Aida, the first of the summers youth productions, opens Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Tryon Fine Arts Center.

With music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, this show won a Tony Award for Best Original Musical Score; a Grammy award for Best Musical Show Album; a John Kraaijkamp Musical Award (Netherlands equivalent of the Tony) for Best Musical; and National Broadway Theater Awards for Best Musical and Best Actress in a Musical (Simone as Aida)just to name a few.

Tim Rice is best known for his collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Evita, and of course for his work with Elton John on The Lion King.

In this production, directed by Chris Tinkler with musical direction by Lena Duncan, the cast of talented teenagers brings ancient Egypt to life with a tragic tale of the love between a Nubian princess and a captain of the Egyptian army. Their story of intrigue, love, hope and despair begins in the wing of a modern-day art museum, coming full circle to a new beginning.

Aida opens at TFAC on Wednesday night with a gala party at 6 p.m. Hors doeuvres, wine and dessert will be served. Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening, the performance starts at 8 p.m., and on Sunday, 3 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at TLTs Workshop box office at 516 Trade St. Tryon. The box office is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday to Saturday, or you can call 828-859-2466.

Tickets for the regular shows are also sold at Tryon Fine Arts Center, if there are seats available, one hour before each performance.

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