Libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni Music by Giuseppe Verdi Conducted by Steven White Directed by Darren P. Lawson Scene design by Jeffrey Stegall and Jason Waggoner Costume design by Jeffrey Stegall Lighting design by Richard Streeter CAST OF CHARACTERS (in order of vocal appearance) Ethiopian Slaves .................... Patrick Beam, Jacob Bernhardt, Brian Biggs, Olivia Daniels, Anna Marie Dierking, Matt Estelle, Ramphis, high priest to Isis .......................................Kevin Thompson Jillian Foster, Caleb Greene, Joshua Hambrick, Radames, captain of the Egyptian guard. Clay Hilley Bradley Harper, Hope Lawson, Emilee Nelson, Stephen Rinard, Kristie Skaggs, Tara Solomon, Amneris, princess of Egypt. Mary Phillips Joshua Sparkman, Rachel Steffensmeier, Brad Wiggs, Lauren Wiggs, Sarah Wright Aida, enslaved Ethiopian princess .....................................Indra Thomas Leopard Soldiers ...................Joshua Austin, Clay Bryant, Kenneth Driscoll, King of Egypt ..................................................... Caleb French Kyle Gawne, Jordan Johnson, Uriel Rodriguez, Messenger .......................................................Nathan Dupont Isaac Tluchak, James Wade, Caleb Wright Amonasro, king of Ethiopia ......................................Grant Youngblood Spearmen ..........................Erik Hanson, Robert Hatchett, Caleb Moore, Ian Nething, Graham Parker, Nathaniel Polk, Priests ...............................Trent Ascher, Wes Ascher, Marc Blanchard, Joseph Posey, Nicholas Turner, Jeremiah White Jon Brokke, Timothy Buttram, Joseph Carter, Adam Distad, Joao Nascimento, Joel Dupont, Bowmen. .Thomas Balint, Daniel Burrell, Dillon Chafin, Judson Greene, Kristoff Hankerson, Kenneth Hankin, Erik Hansen, Stephen Jones, Daniel Seo, Daniel Simpson, Honqpil Hwang, Ben Jacquot, Jacob Little, Kyle Sizemore, Craig Vietti, Justin Walker, Micah Watson Stephen Lynn, Izaac Morales, Dan Nazaruk, Foot Infantry ....................... Jonathan Carmona, Jon Clute, Andy Haman, Nicholas Robertson, Joel Sampson, Benjamin Schaaf, Benjamin Hamann, Stephen Horner, David Johnson, Michael Seibert, Stephen Sivley, Andrew Uibel Zachary Kline, Caleb McQuaid, Joby Rote, John Simpson, Priestesses ........................Ashley Archibald, Tatiana Bento, Jessica Bowers, Luke Thompson, Noah White, Hany Wahba Casey Brighton, Bailey Dabbs, Courtney Gurganus, Trumpeters ...........................Nate Duff, Destry Edwards, Joshua Perkins, Angel Hughes, Amy Murray, Rebekah Nason, Arthur Thondhlana, Elijah Vazquez, Thomas Wetmore Hannah Rogers, Cari Skaggs, Brooke Waters Standard Bearers ......... Patrick Avery, Mark Doane, James Labadorf, Joe Matthew, Egyptian Nobles ................... Cheryl Barrett, Sam Brown, Zachary Calhoun, Neal Ring, Christian Rousseau, Matthew Quattlebaum Chris Chira, Chandler Doran, Andrew Felber, Christina Fisher, Kristin Frazier, Jonathan Fremont, Micah Hamilton, Fan Bearers ........... Abigail Edwards, David Fox, Shannon Nifenecker, Raul Yazdani Colleen James, Lois Jang, Tabitha Johnston, Tim Kamibayashiyama, Andrea Maxwell, Caleb Nason, Collin Pearson, Stephanie Perez, Tumblers .................... Joel Biester, Paul Cadavos, Stephen Cure, Tim David, Michelle Roskam, David Tabor, Sydney Victor Jamil Jaar, Ben Nicholas, Robert Reese, Mike Schell Egyptian Populace ............... Jesse Andersen, Markus Baggett, Amanda Bright, Mimes ........................................ Hannah Frazee, Ashley Gwillim, Hannah Carroll, Steve Chambers, DaRin Cho, Meredith Hamilton, Allison Jones Elisa Chodan, Catherine Collins, Sarah Enriquez, Ethiopian Slave Children ......... Stephen Bartholomew, Piper Eoute, Jenna Ericson Lauren Flynn, Jonathan Fraga, Joshua Hilliard, Sarah Horner, Caroline Hughes, Adam Hunt, Moorish Child Dancers .......... Leah Forrest, Aeryn McMullin, Macayle McMullin Lydia Jackson, Joshua Johnson, Justin Laufenberg, Egyptian Children ............ Jonathan Daulton, James McCarty, Charisse McGonigal, Carol Anne Matthews, Mollie Nelson, Katelyn Petticoffer, Erika McGonigal, Keira McGonigal Andrew Ream, Shawn Richardson, Bethany Searfoss, Andrew Smith, William Steeves, Esther Thomson, Ethiopian Attendants .......................... Cassie Bienaime, Elizabeth Folger, Kyle Tindol, Rebecca VanDeburgh, Sarah Weaver, Rachel Georges, Ciara Granberry, Andrea Higgins, Conner Welby, Alec Willard, Steven Woodard, Aileen Huizinga, Rachel Madeira, Chelsea Moss, Caroline Yunker, Nathan Zakariasen Katie Pletcher, Cherayah Valdez UNIVERSITY ORCHESTRA MUSicAL STAFF Violin I Double Bass Trumpet Assistant Conductor ...............................................Michael Moore Ardis Chetta, concertmaster Scott Graham* Ben Gingery* Chorusmasters .......................... Fred Coleman, Warren Cook, Beth Eubank Abigail Chetta Amber Eubanks Bruce Cox Sarah Ervin Off-stage Soloist ....................................................Tara Solomon Off-stage Trumpet Shannon Wood Flute Michael Lining Understudies ..................................Rachel Dahlhausen, Nathan Dupont, Rebekah Ervin Anna Hawkey* Brandon Weldon Deanna Rodman, Matt Wally, Andrew Woodard Joshua Muzzi Catherine Monczewski Kaylin Pagliarini Janeen Hatt, piccolo Rehearsal Accompanist . .Duane Ream Trombone David Eilert David Overly* Vocal Coaches .......................................Jean Greer, Christa Habegger Oboe Benjamin Cepeda Violin II Nicole Kandil* Off-stage Chorus Director. .Zachary Calhoun Wayne Fitzgerald Sara Beam* Ellen Clements Sarah Long Tuba Anthony Gillingham English Horn Wes Lowe PROducTION STAFF Florence Fong Rachel Elston Sara Pennington Percussion Producer ........................................................ Darren Lawson Sarah Heneveld Clarinet David Natte* Jackie Olinger* Assistant Director ...............................................Meagan Ingersoll Robert Ryggs Viola Jonathan Webber Naomi Baker Production Manager ................................................Rod McCarty Caleb Cox* Daniel Tan Bass Clarinet Production Assistant ............................................Sandy Jaworski Timpani Daniel Hoffman Robert Chest Rob Schoolfield Costume/Makeup/Wig Manager ........................................Dan Sandy Simeon Ho Bassoon Props ..............................................................Dave Vierow Harp Cello Alex Fields* Leah Reeder Set Construction ......................Dale Burden, Micha Moyer, Jeremy Woodruff Bethany Uhler* Jo Henning Mary Hannah Hale Costume Construction .........................Ruth Bartholomew, Crystal Boulton, Meredith Keen Barb Filipsic, Joyce Parsons, Jonathan Simmons Horn *denotes principal Kathryn Adams Jon McLean* Becky Sandy, Laurel Wolcott I-Faith Koh Deborah Nystrom Wig Master .......................................................... Alicia Carr Kyle James Assistant Wig Master .............................................Meagan Jones John Belanger Choreographer ....................................................Casey Brighton Audio ..............................................................Max Masters SynOPSIS intermission* Act I: The king’s palace at Memphis Act IV, Scene 1 – Hall of Judgment in the king’s palace Ramphis, the high priest, is on his way to inform the king which general the goddess Amneris, torn between love and hatred for Radames, urges him to defend himself and Isis has chosen to lead the Egyptians against the Ethiopians. Radames hopes to be offers to seek her father’s intercession. Radames rejects her advice, preferring death to life appointed and expresses his love for Aida. Amneris appears and questions him guardedly, without love and honor. The priests assemble in the subterranean hall to pass sentence hoping that she is the object of his love. Aida enters, and Amneris begins to suspect that on Radames. The voice of Ramphis pronounces sentence: Radames is to be buried alive they are in love. The king enters with his court, and a messenger arrives with a report beneath the Temple of Vulcan. that the Ethiopians are approaching the city. The king announces that Radames has been chosen leader of the army. Torn between loyalty to her father Amonasro (the king Act IV, Scene 2 – Tomb under the Temple of Vulcan of Ethiopia) and her love for Radames, Aida entreats the gods to let her die. In the sealed tomb Radames is joined by Aida, who had hidden there earlier. While the priests and priestesses chant their ritual, the lovers are united in death. Over their tomb Act II, Scene 1: A hall in the apartments of Amneris Amneris, repentant and disconsolate, weeps and prays to Isis. Amneris, still tormented by doubt and suspicion, sends for Aida. She leads Aida to believe that Radames has been killed in battle. Aida gives a cry of anguish, at which Amneris exclaims that Radames lives and that she herself, “the daughter of the king,” is Aida’s rival. Aida begs for mercy and pity, but Amneris can speak only hate and vengeance. ABOUT THE ARTISTS Amneris leaves, instructing her slave to attend her at the triumphal ceremonies. Clay Hilley (Radames) Act II, Scene 2: An avenue in the city of Thebes Georgia native Clay Hilley possesses a voice of clarity, power and Preceded by the triumphal entry of the Egyptian armies, Radames appears before the great technical facility. His reputation as a meticulous musician king and the jubilant crowd. The Ethiopian captives are brought in with Amonasro, and amiable colleague has secured him re-engagements with disguised as an officer, among them. Aida rushes to her father, who urges her not to opera companies nationwide. betray his identity.