Aida Presented by Garage Youth Conservatory and Teaneck Schools

Neither the forces of tyranny nor budgetary cutbacks can stop Aida! from appearing this fall.  A unique partnership between the Teaneck Public Schools and the Garage Theatre Group’s Youth Conservatory has culminated in a production of Aida: School Edition, an adaptation of the Tony-winning show by Elton John and Tim Rice.  The show, featuring talented teens from Teaneck and throughout the Tri-State area, runs from December 2 - 11 at the Becton Theatre on the Fairleigh Dickinson University campus, 960 River Road in Teaneck.

     Aida is a vibrant, exciting story of love and betrayal. The musical follows the story of Aida, a Nubian princess slave captured by the Egyptian army.  Captain Radames falls in love with Aida, even though he’s engaged to another.  Buoyed by the John and Rice score—including songs “Every Story is a Love Story” and “Written in the Stars”—the story progresses to its inevitable conclusion, as the lovers face a final, fatal, choice.  With great music and a classic story, the musical will be a hit with audiences of all ages.

     Aida is a well known story, and has been told many times.  But this year, it almost didn’t get told at all.

      “Earlier this year, I heard that, due to budgetary constraints, Teaneck High School would not be presenting a musical this year,” says Michael Bias, artistic director of Garage Theatre Group, who is also directing Aida.  “Since Garage is part of the Teaneck cultural landscape, I thought there must be something we could do.”  Bias had always been interested in John and Rice’s show, and thought it might be a good fit for Garage and the Teaneck public schools to work together.  “I pitched the idea to Barbara Pinsak (Superintendent of Schools) and Vincent McHale (Assistant Superintendent) and they both loved it.  Now here we are, a few months later, with our production of Aida: School Edition.”

     Aida: The School Edition is a PG-13 edition of the more adult Broadway show.  “I’m used to doing youth theater and not watering it down,” says Bias.  But there are a few scenes in the original “that would have been pushing the limits, even for me.”  The school edition may have a few kisses or two, but much of the steamy dialogue has been toned down.

      For this production of Aida, not only will there be kids on stage, but behind stage, too. “We’ve paired students with adults on the technical side---lighting, set design and so on,” says Bias.  “By the time we open, students will be doing pretty much the whole show, on stage and off.  It’s a true conservatory experience.”

      With award-winning book and music , this production of Aida is not to be missed—speaking to all ages as the story has for decades.  Aida will run December 2, 3, 4, 9. 10 and 11 at the Becton Theatre, 960 River Road, on the Fairleigh Dickinson University Campus in Teaneck. Shows are Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 8 pm, and Sunday at 4 pm.  Admission is $18, $16 for children under 12 and seniors. Tickets are available by calling (201) 569-7710 or online at www.garagetheatre.org.