Young Artists of America, the region’s premier training ground for musical theater, is pulling out the stops for their 10-year anniversary performance and celebration and return to their home stage of The Music Center at Strathmore since the onset of the pandemic. On Sunday, April 3, over 140 young artists (middle and high school) from YAAOrchestra, YAACompany, and YAAjunior plus a guest chorus from Westlake High School in Waldorf, MD, and guest dancers from Explicit Dance Works in Hyattsville, MD, will take the stage to perform a fully symphonic presentation of Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida.
Directed by Broadway’s Kevin S. McAllister (Caroline, or Change, Come From Away), the production will feature the original symphonic orchestrations by Steve Margoshes, Guy Babylon, and Paul Bogaev, and new expanded orchestrations by Oran Eldor.
Said McAllister about the show: “Honestly, I’m a huge fan of the three humongously flawed characters that make up this narrative: Aida, Radames, and Amneris. They all want to be loved by the others in an extreme way. Each of them controls a nation and yet still battles with self and moral duty over commitment to their people. It’s an almost impossible decision for anyone to make and yet each of them owns their choices. They each love and lose with the whole heart. It’s epic. So, I come back to direct it time after time because there’s always something new to learn. There’s always a new layer to the piece that I, the director, can discover as well. It’s just really touching and I never grow tired of it.”
Before the production, there will be a special presentation of a Mentorship Award to Carol Trawick of The Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation for her support, dedication, and mentorship to YAA over the last decade.
A post-performance, complimentary reception hosted by Ed Grossman & Rochelle Stanfield and Ollen & Julia Douglass will take place in the Lockheed Martin Lobby and will feature entertainment and a silent auction.
“What’s not to love about Young Artists of America?” continued McAllister. “There’s years of commitment to the advancement of young artistry, true artists of all ages with a real commitment to learning and teaching the foundations of great artistry… It doesn’t get any better. If you’ve never seen a YAA production, you won’t believe these are students!”
Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida will be performed by Young Artists of America once only on Sunday, April 3, 2022, at 4:00 pm at The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD. Tickets ($18–$75) and more information can be found at yaa.org/spring-production
COVID Safety: Masks are required at all times for all patrons and visitors regardless of vaccination status in all indoor spaces at Strathmore. All audience members age 5 and over will have to present one of the following at the door with their ticket to gain admittance: proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative PCR test (taken between March 31 – April 2, 2022). Strathmore’s Vax FAQs are here. YAA’s Health and Safety Protocols are here.
Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida
Music by Elton John | Lyrics by Tim Rice
Book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang
Original Orchestrations by Steve Margoshes, Guy Babylon, and Paul Bogaev
New Expanded Orchestrations by Oran Eldor
Clips of previous YAA productions are available on YouTube.
About Young Artists of America
For over a decade, Young Artists of America has reimagined the landscape of performing arts training by nurturing an inclusive community of storytellers that challenges dominant norms and fosters creative adaptability in an ever-changing world. Serving students at all skill levels from grade school through post-collegiate years, YAA provides the brave space for young artists to experiment, take risks, and imagine the world through their artistry. With an emphasis on individualized relationships between students, top-level teaching artists, and professional mentors, we propel our young artists in their artistic and personal journey, while bringing exceptional performances to the community. Our dynamic approach prepares students for their future by fostering their capacity to create opportunities on stage and in life as the best versions of themselves. yaa.org
