Heather Headley, who plays Simba's love interest, Nala, in Broadway's The Lion King, will be Aida is Disney's production of Elaborate Lives: The Legend of Aida. The new Elton John-Tim Rice musical is set to open Oct. 7 at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.
Sherie Rene Scott has been cast as Amneris, the Egyptian princess, and second member of the classic story's love triangle. The tale of Aida, made famous by Verdi's 1871 opera, concerns an enslaved African princess, Aida, and her doomed love for the captain of the Egyptian guard, Radames, who is in turn desired by Aida's royal mistress, Amneris. The role of Radames is yet to be cast.
Headley draws applause every night at the New Amsterdam Theatre with her impassioned delivery of the ballad "Shadowland." Prior to making her Broadway debut as The Lion King's main lioness, she understudied and performed the role of Sarah in Ragtime. Other credits include leading roles in Pippin, Dreamgirls, and And The World Goes 'Round.
Scott appeared in the recent Broadway revival of Grease! as Marty. Her other roles include Martha in the La Jolla Playhouse production of Randy Newman's musical Faust in 1995, and, most recently, a turn as Maureen in the Broadway production of Rent.
Elaborate Lives has been described as a more intimate show than Disney's previous efforts, Lion King and Beauty and the Beast. Alliance spokesperson Stephanie Lee said there was no further information as to the nature of the plot or what approach to the classic tale librettist Linda Woolverton and composers John and Rice would take. She said the script was not finalized and some tweaking was expected when rehearsals begin in July. Beast director Robert Jess Roth will pilot the production. Though a comparatively intimate telling, Elaborate Lives will nonetheless boast a cast of 20-25.
The musical's design team reads like Beauty and the Beast II. Scenic designer Stanley A. Meyer, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward, lighting designer Natasha Katz, and hair designer David Lawrence are all veterans or the original Broadway production. They are joined by sound designer Steve C. Kennedy and musical and vocal director Paul Bogaev.
The Beauty and the Beast connection flows through the entire creative team. Woolverton did the screen and stage adaptations of Beast, and Matt West, also from Beast, is the choreographer.
The Atlanta production is scheduled to run Sept. 11-Nov. 8, with an official opening tentatively slated for Oct. 7.
Tickets go on sale Aug. 8. For information, call (404) 733-4622.
