Aida Musical

R&B star Toni Braxton is set to return to Broadway in the title role of Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida" starting June 30, Billboard reported. Contrary to reports that Destiny's Child's Michelle Williams would be taking the role, Braxton has signed on for a four-month stint at New York's Palace Theater. In 1998, the artist made her Broadway debut in the role of Belle in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," also at the Palace.

R&B star Toni Braxton is set to return to Broadway in the title role of Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida" starting June 30, Billboard reported. Contrary to reports that Destiny's Child's Michelle Williams would be taking the role, Braxton has signed on for a four-month stint at New York's Palace Theater. In 1998, the artist made her Broadway debut in the role of Belle in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," also at the Palace.

One glance at Patrick Cassidy's famous family tree and anyone would assume the dashing baritone was born to sing. But anyone would be wrong. Compared with Cassidy, born performers are actually latecomers to the limelight; he made his debut in utero. Along for the ride was his mother, Shirley Jones, who was filming "The Music Man" while six months pregnant. Her blossoming middle was hidden under multiplying bustles so the press wouldn't discover what the star had waiting in the wings.

One glance at Patrick Cassidy's famous family tree and anyone would assume the dashing baritone was born to sing. But anyone would be wrong. Compared with Cassidy, born performers are actually latecomers to the limelight; he made his debut in utero. Along for the ride was his mother, Shirley Jones, who was filming "The Music Man" while six months pregnant. Her blossoming middle was hidden under multiplying bustles so the press wouldn't discover what the star had waiting in the wings.

Accepting an Oscar last month for his score to "The Red Violin," John Corigliano described the difference between his day job as a classical composer and his occasional foray into film work. It's a lonely life for a serious artist sitting by himself in a studio writing a symphony or concerto, he lamented. And movie-making can be a welcome communal respite.

Midway through the first act of "Aida," Disney's new Broadway-bound musical trying out at Chicago's Palace Theatre, the Egyptian princess Amneris hijacks the show and takes it on a flight of fancy. After a rather intense introduction to Radames and his Nubian captive Aida--whom the Egyptian captain is bringing to Amneris, his betrothed, as a gift--the audience is whisked off to a palace spa where the pharaoh's daughter bemoans her fate as a shallow clotheshorse in the song "My Strongest Suit."

The following is a complete list of the 54th annual Tony Award winners, presented Sunday evening in New York: * Play: "Copenhagen" by Michael Frayn * Musical: "Contact" * Revival/Play: "The Real Thing" * Revival/Musical: "Kiss Me, Kate" * Book of a Musical: Richard Nelson, "James Joyce's The Dead" * Original Score: Elton John and Tim Rice, "Aida" * Director/Musical: Michael Blakemore, "Kiss Me, Kate" * Director/Play: Michael Blakemore, "Copenhagen" * Leading Actor/Play: Stephen Dillane, "The

Accepting an Oscar last month for his score to "The Red Violin," John Corigliano described the difference between his day job as a classical composer and his occasional foray into film work. It's a lonely life for a serious artist sitting by himself in a studio writing a symphony or concerto, he lamented. And movie-making can be a welcome communal respite.

Midway through the first act of "Aida," Disney's new Broadway-bound musical trying out at Chicago's Palace Theatre, the Egyptian princess Amneris hijacks the show and takes it on a flight of fancy. After a rather intense introduction to Radames and his Nubian captive Aida--whom the Egyptian captain is bringing to Amneris, his betrothed, as a gift--the audience is whisked off to a palace spa where the pharaoh's daughter bemoans her fate as a shallow clotheshorse in the song "My Strongest Suit."