Maurer Productions presents the timeless love story, “Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida,” at Kelsey Theater from Friday, November 18, to Sunday, November 27. The pop rock epic features music by John, and lyrics by Rice, in Disney’s first Broadway musical for adults. Winner of four Tony Awards on Broadway, the musical is set in ancient Egypt and tells the story of an enslaved Nubian princess, her conflicted Egyptian captor, and a forbidden love that rocks the ancient world to its core. A reception with the cast and crew follows the opening night performance on Friday, November 18. Tickets are $20.
The show’s director, former West Windsor resident Dan Maurer, explains the creative team’s approach to this production: “Go big or go home, that’s our motto,” Maurer said. “‘Aida’ is a show not often done in central New Jersey, so we plan to make it a really special event. We’re pulling out all the stops.”
Many of the costumes for the cast of 24 actors will be handmade for the show. The production team will create a few technical surprises as well. “The goals are to both honor and yet refresh the ‘Aida’ that theater-goers know and love,” says Maurer. “We plan for the show to be a bit of Broadway, a splash of Maurer magic, and bit of Kelsey Theater fun — all carried by the singing voices of an amazing cast.”
The show features Plainsboro actors Meera Mohan in the title role and Scott Karlin as the Pharaoh. Ensemble members include Mollie Rubenstein of West Windsor and Ben Menahem of Plainsboro. Costume designers include former West Windsor residents John Maurer, Dan’s brother, and Diana Gilman Maurer.
Mohan, born and raised in Cedar Knolls, is a life-long lover of performing arts. She played the role of Maria in “The Sound of Music” at Whippany Park High School and saw “Aida” on Broadway on a school trip that took place on her 18th birthday. Although in the back of her mind she wanted to perform in it, she knew that it would not be in a community theater or school production in the near future. “My plans were to go to college and get a job,” she said. “That brought my parents peace of mind.”
Her parents, who emigrated from India, are Vidya, a manager at Prudential; and Kalpathi, an accountant in New York City. Her brother, Sanjay, is in medical school at Ohio State. Also a musical theater lover, he has performed the role of Mereb in a production of “Aida.” The show coincides with his Thanksgiving break and he will be attending a performance to see his sister.
Mohan graduated from Wellesley College in 2005 with a degree in psychology and managed inventory control for a supply company for six years. “My degree helped me with many things and helped me understand people,” she says. Mohan is also planning her June wedding to Eliot Graham, a PhD student at Rutgers.
Mohan realized that she missed performing and was not even sure if she could still sing. “I lost a lot of voice in college due to lack of vocal training,” she says. “Singing is my way of expressing myself.”
After doing research on voice teachers in the area, she chose Steven Schnurman in Cranbury. “I walked into his studio and asked if there was hope for me,” she says. “He still laughs at me doing that.” She is also grateful that when the musical director, Tony DiDia, gives her guidance it does not conflict with Schnurman’s suggestions.
Mohan has had no formal training in acting outside of high school and college. She reads many books to study technique and watched YouTube performances. “It’s a way to learn from the best and learn about the little things they do and what can I take from them,” she says. Mohan has never seen the opera “Aida” and has avoided seeing other productions of the musical both in person and video. “I don’t want to slip into copying other people,” she says. “It’s an amazing story with a tale to tell, and people can really enjoy it.”
It is a technically heavy show but the actors still are trying to visualize everything. They do not see the set until the Sunday before opening. Meanwhile rehearsals have chairs and props to take the place of what the audience will see at opening.
Mohan has performed in four shows at Kelsey Theater since 2007, including the role of Andrea in “Once on This Island,” the Narrator in “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Lucy Harris in “Jekyll and Hyde,” and Aldonza in “Man of La Mancha.” She took a hiatus from theater when her day job became increasingly time-consuming. Mohan has since left her job and “Aida” is her first production in two years. “I’m going to pursue a career in music and theater,” she says. “It is terrifying and I sit at home and panic.”
— Lynn Miller
Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, Kelsey Theater, Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor. $20. On stage weekends Friday, November 18, through Sunday, November 27. 609-570-3333. www.kelseytheatre.net.
