Beats of Taiko by Haema

After viewing the San Jose Taiko Company perform I realized how fitting the name of their tour was to their show, The Rhythm and Journey Tour. Not only was I immersed in pure, unaltered beats and rhythms, but I also continued with this motion down a path to the show’s final stages.

Initially, the performance started out with only pure drums. The members integrated all types of Japanese drums, but, of course, highlighting the Taiko drum. Just as things started to get a little monotonous with only drumming, one member came out and started playing the Japanese bamboo flute, which added a beautifully graceful flow to the music. Instead of the music being solely composed of beats it had melody to it, which made the performance that much better. Also, the show developed more personality in it as it went along. For instance, humor came across with little “drum battles” between two groups of people. Or, happiness and joy were portrayed through songs and laughter in the piece Ei Ja Nai Ka? The cheerful nature of the piece lighted the pervious heavy moments.

When the performance ended I had the privilege to meet some of the wonderful artists. In doing so, the show I just witnessed grew in depth after I met and heard the artists answer various questions. I learned how The San Jose Taiko company had affected them, and what the pieces mean for them; how the artists held the pieces in their hearts. It was quite apparent that they had a very deep connection with what they just performed. Thus, it made everything I just watched feel a lot more personal, because I knew a person’s heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears went behind each and every drum beat.
In the Rhythm and Journey Tour from San Jose Taiko, not only did I groove to the beats of the drums, but I also traveled the path that they showed me. My knowledge on Japanese drumming has grown immensely, and I hope this will not be the end of it.

Aida by Elizabeth

I found the first On Stage show, Aida, to be an amazing experience. It was an interesting performance that kept my attention both with music and dance. The amount of effort and dedication put into the show was evident not only by watching the show, but gy talking with the performers.

From the moment the curtains opened I was intrigued; I had no idea what an art gallery had to do with the story. Although the opening scene confused me, I quickly let it go as I became more involved with the story of Aida. I enjoyed every single minute of this performance because of the true emotion every one of the characters showed. It was obvious just by watching that they had a bond with each other not only on stage, but off of it too.

The performers did an awesome job with acting, but an equally amazing job with the dance and choreography. The modern music and dance held my attention and drew me in. The moves worked perfectly with the songs and were a good way to keep attention during the songs. I think this along with the emotion of the characters showed was the most effective part of the show because it added a modern spin that everyone could appreciate.

As amazing as the show was, I thought that getting to interact with the performers was the most memorable experience. I enjoyed the information they had to share about life as performers on the road. It was interesting to hear about their different experiences that lead them to the same place. I came away from the discussion with new knowledge of the art and helpful tips about life in any business.

Overall, I think that my first On Stage experience opened me up to a new type of performance. I'm interested to learn about more types of performances as the year progresses and asking more questions.

AIDA Reflection by Hannah

Before I saw this show I had a completely different idea of what AIDA would be like. For one I assumed that since the setting was ancient Egypt that the set and costumes would be strictly from that time period. I was very surprised when I heard during the pre-show that the set and costumes didn’t fit in a particular time period, but once I started watching the show it was clear to me that it was the right way to go. As the performance began, I was enamored by the set although the opening scene seemed a little slow. After the first scene the storyline seemed to move too quickly, but it settled to the right pace about half way through the first act. Because of this unsteady beginning I wasn’t sure what to think about the performance for awhile, but the amazing music and spectacular dancing forgave any blemishes.

I think that my favorite aspect of AIDA was definitely the music and dancing. Actually as far as the plot line goes, I found it to be somewhat unoriginal. The way it was put across, however, made it very unique. My least favorite aspect of AIDA was the love scenes. They seemed very awkward and mechanical. I wasn’t really moved by the main character’s relationship and found it somewhat confusing at times. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it left a good impression in my mind. I would definitely recommend this musical to a friend.

The session afterwards was definitely a learning experience for me. It was amazing to me how the actors could be so serious on stage and then so be funny and relaxed afterward. I thought the actors had a lot of helpful things to talk about. Even though I’m not planning on being a professional actor, some of the things they said were relevant to me, like the fact that you always need to be prepared and that the world is very competitive so just keep trying. I think the most beneficial thing was just being able to sit there and hear them talk and realize that they are just normal people. It gave me a tiny spark of hope for myself. If they could do a spectacular performance, then why couldn’t I? This was definitely a positive experience that I will never regret doing.

AIDA by Becca

The lights dim, the room shakes from the volume of the music, and the curtain slowly rises. My heart is pounding and I can barely wait for the first spoken word from someone’s mouth. As people begin to come onstage, my eyes begin to dart from person to person excitedly. Then, it starts.

I thought it was so neat that it started in present time in a museum. It was magical how it silhouetted on the futuristic Radames and Aida. As the stage takes place and the music begins to pump through the auditorium, the whole scene was so powerful I was awestruck and I could barely wait for the next part.

I was extremely surprised when the first set was actually in a present-day museum. At first I didn’t understand what was going on then I realized that it actually took place in ancient Egypt but was just setting the presence of what was going to happen.

As the story went on from the present-day to ancient Egypt, I loved the scene change and the slight costume change as well. I really liked the courage Aida had to stand up to Radames and to protect her people, as well as herself. I would’ve never thought that the two would have ended up together.

The scene changes and goes into the Pharaoh’s daughter’s chambers. Amneris happens to be my character because she is definitely the comic relief of the whole play, plus she is warm-hearted and very innocent. The love that Amneris has for Radames is very powerful, and as the play went on, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.

My least favorite character, who actually was frightening, was obviously Zoser. He was so evil and I couldn’t help but hate his character. Throughout the play, he kept getting more vicious and vengeful. I feel awful saying this but I was glad that Zoser didn’t get his way in the end.

It was so heart wrenching and emotional when Radames and Aida fell in love and had to be torn apart. I also felt a rush of gratitude toward Amneris when she said that Radames and Aida were allowed to be buried together.

My favorite part of the play had to be the very end when the present-day Radames and Aida made eye contact at the museum and the curtains closed. It was so powerful that I cried.

I really loved meeting with the actors and talking with them. Casey, who happened to play Ramades, was so down to earth and real that I couldn’t help but totally love him. And I really enjoyed meeting with the other main characters too. When I talked with the, I was intimidated and all and I thought that I could definitely could be friends with them.

Going and seeing AIDA live was such an amazing experience and I couldn’t help but get caught up in all the emotion and the love that was shared between Aida and Radames. I really want to see the performance again and I can’t wait until the next performance.

AIDA by Holland

I had heard Aida before, but not the Elton John/Tim Rice version. Rather, my first Aida experience was with the original opera by Giuseppe Verdi. I was very pleased with the original opera, and had expected the musical version to be similar; however, I was pleasantly mistaken.

From the moment the rock music thundered into play, I knew the musical was a far cry from the opera I knew and loved. And it was exhilarating! Like knowing a guy, and then meeting his young, more outgoing brother, I was drawn in by the newness and energy of the music. It was a wonderful feeling that coasted me though the night, leaving me energized and so pleased, I was only able to exclaim “Whoa, that was good!” to a neighbour of mine who asked what I thought.

My favourite aspect of the show had to have been the way the music shifted fomr genre to genre, yet retained a sense of unity. I also enjoyed the way each character or group had its own theme that would assert itself, not fighting with the music, but rather, combining synergistically with it, forming a more profound beauty and developed character than either could have alone.

If I were to recommend this to a friend who’d never see it, my first words would be “Bloody amazing”. Then I’d elaborate about the intricateness and versatility of the set, which allowed a theater to become a museum, then a royal chamber, then a tomb, with countless more stops along the way. I’d also mention how the characters were as vivid and unforgettable as any I’d ever seen, thought at times, Radames’s bare chest was a bit of a distraction, albeit a welcome one. I’d mention how the actress playing Amneris reminded me so much of Kristin Chenoweth, famed for her role as Glinda in ‘Wicked’, that I would’ve sworn that Miss Chenoweth had a twin there up on the stage. I’d mention how the actress playing Aida had the most astounding vocal range I’d ever heard, and I’d mention how the actor playing Zoser conveyed the perfect among of unctuousness and manipulativeness that is central to that character.

In conclusion, seeing Aida was stounding, and I absotively positively adored it. I was humming the songs for days, which thoroughly annoyed my friends, though they forgave me. I’d like to thank the On Stage program for selecting me, and I can’t wait to go see the next performance.

AIDA by Kendra

Going to Aida I was very excited, I had heard about it on the radio and I really like Tom Rice and Elton John, I think that they write very good music. In the first scene I was a little confused because I didn’t understand why this people where in a museum dressed in modern day clothes, but as the story progressed on, I began to understand what was going on.

One of my favorite parts was the music, I really enjoyed it and liked how it had a modern spin to it. I also like the dancing, but I did think that one of the scenes was a little to suggestive for my taste. I thought the actors and dancers gave one hundred percent. I could really feel all the energy, excitement, and at the sad parts, bitterness, along with the actors. I also enjoyed the way that the musical was set in sort of a timeless period; I thought that the costumes and sets were very neat.

Afterwards, meeting with the cast, was also a very neat experience. I felt like I learned a lot from them, they told us all about life on the road, how hard they had to work to get this job, and how much fun that they all have. It made me want to pursue a drama career all the more, even if it is a lot of hard work and time.

I think that one thing that I thought was interesting was that if Aida had obeyed her father and not sneaked out, she would still have been alive, and not put others in danger. But also she would not have had the chance to love like she did. I also learned from the cast that you have to work really hard at this job and you won’t always get the parts, but you have to keep on trying.

AIDA by Amy

When I went to AIDA, I really didn’t have any expectations. I had never seen it before, or even heard or it before On Stage so I was excited. The night before I went I heard many people talking about how amazing it was, so I was ready to be amazed. I think that anyone who went to AIDA would say that is completely goes beyond your expectations. From the singing and the dancing, to the story itself; you would have to have slept thought it all to not realize how remarkable it was.

To me the story of AIDA is an enduring story that contains many messages. Of course, the love story is extremely evident but it goes much deeper than that. The actors and actresses were extremely gifted and after talking to them afterwards I really realized that they were REAL people. Sometimes when you see people on stage you forget the fact that they are just like you. They get nervous, they have to practive, and it’s their job. A highlight of my evening was talking to them afterwards and hearing their point of view on the musical. I also thoroughly enjoyed watching the musical and taking it all in.

One of the ideas that I thought was significant was the idea that sometimes what society says and what is actually right are complete opposites. I saw this in AIDA when Aida and Radmaes wanted to be together, but knew they couldn’t because she was a slave and he was above her. They had to try and forget that they loved each other simply because it would be frowned upon by others. Another message is that just because we’re give a certain “title” in life, doesn’t mean that they are nay less of a person than he way. He realized that and that is when he helped them. These are just a couple of messages I got out AIDA. I’m sure there are many more and that each time a person is to see it they will pick up more of them.

Since I have been in dance for thirteen years, I really enjoy watching the dancing in performances. In AIDA the dancing did not disappoint. The lifts were incredible and choreography was tremendous. The dancing fit right in to the story. I also thought it was appropriate that most of the dancing was modern, because modern dance is kind of a connection between the past and the present and I think that they were trying to achieve that in AIDA. It was definitely a joy to watch.

AIDA was a wonderful performance that I would absolutely see again. I would encourage anyone what hasn’t seen it, to go watch it. It is something that you can’t appreciate until you see it. I think that many of the messages I can and will apply to my daily life. I love every minute of this performance and can not wait to see the next.

AIDA by Anna

As soon as I read the study guide for this performance I knew that I was going to enjoy Aida a lot. I love Broadway musicals so I knew that I would enjoy this play. The storyline matched the play very well and was what I expected, except for when you’re watching the actual play instead of just reading it, it’s so much more emotional. It’s amazing how into the play you get and the emotions that arise in you. That also goes for my first impressions. I was super excited for the play before it started and as soon as it starts that emotion just keeps building up and I didn’t want the play to end. I think the talent that these actors and actresses have just blows you away and leaves you in awe because of what they can do.

My favorite aspect of the performance was how everything got complicated but love prevails over all and everything worked out for the best. How Radames loves Aida, and Aida loves Radames but her father won’t allow it and she’s also friends with Amneris, who loves Radames. The whole thing is just a confusing circle of love and that’s what keeps the audience on the edges of their chairs in suspense. You don’t know what’s going to happen next or how it’s going to turn out in the end. My least favorite aspects of the performance was the very beginning and end. I was confused in the very beginning how it started out with people at a museum but then at the end it becomes clear because they repeat the same scene again but a little bit different. At the end, the intensity is high when Radames and Aida are buried together in the tomb and then the museum scene continues and your emotions just start to die down from there. I think it would have been cool to just end it when they got buried together so the emotion was still strong. I understand, thought, why they have that last scene to show reincarnation and how they were together in the next life.

Describing the performance to someone who has never heard of the show would be hard because I think the only way to truly understand a musical with so much detail is to experience it yourself. When I came back to school and people asked how Aida was all I could say was that it was amazing. I don’t even think words can describe how amazing it was and I don’t think that people understand that until they see it. When explaining the play I would mention that it’s a Broadway musical that incorporates love, jealousy, patriotism, fate, treason, determinations, and loyalty. I would also explain the storyline, plot and setting of the play.

What I learned from this performance was that when things get tough and you have to choose between this or that, love usually always comes out on top of everything. I think Aida alone just teaches you so much: to be loyal to your country, listen to your heart, put others first, take leadership, and many others. Even though I learned a lot from the performance, I learned even more from talking to the actual performers. This was my favorite part of the whole night, was talking to the three main characters from Aida. They were just so real and they seemed like they actually enjoyed talking to us. They had a very busy day and were tired yet they didn’t rush when talking to us. One of the things I learned about the performing arts was that it shares the same principles of any other career out there. They mentioned that preparation was probably the most important of them all in any career that you choose to pursue. They also mentioned dedication, commitment, practice, and many others that are the same for any job that you are interested in. I also learned that doing a Broadway musical and having acting as a career in general isn’t just a walk in the park, and that it’s actually harder than most jobs. They have to constantly pay for vocal, dance, and acting lessons. Also, when they’re on the job, if they choose not to hit a certain note or miss it multiple times in a row, that they’ll actually get docked off their paycheck. I had no idea that was the case. They also mentioned how it’s a lot of fun and they have a family environment but when it comes down to business its very precise and serious but still fun. I also learned that when they’re on tout they get a little time to go home and visit loved ones. I had a lot of respect for their loved ones who let their sons, daughters, wives, or husbands pursue this career and support them even though they don’t get to seee them all the time. Another thing I learned was that all the singing is real and live, and that they never lip sync. They did give some examples of when they do lip sync though, like when they have a long dance routine that they’re supposed to be singing also, its hard to keep your vocals loud and accurate during the whole thing because you’re running out of breath from dancing. In those cases they prerecord the song and then lip sync while they’re dancing, but they never had to do that in Aida.

From this experience, I definitely learned a couple of things about myself. I learned that I’m definitely not near as strong as Aida is. I don’t think I’d be able to deal with all the stuff that she went through. Through it all though, she never gave up, she kept going and knew that is was her job to help her people and sort everything out. I also learned that there’s no way I could ever pursue the performing arts if I wanted to, because of how hard it is and how much talent is necessary for it. I just don’t think people realize how difficult it actually is. I have great respect for these performers that do this as a career and look forward to seeing our next performance.

First On-Stage Essay: Aida By Andrew

Aida, a story of love and the trials that result of them, managed to prove to me to be a much better show that I would have anticipated. From being a surprisingly original beginning that started in modern time that was eventually explained at the end which complimented this beginning scene. Or from the fact that the actors had such a great deal of emotion and really, really came across as being sincere about what they were doing. All of this though was also made very easy to watch and understand by how and well they moved on the stage and how their body language spoke out.

The very start at the museum surprised me, especially when I saw them just walking around looking at the art work. I was though tipped off about the fact that I could figure out some of the characters without any prior knowledge. Such as the King who I though looked wither to be a Pharaoh or the King of Nubia. This scene though came full circle in the end which really touched me in a way that I wasn’t expecting and how both Aida and Rademes kept there promise that they’d find each other in the next life when they were buried together. With how well they managed to pull it off and how the curtain fell right as they made eye contact it all the better and more meaningful. Essentially this part managed to pull the entire thing together, especially coming full circle with how an extended period of mercy and peace came as a result of all the activities that brought about the conclusion of the past events.

The next most amazing feeling about Aida was how involved the actors were with their characters. It was incredible to be so close and actually see spit fly out of the mouths when they screamed and be able to see into the eyes of the actors and actually see the emotions that they were portraying. When Mereb was stabbed you could actually see the pain and suffering in his eyes and the anguish that he would never get to see his home country again. Other such things that showed how well in tune the characters were with each other were in parts such as ‘Like Father Like Son’ were Zoser and his entourage were perfectly in sync with where he pointed their heads to go and they went. Beyond this they all acted so very well together that it almost seemed as if they could really have been there. The only ting that would have made it even better was if the music didn’t cover the actors up at certain points.

As you can no doubt see, Aida is a very original and very well done musical. From the actors nearly perfect parts to the very well done ‘Every Story Is a Love Story’ and its reprise with all the actors putting in great efforts in both acting and movement (choreographing). All of these combined to allow this musical to have an identity of its own, separate from the identity of other musicals. With all of these behind it Aida is a very well done musical with a very strong cast that is extremely dedicated and involved.

AIDA by Elisa

The performance of Aida was, to me, considerably enjoyable. The experience was unforgettable and the actors and actresses put on a lovely performance. I think that going to Aida was definitely worth my time. I enjoyed the experience and I look forward to seeing more performances.

Going to Aida, I expected more of an older style opera instead of the contemporary style of music and dance that was portrayed. I think I wouldn’t have enjoyed the authentic opera as much as I enjoyed the contemporary version. The music and costumes that were used were completely awesome. The live band was amazing and I was impressed with how the actors and actresses could sing so well with the pit. It was quite impressive.

I especially liked talking to the actors/actresses afterward. It was interesting to hear their stories and their ‘muses’ , if you will. I enjoyed listening to their experiences and all the fun times that they’ve had together. I also enjoyed asking them questions about their experience, or just for advice in general. I think that I would have liked to ask more questions in the future instead of having them talk all of the time. I would get more out of it then. Likewise, I enjoyed them immensely.

Some things that I would change or could have gone better would be the meeting place. I had no idea where the café was at all, and I had some trouble finding it. Also, I never received an e-mail like the other onstage students received. I’ve been having trouble with my new e-mail account, so if you could e-mail me at my old e-mail address. Also, I think it would have been more beneficial if the students got to ask more questions. I was kind of disappointed with the amount of questions we were allowed to ask. In the future, I would like to see the students ask more questions.

Over all, my experience going to Aida was absolutely amazing. The story, plot, characters, music, and costumes totally blew me away. I was impressed by the talent of the actors and by the singing capability. The performance in general was awesome and I loved it. I look forward to seeing more in the future.

AIDA by Ashley

Aida was different from my expectations and yet it was more than I thought it would be. The plot was intriguing and kept my attention the entire play. I was surprised from reading about the paly and comparing my expectations to the actual play. I thought it was going to be an entirely new plot for a more modern view. There were some funny additions to the play that were modern, but then there were additions that I felt really hadn’t added to the play. For instance, the mops were way out of place for me and just didn’t make sense. I think that sticking with rags, which they would have used back then, wouldn’t have drawn my attention away for the actors. Adding the bit about you are what you wear with the princess was funny and I thought was very good. After I started watching the play, I thought that there would be more emphasis on culture and history.

The ending was very good and well thought through. I loved how they had foreshadowed the first scene in to the last scene. I thought it was very clever how they met again in the museum at the end. The actors came across as down-to-earth, which helped them portray their characters. I enjoyed this play very much. Overall, I would give this play an 8 out 10.

AIDA by Brittany

All I can say is wow. I believe this was one of the best performances I’ve ever been to. Right from the beginning it was able to grab and captivate your senses. The way they were able to tie in so many different musical tones is also why I would consider it to be so good. The performers were really able to bring the story to life in every aspect. Starting in the beginning as all of the characters walked around in the museum you started to get a feel of the atmosphere they were in. And the way they transitioned from the museum to the ship with Radames and the soldiers. Not to mention the fact that they only used one set throughout the whole show, but were able to make it work like it did, it fit every scene perfectly.

One of my favorite parts, had to be the transition of the museum to Radames’s ship, because it was energetic and really fun to watch. The performers were all about to connect really well into the sense of their character. Another one of my favorite parts was when Aida help Meneris pick out what to wear when Radames is on his way to see her, and all of her servants bring out racks and racks of shows. It was funny way to relate they past back to the present again.

Along with the music there were dancers. It was amazing how they were able to set the mood so easily. On of my favorite scenes was when they had the lights on their hands and they moved in a way that was enchanting and graceful. Just like in the musical aspect of this production the dance varied also, showing a little bit of so many different styles. It kept you entertained and wanting to see more.

Finally, as the show started to come to and end Aida was faced with most difficult decision to go against her father, her people, and her country or to be with the only man she would truly ever love. Not to mention they way that Amneris was able to step up and let both Aida and Radames be buried together, since they must be punished. However they had only been following their hearts, in a way it was much like a modern day Romeo and Juliet.

Being able to meet and talk to the leads after the show was really interesting, and being able to get a look into what it takes and what each of them went though to get their parts in this performance. Overall the show was, if possible, even better than I was expecting. I hadn’t really heard too much about it nor was I familiar with what it was about. However as soon as I read in the description I knew it was going to be something I would really enjoy. With the way every part was put together you almost felt as if you were there with the characters, feeling what they felt. There was never a dull moment from the upbeat dances scenes to the songs between the two lovers’s, and not to mention the song’s which were performed by Zoser, who was obviously the bad guy of this tale.

AIDA by Cherith

After reading the study guide I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, I had no idea that this was going to be a newer more modern version. I expected it to be set in the past and stay there so you can imagine my surprise when at the beginning all the characters were wearing clothes that would be worn today. At first I was slightly confused wondering if the whole thing had been converted to present day. The set was very interesting because it was a mixture of past and present. This was something very unique to the performance that I enjoyed.

AIDA was an amazing performance. When the actors sang it was incredible. There was so much conviction and feeling in their voices I began to forget they were actors at all (intermission was a rather rude awakening). Leaving the performance I was so feeling so many things; I felt highly emotional and exhilarated after the riveting and poignant performance, and I was excited and was anticipating meeting actors from the Musical.

It is truly hard to name my favorite part because I had so very many, but some of them would be the singing, it was exquisite and moving and so intense that I was completely blown away. My favorite song was the duet between Mereb and AIDA, their voices were so beautiful together and I enjoyed it very much. There were many other parts that I liked at lot and a very few I didn’t. My least favorite songs in the performance were “Fortune Favors the Brave” and the song Zoser and his miscreants sang. They really accomplished the creepy, slimy thing with him.

Many of my friends think that musicals are boring and uninteresting but I doubt they have seen this one, I would recommend it highly to them. When the Nubians were dancing and crying out for their princess I felt for them, I felt pain with her, it was so personal and real. When she had the Anguish of choosing her family and heritage or the man she loved and a life with him I was mourning wither her, I felt the despair and felt her (and my heart breaking). This was such a powerful performance I don’t know how anyone could think it was boring.

After the performance I was kind of expecting to meet with stage hands number seven and eight and maybe I couple of understudies, I didn’t think that the leads would have time to spare for a High School group. I was delighted to find that this guess was way off base. I was really neat to get to hear these actors and hear their feelings. One thing that I learned from their comments was just the fact that acting is a real job, in a sense I had known this but I had kind of romanticized the idea.
AIDA was breathtaking and heart wrenching, it was beautiful and touching, I am very glad that I got to see it and will remember it for a very long time.

AIDA by Autumn

AIDA was the first musical I have ever been able to see live. The performance was really amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed watching and experiencing this musical. After watching AIDA it was completely different from the study guide, my first impressions were not good, and I found it to be extremely powerful.

After reading the study guide I thought the play was going to be just another classic love story that would be really boring. I thought it would be like all other love stories and that there would be no point in seeing it. The musical, though, was completely different than what I expected it to be from the study guide. I found out that ,yes, it was another classic love story, but it was far from boring. It kept me interested and drawn into it the whole time. There was always something going on and there was never actually a boring part. In fact I didn’t want the play to end when it did; I wanted to see more. Also, after reading the study guide I thought it was going to be old fashioned because it didn’t take place in modern Egypt, it took place in the past. I thought I would see all the people dressed up like they did in the past, and that all the music would be dull and set up for the past. This thought was completely untrue. The musical was set up in the past, but yet looked like modern times. The performers were wearing clothes that are in style now. They even had weaponry that was modern, like guns. I think that this helped me to relate to the story at a deeper level. I could see the play taking place in my time, it wasn’t just a story from the past. The music was also not dull; it was extremely powerful and upbeat. It to was also from modern times. They had all different types of music form pop to a type of rock, this is definitely not taken from the past. This to helped to draw me more into the story. What I took from the study guide about the play was completely different from the play itself.

Since this was my first time seeing a musical play I didn’t exactly know what to expect. But I did know that when the play first started I didn’t really like it. I thought it was going to be really weird and that I wouldn’t like it at all. I’m not sure what it was but the acting just seemed off, and I did not like some of the actors and actresses. For instance I didn’t like Marja Harmon, Aida, in the beginning of the play; she seemed like a bad actress to me. But, in the end she ended up becoming my favorite character. Another who I did not like in the beginning of the play was Leah Allers, Amneris. She also seemed like a bad actress. As the plat went on, though, I came to realize that the way she was, was just her character. I think I just more understood her character and why she was acting the way she was. So her acting changed from bad to her personality, and she too became one of my favorite characters. I left with completely different impressions from the ones I had at the beginning of the play. I left with a lot more respect for the actors and actresses then I started with. Also, with a lot more respect for those who have to perform live and not pre- recorded, like I usually watch, it seems so much harder and demanding.

Being a huge T.V. watcher and never having experienced something like this before; it really moved me. I found the play and all the singing to be extremely powerful and emotional, something I had never heard or seen on T.V. before. I found it really amazing how much emotion and power the performers portrayed in their performances. I felt like I could feel there pain or feel their happiness. It was like they were drawing me in to be a part of their world, to experience what they experience. It made me feel like I was there and not just watching some play. They never let me down with the ability of their singing. One performer whom I really admired was Marja Harmon, who played Aida. She seemed to have the most emotion and power behind her singing. I had never seen anything like her singing before. I even commented her about it after the play, when we talked to the performers. The emotion and power portrayed in this play really moved me, and persuaded me to see more musicals.

I found the play to be really amazing. I actually wish I could see it again. For my first experience in the performing arts, it definitely did not scare me away. I look forward to seeing more performing arts. Although, my first impressions of AIDA were bad, and the study guide set me up for something I thought would be completely different, it ended up being an extremely powerful and extraordinary musical.

AIDA - the lasting love story by Haema

As I stared ahead all I saw was the deep blue background with the glimmering gold symbol of Aida staring straight back at me. My stomach did one flip as the screen was lifted, my heart beat started to speed up, it was time for the show to begin. I knew for the next two and a half hours I would forget the world around me and be part of the show Aida.

Having never heard about the Broadway show Aida before, I had no expectations or presumptions. However, even if I did have any expectations I’m sure all of them would have been completely exceeded. From beginning to end, the performance was excellent. As the show began I was immediately entranced with the opening scene in the Museum. The sign that said “Namibia, the new Egypt” made me initially smile. Just as I finished absorbing the whole stage’s ambience and appearance, my ears were filled with the sounds of Amneris’ (Leah Aller’s) booming voice.

As the performance continued I was afraid to blink in fear of missing a moment. Even though every now and then I would loose attention or get slightly bored, I was usually brought back to the show right away. In fact, I engulfed myself with the characters of the show more as they matured. My respect for the character Aida (Marja Harmon) grew more and more as the show proceeded. I fell in love with her feminism, courage, and strength, not to mention her voice. And, of course, I was intrigued with her relationship with the ever so handsome Radames (Casey Elliot). As my ears were being entertained by the upbeat and modern music, my eyes were amused with the delicate, but aggressive dancers. Before the show began, I had read their bios and by seeing them on the stage I could clearly see how their training made them to be such amazing, graceful dancers. It just provoked me to become a better dancer, and maybe, one day, make it to a touring show like these astonishing men and women.

When intermission hit my impatience grew at an amazing rate, until I was finally appeased with the show beginning again. Once again, I escaped the real world and experienced the pain and anguish the characters were suffering. When the stage finally arrived to its initial state, the position that it introduced itself to me, I knew the end had come. The final note was sung by Amneris, and the screen had fallen. The cast came out by groups then by individuals, as the group size of the cast coming out dwindled down the sound from the standing audience escalated. Together the cast gave a bow and the audience, including me, commended and thanked them for their marvelous performance.

The love story of Aida had come to an end. The past two and a half hours had been nothing short of awe-inspiring. As my heart pace returned to a normal speed, I looked ahead. Once again, I saw the deep blue screen with the glimmering gold symbol of Aida. This may be the last time I see this screen, but something I know for certain is that I wouldn’t mind seeing it again.

AIDA by Madeline

I really wasn’t sure what to expect from the performance of Aida. All I knew about the play had been learned from the synopsis we all received before the performance. I was much more familiar with the music of Elton John and Tim Rice, so all I really knew was that I would most likely enjoy the music. I wasn’t disappointed, either; I found the musical very entertaining and well done. The songs and dance numbers were especially impressive—my favorite song was “Dance of the Robe.” I also liked the ending a lot; at the beginning of the performance I didn’t really understand why the story opened in a modern-day museum, but the ending tied it together very well. The only things I didn’t enjoy about the performance were, first of all, the extreme volume of the actors’ microphones that would often be so loud that the words the actors spoke were difficult to understand. Also, I was disappointed to see that while all the actors performed very well while singing, the acting ability of some, but not all, of the actors seemed to diminish whenever they had to say their lines rather than sing them. Their emotions became less pronounced, and some actors seemed almost awkward speaking onstage. The actor who played Mereb, despite being an excellent singer, was visibly struggling with his spoken lines, and he appeared unsure if he was even saying the right lines. The exception to this, of course, was Amneris, who sang and acted with equal brilliance. She was funny and believable, and she made the character her own. Overall, it was a wonderful show, and I would recommend it to all my friends.

The presentation after the show was really fun, and I liked talking with people who had made careers out of their love of theater, and I liked the way they had real advice to offer us and could speak frankly from experience about being an actor. From them, I learned that it is extremely difficult to succeed in the performing arts, and that the only way anyone can hope to make a career out of acting is to keep trying, over and over and over again, until you can get a job working in a wonderful show such as Aida.

AIDA by Aaron

AIDA is truly a classic love story. Although it has some of the average parts of a love story, there are many unique parts. Some of the unique things include the costumes and props, the setting, and the characters.

The costumes were amazing, yet simple. It was very interesting how they wore different styles of clothing although it took place during the Egyptian times. I believe it showed that a love story like this can happen during any decade. It is not impossible to experience what Aida and Radames experienced. The costumes really added to the personality of each character. It gave a clear description of how the characters acted and felt. The props added much to the show. The Egyptian art was all present in different acts of the play and also displayed in the museum where everyone could get a glimpse of the action and romance that occurred in Egyptian times. Without the beautiful costumes and props the show would not have the same glow to it that it has now.

The setting was a very unique time and place to put the story of Aida. Rather than placing AIDA in medieval times or presently; it occurred during the time of the Egyptians which no love story has done before. Making the show even more unique is the involvement of Africa. I’m glad that this love story takes place in a totally different time compared to most love stories because it makes it more interesting and enjoyable to watch. Nothing else can compare to AIDA.
The characters were another thing that made the show very interesting. All the characters had amazing voices, but my favorite was Amneris. Her voice was very moving and beautiful. Likewise, Aida and Radames had amazing voices. Aida had a very powerful voice that moved you to action and really made you feel the way she felt. I honestly did not like Zoser’s voice. His voice was very monotone and slightly boring. All their personalities were very lively and sometimes very funny. Radames made a big change in his personality throughout the performance. In the beginning he was hateful, cruel, and prejudice. But as his love grew for Aida he became loving, kind, and respectful. Amneris had a very funny personality that made everyone laugh. She was also very kind and fashionable. Aida had a wonderful outlook on life, and lived each day with happiness and love. Zoser had a very evil attitude, and hated anyone that was not Egyptian. Zoser was greedy and looked for power. All of the characters were very well acted out and added much to the worth of the performance.

AIDA is a performance that everyone should have the privilege of seeing. It was very motivating and powerful. I cannot help but compare this with the story of Romeo and Juliet. Aida and Radames had a strong love for each other that could not be broken. It could not even be broken by the strongest enemy, death. Death only caused them to live and share their love for eternity.

A Genre of Its Own by Aimee

A Genre of Its Own


With regards to the production of Aida that I attended, three words come to mind: seamless, timeless, and soulful. From what I had heard about the show I thought it would be choppy and mismatched as it transitioned between jazz, rock and roll, hip hop, and several other musical genres. About halfway through the first act I realized that this was hardly the case. The classic feel and lacking of a distinct period created a flow between songs but kept the audience interested through the entire production.

One thing I noted was the element of surprise incorporated into the beginning of the show. It started in a museum with people wandering through an exhibit, rather than some desert or palace scene as I had expected. This left me wondering where the show would go from there, and also justified immediately that this wasn’t an average or generic musical. Following the first song, the audience is plunged into a tale of the past, although we still found the characters in jeans and modern looking clothes. The costume design was flawless due to the fact that the characters portrayed a contemporary look, but overall they were quite timeless. I think it is difficult to achieve this tone since many costumes are very specific to an era, especially ancient Egypt.

Another distinction that is apparent soon after the show begins is the quirky and spunky attitude pertaining to Marja Harmon’s character, Aida. The audience can see that she is a brave and upright woman at once. I enjoyed this aspect of the play. Some shows choose to build the character throughout the production but in this case an outright characterization was needed. On the other hand, Radames is first portrayed as a power-hungry tyrant, but that perception changes completely by the end of the show. This was also an appropriate approach, showing the minute attention to the development of each character.

My favorite number in the show was “How I Know You,” sung by Dane Harrington Joseph (Mereb) and Marja Harmon (Aida). The set was fairly clear of clutter and they were alone on the stage, setting up a perfect environment to focus solely on the song. These characters sang so well together and their voices not only pleased your ears but your soul. The theme of the song wasn’t one of the most touching in the play but it was one of the few songs that their voices were the only thing to focus on. My least favorite song was “Another Pyramid,” performed by Zoser and the Ministers. Zoser was portrayed as a slimy, selfish character continuously and even though this was probably the intention of the writer/director, I disliked every aspect of him. Not only was his personality displeasing, but I did not enjoy his voice as well as some of the other actors. It had a sharp quality to it and didn’t seem to fit well with the rest of the soulful and rhythmic voices in the show. The other actors sang from within, and it didn’t seem like they were just singing the notes. Every word was dripping with emotion, whether it was angry, sorrowful, joyous, or confused. It was never difficult to relate to the characters’ feelings because they portrayed them so thoroughly.

A further aspect of the production that I enjoyed was the distribution of the story over the course of the two acts. All of the information the audience needed to formulate the story was given in the first act, and the second act was more of a conclusion. I noticed that the more dramatic dance numbers and songs were in the first part of the show. This is not saying that the songs in the second act were not dramatic, but they all drew the audience to one conclusion rather than weaving a story. An approach like this is very effective, especially with this story.

Overall, Aida was a marvelous theater experience. Not only was it an enthralling plot, but the diversity of the choreography and songs kept me on the edge of my seat through the entire show. I had chills down my spine countless times due to the passion portrayed by the characters. One cannot fathom the extraordinary quality and uniqueness of this production without experiencing it themselves. Aida is a masterful work of art in a genre of its own.

AIDA by Jasmine

Aida, a poignant story about star-crossed lovers, truly touched me through the emotion portrayed in song and choreography. After reading the study guide, I must admit that I expected something much like any other love story, with romance, conflicts, and an over-sentimental ending. However, I failed to remember that I had never seen a love story shown in drama before, and Aida moved me much more than I had ever imagined. Every song was not a simple love song, but a true representation of a lover’s heart, every dance was not just movement but intense, almost chilling feelings. An amazing and wonderfully executed work, I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and greatly appreciate how the genuine performers were in depicting true emotion.

I truly applaud the work Elton John and Tim Rice did with the musical element of the show. Some songs I had heard before, some I had not, but I felt that I rose with the crescendo of each line and felt the overwhelming emotional effect intended. The actors and actresses also did an amazing job with the vocal aspect of the performance. Each one portrayed their character extremely well. Casey Elliott, who played Rademes, radiated a sense of confidence and vigor while also showing extreme tenderness in bending to the wills of love. From “Fortune Favors the Brave” to “Elaborate Lives,” it is easy to see how love changed the heart of a man so proud. Leah Allers was also very entertaining with her performance as Amneris, and her contrasting tones “My Strongest Suit” and “I Know the Truth” really depicted the change her character had undergone. Amneris, played by Marja Harmon, simply left me awestruck. Her intelligence and wonderful heart radiated from her voice, and it seemed as if she truly meant every word she sang or said. In every heart-wrenching moment between Ameneris and Rademes her heart seemed to truly break, and in every attempt to uplift the people of Nubia her dedication to her people really shone through. This raw, honest rendering of emotion, above all else, amazed and inspired me.

There was much more choreography in the show than I had expected. After hearing that it was taken from an opera, I had anticipated much more singing than dancing. However, I am glad for the choreography included in the performance because it was easily one of my favorite aspects of the show. The dancers in the number “Another Pyramid” moved so perfectly with the music that they seemed to almost mirror the notes. Their slinky, cat-like graceful movements emphasized the stealthy, devious intentions of Zoser and the Ministers. Parading as the epitome of evil, the ill intentions shown in a human shape and form, these dancers became the highlight of the song. Another number, the “Dance of the Robe,” captured perhaps the most profound emotion I have ever seen revealed in a dance. The performers were bursting with power, and in every leap and turn their bodies told their painful stories. Miraculously, they illustrated the anguish of their captured bodies, the strength in their unbreakable souls, and their inerasable passion for life – all in one dance. At one point I even felt that they were not only no longer dancers on the stage, but not even captured Nubian slaves. Instead, to me they had become ideas and feelings – the jumping sting of a lash, the reaching longing for freedom, and the fierce pounding of determination. At times even more powerful than the notes it accompanied, the choreography was essential for the expressive impact of the show.

Aida truly touched me through the accurate portrayal of real human emotion. Not at all sappy, I was again reminded of what it truly means to be an artist. After listening to so many songs repetitively on the radio or imageless notes on a CD, part of the possible wholeness of feelings often times seem to be lost. I could see, after attending the show and meeting with them, why the actors/actresses were chosen for certain parts and why their love for the performing arts is so strong. Although these artists are all normal, fun-loving people, they have the remarkable talent of expressing true emotion through their acting with just one look, one tilt of the head. This I admire, and it is because of their work that I so appreciate theater.