Reprise) – Dan, Gabe
"Light" – Diana, Dan, Natalie, Gabe, Henry, Doctor Madden
Casts
Diana Goodman
Dan Goodman
Natalie Goodman
Gabriel "Gabe" Goodman
Henry
Dr. Fine/Dr. Madden
Reserve now your tickets, click the link below.
http://watchplays.blogspot.com
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Monday, August 1, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Let Your Negative Emotion Save You, Not Enslave You
Got this from Adam Khoo's newsletter.
As human beings, all of us possess tremendous potential. We just do
not make full use of our immense capabilities. Everybody has theability to develop successful relationships, build a successfulbusiness, become the best in their field, make a million dollarsetc... All it takes is learning the right strategies and takingmassive action.
So, what stops most people from taking action and using their full
potential? Whenever I ask this question, the same reasons seem to
come up. Many people will admit that what stops them from taking
action is 'fear', 'uncertainty', 'doubt', 'depression',
'frustration', 'anger', 'laziness' or 'feelings of helplessness'.
Many salespeople don't succeed because they have the fear ofgetting rejected. Many people who have the desire to start abusiness never do so because of their self-doubt and fear offailure. Many people who experience adversity do not take thenecessary actions to turn their life around because they feel too
depressed or frustrated. In other words, NEGATIVE EMOTIONS are the
main reason why people do not take action and realize their full
potential.
BUT Negative Emotions Serve a Positive Purpose. They are Signals that
We Need to Change Something.
So, if negative emotions are so 'bad', why do we have them? Why dothey exist? ! I believe that our creator did not give us negativeemotions to limit us or to punish us. In fact, negative emotionsserve a positive purpose. They are signals that tell us that weneed to change something. They are giving us the message that weneed to either change our perceptions or our actions!
The Positive Message of Fear
Throughout our lives, our minds will create the emotion of fearwhenever we face something new or challenging. The salespersonexperiences the fear of being rejected. The presenter experiencesfear before going on stage. So, why does our mind create this
feeling of fear? Fear is an emotion that signals to us that we need
to 'get better prepared'. This feeling is giving us a message that
in order to deal with the challenge ahead, we need to gain moreknowledge, skills and resources to succeed. That is a usefulmessage, isn't it?Many people are surprised to know that I still feel fear before Igo on stage to give a talk, despite having been a professionalspeaker for the last 15 years.In fact, 3-4 days before any speaking engagement, I start feelingthe fear that hundreds of people will be listening to me andjudging me. I have the fear that I may not live up to theirexpectations. This fear signals to me that I have to get prepared.It motives me to plan way ahead. I spend hours doing research on mytopic, writing a powerful speech and crafting my slides. This feardrives me to rehearse my speech in my mind over and over againuntil I know exactly what to say, how to say it and when to say it.The moment I am fully prepared to give my absolute best, my fear isat a minimal. I have made use of my fear to help me constantlydeliver my best each and every time. I can imagine that if I had nofear, I would not have bothered to have prepared so hard and wouldprobably have given a lousy speech.
So, it is perfectly normal to feel fear. Everybody gets scared,
both ordinary and extraordinary people. The difference lies in howthey deal with it. Unfortunately, most people allow their fears tolimit them from taking action. They get the fear of public speakingso they avoid it completely. They will never dare to speak inpublic.
Frustration Signals to Us that We Have to Change Our Strategy
Another common negative emotion that many of us may experience is
'frustration'. Frustration is an emotion we feel when we are not
able to get the result we want despite repeated attempts. Mostpeople allow the feeling of frustration to overwhelm them so muchthat they get angry and quit ever attempting it again. Haven't youbeen so frustrated at something or someone and said to yourself,'whatever!', threw your hands up in surrender and walk off?
Once again, Frustration is there to give us a message. It serves a
useful purpose. When we feel frustrated, the signal is telling usthat we have to change our strategy. We have to do somethingdifferent, to get the results we want. One of my students is aninsurance advisor (specializing in corporate insurance) that wasgetting so frustrated with her job that she felt like quittingafter three months. She was getting frustrated that despite makinghundreds of calls to prospects, she couldn't even secure anappointment. She kept getting rejection after rejection.When she attended my 'Patterns of Excellence' programme, I told herthat as long as she did not listen to the message of herfrustration, she would never reach her sales targets. Herfrustration was a clear signal that she had to change her strategyin the way she engaged her prospects.Upon reflection, she realized that whenever she said that she wasoffering 'corporate insurance evaluation', people closed theirminds and immediately said that they weren't interested. Shedecided to use a different strategy. She would call her prospects
(bosses of companies) and say, 'I am a corporate strategy advisor.
Do you have the intention to list your company on the stock
exchange?' That statement immediately got their attention.
If their answer was no, she would say, 'do you realize that ifsomething happens to you, the shares you own in your company maybecome worthless? Your loved ones may not be able to sell theshares to extract its value. Could you spare a few minutes to learnhow to assign a market value to your company so that it can be
easily sold in the future?' By using this unique approach, her
appointment rate shot up and she increased her sales by 400% in
just 6 months.
So, you can see that 'negative emotions' like fear, frustration,anger, depression and disappointment are not really bad at all.They can really help us to become much more successful. We justhave to ensure that they serve us and not immobilize us from takingaction. So, whenever you experience a negative emotion, listen tothe message and act on it. And once you have heard the message,breakout of the negative emotion so you no longer feel bad aboutit.
As human beings, all of us possess tremendous potential. We just do
not make full use of our immense capabilities. Everybody has theability to develop successful relationships, build a successfulbusiness, become the best in their field, make a million dollarsetc... All it takes is learning the right strategies and takingmassive action.
So, what stops most people from taking action and using their full
potential? Whenever I ask this question, the same reasons seem to
come up. Many people will admit that what stops them from taking
action is 'fear', 'uncertainty', 'doubt', 'depression',
'frustration', 'anger', 'laziness' or 'feelings of helplessness'.
Many salespeople don't succeed because they have the fear ofgetting rejected. Many people who have the desire to start abusiness never do so because of their self-doubt and fear offailure. Many people who experience adversity do not take thenecessary actions to turn their life around because they feel too
depressed or frustrated. In other words, NEGATIVE EMOTIONS are the
main reason why people do not take action and realize their full
potential.
BUT Negative Emotions Serve a Positive Purpose. They are Signals that
We Need to Change Something.
So, if negative emotions are so 'bad', why do we have them? Why dothey exist? ! I believe that our creator did not give us negativeemotions to limit us or to punish us. In fact, negative emotionsserve a positive purpose. They are signals that tell us that weneed to change something. They are giving us the message that weneed to either change our perceptions or our actions!
The Positive Message of Fear
Throughout our lives, our minds will create the emotion of fearwhenever we face something new or challenging. The salespersonexperiences the fear of being rejected. The presenter experiencesfear before going on stage. So, why does our mind create this
feeling of fear? Fear is an emotion that signals to us that we need
to 'get better prepared'. This feeling is giving us a message that
in order to deal with the challenge ahead, we need to gain moreknowledge, skills and resources to succeed. That is a usefulmessage, isn't it?Many people are surprised to know that I still feel fear before Igo on stage to give a talk, despite having been a professionalspeaker for the last 15 years.In fact, 3-4 days before any speaking engagement, I start feelingthe fear that hundreds of people will be listening to me andjudging me. I have the fear that I may not live up to theirexpectations. This fear signals to me that I have to get prepared.It motives me to plan way ahead. I spend hours doing research on mytopic, writing a powerful speech and crafting my slides. This feardrives me to rehearse my speech in my mind over and over againuntil I know exactly what to say, how to say it and when to say it.The moment I am fully prepared to give my absolute best, my fear isat a minimal. I have made use of my fear to help me constantlydeliver my best each and every time. I can imagine that if I had nofear, I would not have bothered to have prepared so hard and wouldprobably have given a lousy speech.
So, it is perfectly normal to feel fear. Everybody gets scared,
both ordinary and extraordinary people. The difference lies in howthey deal with it. Unfortunately, most people allow their fears tolimit them from taking action. They get the fear of public speakingso they avoid it completely. They will never dare to speak inpublic.
Frustration Signals to Us that We Have to Change Our Strategy
Another common negative emotion that many of us may experience is
'frustration'. Frustration is an emotion we feel when we are not
able to get the result we want despite repeated attempts. Mostpeople allow the feeling of frustration to overwhelm them so muchthat they get angry and quit ever attempting it again. Haven't youbeen so frustrated at something or someone and said to yourself,'whatever!', threw your hands up in surrender and walk off?
Once again, Frustration is there to give us a message. It serves a
useful purpose. When we feel frustrated, the signal is telling usthat we have to change our strategy. We have to do somethingdifferent, to get the results we want. One of my students is aninsurance advisor (specializing in corporate insurance) that wasgetting so frustrated with her job that she felt like quittingafter three months. She was getting frustrated that despite makinghundreds of calls to prospects, she couldn't even secure anappointment. She kept getting rejection after rejection.When she attended my 'Patterns of Excellence' programme, I told herthat as long as she did not listen to the message of herfrustration, she would never reach her sales targets. Herfrustration was a clear signal that she had to change her strategyin the way she engaged her prospects.Upon reflection, she realized that whenever she said that she wasoffering 'corporate insurance evaluation', people closed theirminds and immediately said that they weren't interested. Shedecided to use a different strategy. She would call her prospects
(bosses of companies) and say, 'I am a corporate strategy advisor.
Do you have the intention to list your company on the stock
exchange?' That statement immediately got their attention.
If their answer was no, she would say, 'do you realize that ifsomething happens to you, the shares you own in your company maybecome worthless? Your loved ones may not be able to sell theshares to extract its value. Could you spare a few minutes to learnhow to assign a market value to your company so that it can be
easily sold in the future?' By using this unique approach, her
appointment rate shot up and she increased her sales by 400% in
just 6 months.
So, you can see that 'negative emotions' like fear, frustration,anger, depression and disappointment are not really bad at all.They can really help us to become much more successful. We justhave to ensure that they serve us and not immobilize us from takingaction. So, whenever you experience a negative emotion, listen tothe message and act on it. And once you have heard the message,breakout of the negative emotion so you no longer feel bad aboutit.
The Simple Truths of Service Movie
The Simple Truths of Service Movie: "Albert Schweitzer said, "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: The ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." Reflect back on some of your proudest moments. I'm willing to bet that some version of you serving others is part of this memory. It feels good and gives us purpose...the joy it brings infects us and all those around us. I invite you to watch a true story unfold of a young man who changed an ent"
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Philippines-Japan Friendship Month
The Japan Foundation, Manila is kicking off Philippines-Japan Friendship Month with another edition of their popular film festival, Eiga Sai. Running from July 1 to 10 at the Shangri-la Plaza Mall, the festival will be running free screenings of contemporary Japanese films. Here’s a guide to what you’ll be seeing.
Festival Schedule (Shang Cineplex, Cinema 4):
JULY 1 (Friday)
Opening Night by Invitation at Cinema 2
Departures (131 mins ) 7:00 PM
JULY 2 (Saturday)
The Chef of South Polar (125 mins) 1:00 PM
Departures (131 mins ) 4:00 PM
The Summit: A Chronicle of Stones (139 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 3 (Sunday)
Summer Days with Coo (1:38 mins) 1:00 PM
The Summit: A Chronicle of Stones (139 mins) 4:00 PM
The Chef of South Polar (125 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 4 (Monday)
Yunagi City, Sakura Country (118 mins) 1:00 PM
Villon’s Wife (114 mins) 4:00 PM
Climber’s High (145 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 5 (Tuesday)
Your Friend (125 mins) 1:00 PM
One Million Yen Girl (121 mins) 4:00 PM
Feel the Wind (133 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 6 (Wednesday)
One Million Yen Girl (121 mins) 1:00 PM
Climber’s High (145 mins) 4:00 PM
The Summit: A Chronicle of Stones (139 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 7 (Thursday)
Feel the Wind (133 mins) 1:00 PM
Climber’s High (145 mins) 4:00 PM
Your Friend (125 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 8 (Friday)
Your Friend (125 mins) 1:00 PM
Yunagi City, Sakura Country (118 mins) 4:00 PM
Departures (131 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 9 (Saturday)
Departures (131 mins) 1:00 PM
One Million Yen Girl (121 mins) 4:00 PM
Villon’s Wife (114 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 10 (Sunday)
Summer Days with Coo (1:38 mins) 1:00 PM
Feel the Wind (133 mins) 4:00 PM
The Chef of South Polar (125 mins) 7:00 PM
NOTE: Admission is free. Tickets are issued one hour before screening. All films will be shown with English subtitles. Schedules are subject to change without prior notice.
Festival Schedule (Shang Cineplex, Cinema 4):
JULY 1 (Friday)
Opening Night by Invitation at Cinema 2
Departures (131 mins ) 7:00 PM
JULY 2 (Saturday)
The Chef of South Polar (125 mins) 1:00 PM
Departures (131 mins ) 4:00 PM
The Summit: A Chronicle of Stones (139 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 3 (Sunday)
Summer Days with Coo (1:38 mins) 1:00 PM
The Summit: A Chronicle of Stones (139 mins) 4:00 PM
The Chef of South Polar (125 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 4 (Monday)
Yunagi City, Sakura Country (118 mins) 1:00 PM
Villon’s Wife (114 mins) 4:00 PM
Climber’s High (145 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 5 (Tuesday)
Your Friend (125 mins) 1:00 PM
One Million Yen Girl (121 mins) 4:00 PM
Feel the Wind (133 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 6 (Wednesday)
One Million Yen Girl (121 mins) 1:00 PM
Climber’s High (145 mins) 4:00 PM
The Summit: A Chronicle of Stones (139 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 7 (Thursday)
Feel the Wind (133 mins) 1:00 PM
Climber’s High (145 mins) 4:00 PM
Your Friend (125 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 8 (Friday)
Your Friend (125 mins) 1:00 PM
Yunagi City, Sakura Country (118 mins) 4:00 PM
Departures (131 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 9 (Saturday)
Departures (131 mins) 1:00 PM
One Million Yen Girl (121 mins) 4:00 PM
Villon’s Wife (114 mins) 7:00 PM
JULY 10 (Sunday)
Summer Days with Coo (1:38 mins) 1:00 PM
Feel the Wind (133 mins) 4:00 PM
The Chef of South Polar (125 mins) 7:00 PM
NOTE: Admission is free. Tickets are issued one hour before screening. All films will be shown with English subtitles. Schedules are subject to change without prior notice.
Aida - The Musical
Finally, after how many weeks, I have decided to book tickets to watch Aida the musical...the eve of my birthday! :)
Surfing the net so I could get a general story of this musical and I found all this in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aida_(musical) . Happy Reading!
Aida (also known as Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida) is a musical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang, and produced by Disney Theatrical.
Aida premiered on Broadway on March 23, 2000, running for 1,852 performances until September 5, 2004 (34th longest running Broadway musical). The musical also ran from 2001–2003 and from 2006-2007 during two US national tours, and also ran in international productions which performed in different 20 countries, and is still performed in international productions, regional theatres, colleges and high school productions.
Aida was nominated for five Tony Awards and won four Tony Awards in 2000, including Best Musical Score and Best Performance by a Leading Actress. Aida was also named by Time magazine in 2000 as one of the top ten theatre productions of the year. The First National Tour production was nominated for nine National Broadway Theatre awards (now "Touring Broadway Awards") and won five awards, including Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Actor, and Best Actress.
The Aida (2000 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording] won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. A song from Aida, "Written in the Stars" (recorded and sung by Elton John & LeAnn Rimes), reached #2 in the Billboard US adult contemporary music charts, and #1 in the Canadian contemporary charts.
BackgroundThe show is performed in two acts based on Giuseppe Verdi's Italian-language opera by the same name, the scenario of which was written by Auguste Mariette. The musical originated from a children's storybook version of Verdi's opera written by the soprano Leontyne Price.[1] The book featured illustrations by Leo and Diane Dillon. The rights were acquired by Disney studios for a proposed animated feature film. Development on the film was shelved, but the source material evolved into the stage version.
Synopsis
Act I
In the Egyptian wing of a modern museum, a man and a woman touring the exhibit catch each other's eyes. A statue of Amneris, a female Pharaoh, comes to life ("Every Story Is a Love Story") and transports them to ancient Egypt, where Radames, captain of the Egyptian army, and his men are returning from an expedition through the land of Nubia, Egypt's long-time enemy ("Fortune Favors the Brave"). When his soldiers capture a group of Nubian women, he is captivated by one of the women, Aida, who tries to free herself by out-dueling one of his soldiers. Radames forces her to wash his back, but she refuses, saying that although the Egyptians took everything from the Nubians, they will never take their spirit ("The Past Is Another Land"). Radames saves her and the other women from the copper mines by sending them to the palace groundskeeper instead, but sends Aida as a handmaiden to his betrothed, Princess Amneris. Radames' father, Chief Minister Zoser, greets his son with news that the Pharaoh is dying, and Radames must prepare to become the next ruler of Egypt ("Another Pyramid"). Unbeknownst to Radames, his father is poisoning the Pharaoh in order to accelerate Radames' ascension to the throne.
Radames's Nubian servant, Mereb, is a young man who has learned the tricks of survival in Egypt. While delivering Aida to the princess, Mereb recognizes her as the daughter of the Nubian king under whom he had served during his days in Nubia. She commands him to keep her identity a secret, lest the Egyptians kill her ("How I Know You"). Presented to Amneris, Aida is liked immediately, and she perceives that the Princess' love of fashion only serves as a mask of her insecurities ("My Strongest Suit"). At a banquet, Amneris and Radames learn from the Pharaoh that they are to marry in seven days, leaving the captain distraught that his days as an explorer have ended ("Fortune Favors the Brave (Reprise)"*). Together, he and Aida share their dreams and regrets ("Enchantment Passing Through").
Later that night, Amneris worries about her father's illness, and finds in Aida someone who understands and encourages her ("My Strongest Suit (Reprise)"). Bursting into his fiancée's chamber, Radames steals a moment with Aida to share his growing attraction to her. Aida is taken by Mereb to the Nubian camp, where she reluctantly submits to her people's pleas to lead them ("Dance of the Robe"). When she implores Radames to help the Nubians, he opens his heart by giving his possessions to them ("Not Me") and declaring his love for Aida("Elaborate Lives"). Unable to fight her feelings any longer, she falls into his embrace. Their bliss is interrupted by news that Radames' armies have captured Amonasro, king of Nubia and Aida's father. Unable to comfort her, Radames leaves Aida in distress. Rallying her people, Aida assures them that Nubia will never die ("The Gods Love Nubia").
Act II
Aida, Amneris, and Radames are entangled in conflicted loyalties and emotions ("A Step Too Far"), that Aida might be a traitor to her people as she loves Radames, that his love for her could end his life as he knows it, and that he does not show the attention that Amneris deserves. Aida and Mereb bribe their way into Amonasro's prison cell, where she is reunited with her father. Mereb hatches a plan to escape with the king during the commotion of Amneris' wedding. To save her father and her nation, Aida must betray the man she loves ("Easy as Life"). Meanwhile, Zoser discovers Radames' affair and warns his son that it could cost him the throne, but Radames no longer shares his father's ambitions ("Like Father, Like Son"). After an emotional bout with his son, Zoser orders his men to find Aida and kill her.
At the Nubian camp, Aida receives a written apology from Radames for the thoughtless way he acted upon hearing of Amonasro's capture ("Radames' Letter") and for his lack of showing affection. When Egyptian soldiers arrive seeking Aida, another Nubian, Nehebka, sacrifices herself so that the princess can live ("Dance of the Robe (Reprise)"*). Now even more determined to leave Radames forever, Aida goes to say good-bye to him over Mereb's objections ("How I Know You (Reprise)"). Radames informs Aida that he is calling off the wedding. Aida knows that this would ruin her father's escape and tells him he must go through with it ("Written in the Stars"). Radames agrees, on condition that she escapes to freedom on a boat he will provide. The heartbroken lovers part, but Amneris has overheard their entire conversation and tries to face the fact that her upcoming marriage is a sham ("I Know the Truth").
News of Amonasro's escape disrupts Amneris' wedding. Radames learns the truth of Aida's identity when he arrives at the docks just as she is about to board his boat with her father. Although he is angry that Aida hid this from him, she says she never lied about loving him. In the ensuing chaos, Mereb is mortally wounded by Zoser, and Radames makes possible Amonasro's escape by cutting the rope tied to the dock, but Aida stays with Radames and a dying Mereb. Zoser flees, and Mereb dies in the arms of his kind master and beloved princess. Radames and Aida are then arrested for treason. At the ensuing trial, Pharaoh announces Zoser's apprehension and sentences both Aida and Radames to be buried alive. Amneris reprises her role as a future Pharaoh by convincing her father to let the lovers die in the same tomb, an act of mercy for two people she has come to love. Facing death, Aida looks to Radames for strength ("Elaborate Lives (Reprise)"). As they are slowly deprived of light and air ("Enchantment Passing Through (Reprise)"), Radames swears he will search through a hundred lifetimes to find her again if he has to.
Back in the contemporary museum, the spirit of Amneris reveals that as she became Pharaoh, the lovers' deaths gave birth to a reign of peace between Egypt and Nubia. She watches as the modern man and woman are strangely drawn to each other. They are the reincarnations of Aida and Radames, finding each other in a new beginning ("Every Story is a Love Story (Reprise)").
**"Fortune Favors the Brave (Reprise)", the instrumental "Dance of the Robe (Reprise)", the Overture and the Entr'acte are not featured on the Original Broadway Cast Recording or the International Recordings of the production.
Principal roles
Aida - Daughter of Amonasro and Princess of Nubia. With her royalty unknown to all except Mereb, who recognizes her as princess, she is taken into slavery with the rest of Nubia, but attracts the attention of Radames.
Radames - Captain of the Egyptian army, son of Zoser, and fiancee to Amneris. He is expected to succeed the Egyptian throne after the Pharaoh's death, but finds himself intrigued by a Nubian slave, Aida, instead.
Amneris - Princess of Egypt, daughter of the Pharaoh, and fiancee to Radames. She is renowned by all for her fashionable ways. Aida is given to her as a gift to be her handmaiden, by whom her true nature is seen: that she is merely using this fashion-driven identity to hide her own insecurities.
Mereb - A Nubian servant to Radames, who was taken captive by Egyptians as a youth and has served among them ever since. The first to recognize Aida as Princess of Nubia, and the first to tell the other Nubian slaves about it with hopes that she can set them free.
Zoser - Chief Minister of Egypt and father of Radames. He highly anticipates his son's succession to the Egyptian throne and does all he can to make it arrive sooner, including poisoning the Pharaoh.
Nehebka - Nubian slave who speaks to Aida as a representative for the Nubian people.
Pharaoh - Father of Amneris and King of Egypt. One of the arrangers of Amneris and Radames's much-delayed wedding, he is secretly being poisoned by Zoser to speed up Radames's succession to the throne.
Amonasro - Father of Aida and King of Nubia. He is taken into slavery by Egyptians after Aida and Radames have fallen in love, and commands Aida to break all ties she has to the Egyptians.
Musical numbers
Act I
"Every Story Is a Love Story" - Amneris
"Fortune Favors the Brave" - Radames and the Soldiers
"The Past Is Another Land" - Aida
"Another Pyramid" - Zoser and the Ministers
"How I Know You" - Mereb and Aida
"My Strongest Suit" - Amneris and the Women of the Palace
"Fortune Favors the Brave (reprise)" - Radames
"Enchantment Passing Through" - Radames and Aida
"My Strongest Suit (reprise)" - Amneris and Aida
"Dance of the Robe" - Aida, Nehebka and the Nubians
"Not Me" - Radames, Aida, Amneris and Mereb
"Elaborate Lives" - Radames and Aida
"The Gods Love Nubia" - Aida, Nehebka, Mereb and the Nubians
Act II
"A Step Too Far" - Amneris, Radames, and Aida
"Easy as Life" - Aida
"Like Father, Like Son" - Zoser, Radames, and the Ministers
"Radames' Letter" - Radames
"Dance of the Robe (reprise)" - Orchestra
"How I Know You (reprise)" - Mereb
"Written in the Stars" - Radames and Aida
"I Know the Truth" - Amneris
"Elaborate Lives (reprise)" - Aida and Radames
"Enchantment Passing Through (reprise)" - Radames and Aida
"Every Story Is a Love Story (reprise)" - Amneris, Nehebka
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Lyrics | - Every Story Is A Love Story lyrics
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Scene 1
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Scene 2
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Scene 3
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Scene 4
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Scene 5
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Scene 6
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Scene 7
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Scene 8
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Scene 9
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Scene 10
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Scene 11
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Scene 12
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Scene 13
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Scene 14
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Scene 15
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Elaborate Lives
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A Step Too Far
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The Past is Another Land
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Fortune Favors the Brave
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Not Me
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Dance of the Robe
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Written in the Stars
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Radames' Letter
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How I Know You
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Another Pyramid
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The Gods Love Nubia
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Like Father, Like Son
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My Strongest Suit
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Enchantment Passing Through
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I Know The Truth
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I Wish
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The Grand March
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