AIDA
at Dillard High School

Reviewed on January 31, 2020

Emma Sugarman
J.P. Taravella High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

The flying sails of an Egyptian barge bombarded the stage sweeping you to a world of warring kingdoms, forbidden love, and "Elaborate Lives." A museum exhibit transforms into the enchanting world of ancient Egypt as a sculpture comes to life to tell the story of star-crossed lovers. Dillard Center for the Arts's production of "Aida" will test the lovers' loyalty to their kingdoms when faced with the blinding rays of true love.

Based on the opera of the same name, the musical adaptation premiered on Broadway in 2000, claiming four Tony awards and a Grammy for "Best Musical Show Album." With music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang, "Aida" follows the story of an ill-destined love of an enslaved Nubian princess and an Egyptian warrior betrothed to the Pharaoh's daughter. The misfortuned lovers face adversity as the wrath of their warring countries tests their love.

Azaria Pearson portrayed the courageous and loyal Aida. Pearson's demanding stage presence was captivating with every entrance. She expressed marvelous vocals and did a commendable job using her emotions to motivate her vocal dynamics. Playing Radames, Aida's secret lover, and the Captain of an Egyptian military ship, Andrew Robichaud presented consistent characterization and showed a clear development throughout the production. The technicality and clarity of Robichaud's vocals contributed to his notable performance. Robichaud and Pearson highlighted the complexities of their flourishing relationship while presenting engaging chemistry.

Amneris, the Egyptian princess and Radames's bride-to-be, was captured by Camila Peña-Torres. Peña-Torres superbly showcased the contrast of her character's materialistic and sensitive qualities. Her impeccable comedic timing and unwavering energy captured the lively spirit of her role. Soloman Liria embodied Mereb, a faithful Nubian slave. Liria showcased clear and impressive vocals capturing the essence of his vocally meticulous role. His expressions aligned clearly with his tone and inflections.

The ensemble of the production maintained engaging energy throughout the entirety of the performance and expressed beautiful harmonies. They presented the intricate choreography with ease while consistently incorporating stylistic movements from the Egyptian culture. The ensemble appeared actively engaged and showcased individual and well-developed characters.

The technical aspects of the production helped convey the typical presentation of ancient Egypt by depicting a royal and opulent environment. The costumes and scenery aided in the establishment of the setting. The magnificent orchestra energized the production with its stellar tone and overall immersive quality. The dynamic lighting helped indicate the different environments and emphasized the mood of each scene.

In a time of royal conflict, a forbidden romance prevails. Dillard Center for the Arts's captivating production of "Aida" will test a love as deep as the Nile River runs long.

Abbey Alder
Calvary Christian Academy
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

"Love is an ever-changing situation, but one thing remains the same: Love prevails in one way or another." No truer words exemplify the powerful story of "Aida." Dillard Center for the Arts' production of "Aida" ignites the possibility and power that comes with changing one's fate.

Based on Antonio Ghislanzoni and Giuseppe Verdi's 19th-century opera of the same name, "Aida" was reinvented into a Tony-winning musical with an unforgettable score by the renowned duo of Elton John and Tim Rice. Premiering on Broadway at the Palace Theatre in March of 2000, "Aida" awed audiences and critics alike, which resulted in four Tony Awards and a National Tour. The show begins in the present-day, inside the Egyptian Wing of a museum with a couple drifting toward a burial chamber. The stage transforms in an instant, commencing the audiences' journey to ancient Egypt to bear witness to a love triangle that transcends cultures and the passage of time. The spotlight is set on Aida, a strong Nubian princess enslaved by Radames, the Egyptian Captain. The two become romantically involved despite Radames' betrothal to the Pharaoh's daughter, Amneris. Aida ultimately must choose between love or liberating her people.

Playing the leading lady, Azaria Pearson thoroughly embodied Aida by displaying a great emotional understanding of her role and justifying her feelings through her physicality. Even while belting to the heavens in numbers such as "Dance of the Robe," Pearson presented her vocal dexterity with ease. Playing the other half of the pair of star-crossed lovers was Andrew Robichaud as Radames. Robichaud asserted his dominance on the stage and exhibited his vast vocal range with noticeable technique. Together, the pair's chemistry grew as the show progressed and fostered a seemingly real relationship.

Captivating audiences with her dazzling presence, Camila Peña-Torres played the princess, Amneris. Camila was particularly beaming in "My Strongest Suit," where she demonstrated vocal control and prowess. Notable for his performance as Mereb, Solomon Liria was immediately engaging and emotionally present as he sang. Commendably, the Nubian ensemble collectively told the same story with their facials and attitudes. Occasionally, when sharing the stage, some ensemble members demonstrated more energy than others. The choreography executed by the ensemble was very clean, but at times lacked motivation. Overall, the ensemble was highly effective and contributed to the movement of the story.

Technical elements such as costumes, set, and lighting enriched the performance. However, sound elements were distracting and drew attention away from the story. The orchestrations, led by Juan Sebastian Fernandez, contributed to the energy of the show, setting the tone with an uplifting flare. Despite overpowering the actors in volume at some points, the orchestra enhanced the experience as a whole.

Dillard Center for the Arts' production of "Aida" emphasized each person's power to be courageous. As Aida so firmly said, "Fortune favors the brave."

Rachel Goldberg
Cooper City High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Most people think that "The Past is Another Land" and it's of no importance to the modern world; however, Dillard Center for the Arts' production of "Aida" proves that love is truly timeless and can eclipse any barrier.

With music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, "Aida" is based on an Italian opera written by Antonio Ghislanzoni with music by Giuseppe Verdi. The show premiered on Broadway in 2000 and won four Tony Awards. This musical tells the tale of an enslaved Nubian princess named Aida (Azaria Pearson), who finds herself fancied by Egyptian Captain Radames (Andrew Robichaud), even though he is betrothed to the Pharaoh's daughter. Radames and Aida's forbidden devotion to one another becomes a paradigm of true love that ultimately transcends the stark cultural contrast between their warring nations, yielding a time of unparalleled prosperity and peace.

Possessing a sharp tongue and a sharper mind, Aida, portrayed by Azaria Pearson exudes nobility. Her powerful performance showed great range and impressive development of her character's arc. Pearson did an exceptional job building chemistry with every character she encountered, as well as showing her character's turmoil when tasked with leading her people. Her clear commitment to her character shone through her choices in physicality and vocal delivery; her choices always expertly amplified how her character was feeling.

Most notable of Pearson's relationships was that between her and Andrew Robichaud as Radames. Robichaud had a distinct stylistic voice that allowed him to convey his character's emotions while in song. Together, Robichaud and Pearson developed a palpable connection, and their chemistry only grew throughout the performance. As Amneris, the daughter of the Pharaoh with a fashion fixation, Camilia Peña-Torres exuded high energy, confidence, and remarkable vocals. She showed amazing development from her role in Act 1 as the comedic relief to her character's more mature and serious capacity in Act 2.

Overall, the cast did a stellar job in creating genuine characters. The ensemble's commitment to their roles told many unique stories within the plot. Although there were times in which the company could have expressed more range in dynamics, their energy was authentic and consistent, especially in the song "Dance of the Robes." The orchestra completed the intense score of this show seemingly with ease, providing a beautiful sound to the story. Despite overpowering the actors while playing, the musicians were professional, and the music immensely added to the performance.

The overwhelming passion of the company of Dillard Center for the Arts' "Aida," embraces stunning vocals, exuberant dancing, and promises the audience another story as two familiar strangers meet in an Egyptian history museum, continuing Radames and Aida's love forever.

Nicole Ehrlich
Western high school
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Powerful vocals, astounding orchestrations, and the brilliant telling of a tragic love story perfectly encapsulate Dillard Center for the Performing Arts' heart-pounding production of "Aida."

With music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, "Aida" is based upon the opera that shares the same name. This wonderfully crafted musical brings the age-old history between Ancient Egypt and Nubia to life while conducting a star-crossed love between the captured Nubian princess, Aida, and the Captain of the Egyptian army, Radames. Romance, danger, and tragedy ensue, making for an electrifying experience. "Aida" opened on Broadway in 2000 and closed after 1,852 performances in 2004. The show won four Tony Awards after being nominated for five.

The beautiful Azaria Pearson took the titular role of Aida with astounding grace and power. Her body language spoke volumes, allowing for her acting to shine even brighter. Pearson embodied Aida, speaking gently to her Nubian people but showing the force of a princess who longs for the protection of her land. Her acting wasn't the only outstanding point of Pearson's abilities. Aida's songs take a great deal of effort to pull off, but she proved it could be done with ease, allowing for her powerhouse vocal abilities to resonate throughout the theater. Aida would have never gone through the tough decisions she encountered without the presence of her adventurous lover, Radames, performed by Andrew Robichaud. Although there were mic issues throughout, Robichaud projected very well, surrounding the audience with the crisp control of his voice. The connection between Pearson and Robichaud grew stronger as the scenes came along, making for the heart-wrenching reunion after many years of searching for each other even more satisfying.

Showing off more of Dillard's breathtaking singing talents, Camila Peña-Torres, depicting the glamorous Amneris, mastered the difficult vocal power with no sweat. Her solo, "I Know the Truth" showed depth and great emotional drain in the typically bubbly character. Torres' comedic timing stood out greatly, building memorable laughs to cool off the nerves of the tense story. Portraying the dutiful and devoted Mereb, Solomon Liria always had eyes on him as he stepped on the stage. His sympathy and need for Aida were endearing, but the most eye-catching moments were whenever Liria opened his mouth to showcase his smooth singing abilities. "How I Know You (Reprise)" was music to everyone's ears with his butter-like vocal technique, along with his emotional diction.

Out of many technical aspects of this show, the Dillard Center for the Arts Orchestra definitely shines spectacularly. Even though there were songs where singing was drowned out by the music, the live orchestrations formed an immersive aura throughout the production. Each instrument was played with great skill, never making a mistake in the music.

Dillard Center for the Arts captured the passionate love story of "Aida," while retelling the timeless lesson that love will always power through hate.

Leah Tomas
J.P. Taravella High School
Submitted for publication to Florida Theater On Stage

Travel back to the past, to a land far beyond reach. Under the blistering heat of the African sun and along the cool shores of the Nile River, an epic tale of loyalty, loss, and betrayal is beginning to unfold. Join Dillard Center for the Arts on a journey to uncharted lands for their timeless production of "Aida," a story of "a love that flourished in a time of hate."


Based on the Italian opera of the same title, "Aida" was written by Robert Falls, Linda Woolverton, and David Henry Hwang, with music by Elton John underscoring lyrics by Tim Rice. The story takes place in ancient Egypt after the capture and enslavement of Nubian princess Aida by captain Radames; an Egyptian soldier betrothed to the Pharaoh's daughter Amneris. The story follows the forbidden love between Aida and Radames, ascending leaders of two warring countries, and the turmoil that ensues when the two lovers are forced to balance their romantic desires and loyalty to their homelands. "Aida," originally intended to debut as a Disney-produced animation, made its world premiere as "Elaborate Lives: The Legend of Aida" at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. The production opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre, winning four Tony Awards, along with an additional Drama Desk and Grammy Award.

Azaria Pearson (Aida) led the production with a strong stage presence, and excellent use of song lyrics in addition to distinct physicality as a means to facilitate her storytelling and expression. Andrew Robichaud (Radames) demonstrated evident commitment to his character throughout the production along with refined chemistry with Pearson. Both actors delivered impressive vocals along with a clear emotional arc individually and in relation to each other.

Camila Peña-Torres (Amneris) commanded the stage with exuberant confidence, great comedic timing, and outstanding vocal stamina specifically highlighted during the number "My Strongest Suit." She additionally shared a dynamic relationship with Pearson displaying substantial character development throughout the performance. Jevaughn Jean-Gilles (Zoser) exhibited unwavering energy and consistency, and Solomon Liria (Mereb) effortlessly captured the essence of his character through his flawlessly passionate vocal performance.

The ensemble of this production, though at times fluctuating in energy and expression, delivered a fantastic performance through their clean execution of choreography and vocal harmony. Each actor displayed unique characterization and focus, specifically during the number "Dance of the Robe." Strong leaders of the ensemble included Patriceia Sands (Nehebka), Keanu Bernabe (Pharaoh), and Quentin Mack (Amonasro).

The technical aspects of this production were relatively well executed. Combined technical elements with actor performance clearly and respectfully expressed multiple African cultures beautifully, clearly establishing the tone and location of the story. Throughout the production, microphones frequently malfunctioned, making the actors difficult to hear over the orchestra, which appeared to be slightly too loud, though they played very well.

Dillard Center for the Arts's production of "Aida" is an enduring story of an unexpected star-crossed love strong enough to withstand the test of time, to which one phrase holds true "Every story, new or ancient, bagatelle or work of art: all are tales of human failing; all are tales of love at heart."

Emma Wasserman
Western high school
Submitted for publication to American Heritage

There is something inexplicably alluring about forbidden love. The idea of loving someone so much that any wishes to keep you separate are futile. For some, this love can lead to happily ever after. But for Aida and Radames, their love was doomed from the start.

With music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice, and based on the opera of the same name, "Aida" tells the story of the newly enslaved Nubian princess and her secret and dangerous love affair with the betrothed soon-to-be Pharoh of Egypt. With their countries at war, the show explores the choice between doing what is right and following your heart.

Leading the show, Azaria Pearson (Aida) showcased strong acting and powerful singing. Pearson's emotions were always genuine and she developed a three-dimensional character through her acting choices. Her physicality was also outstanding; instead of relying solely on mannerisms to carry her physical portrayal of the character, she acted with her whole body, allowing the audience to see Aida as a real person. She used a variety of tactics in her acting, which some actors struggled with, especially when acting angry. In addition, Pearson not only possesses a great voice, but she also demonstrated complete vocal control. She easily switched between registers, while also comfortably hitting high notes in her belt, and showed a variety of vocal styles depending on what worked best for the emotions of the scene.

Andrew Robichaud (Radames) was also a standout performer, showcasing brilliant acting techniques and an outstanding voice. All of his scenes were immensely entertaining, and his consistent characterization and physicality was a highlight of the show. Robichaud and Pearson had amazing chemistry, each balancing the other well. They sang together beautifully, making each duet a powerful expression of their growing feelings for one another.

Camila Peña-Torres (Amneris) gave a great performance with hilarity and great comedic timing. However, she also handled the serious aspects of her character very well. Peña-Torres executed Amneris's character arc phenomenally and as the show progressed, one could see her character became more frustrated and upset. She commands a powerful and unique voice that was showcased exceptionally, especially in "Every Story Is A Love Story."

With beautiful acting, outstanding vocals, and gorgeous choreography, Dillard Center for the Arts's performance of "Aida" was truly worth crossing the Nile for.