The action of the musical Aida begins and ends in the Egyptian wing of a major museum. Costuming for these scenes is contemporary. The remainder of the musical occurs in ancient Egypt. Some costumes will have a mid-20th century flair similar to the original Broadway production.
ACT I Prologue: THE MUSEUM.
CROWD: Contemporary attire in neutral hues of white, beige, and tan.
MEN: Complete ensemble consisting of some but not all of the following:
Hat; blouse; skirt; dress; jacket; trousers
WOMEN: Complete ensemble consisting of some but not all of the following:
Hat; blouse; skirt; dress; jacket; trousers
AMNERIS: In a glass case attire in muted red: Egyptian helmet crown; sleeveless and strapless; fitted dress or bodice and skirt; half circle cape; gold necklace or collar.
ACT I Scene 1: A SLAVE BARGE.
EGYPTIAN SOLDIERS: Attired entirely in red: headband; waist girdle, trousers.
Optional extras: matching red, high collared Eaton-cut jacket that closes up the front with ties.
RADAMES (EGYPTIAN ARMY CAPTAIN): Attired entirely in red to match EGYPTIAN SOLDIERS: Head band; high collared Eaton-cut jacket with gold trim that closes up the front with ties; waist girdle; trousers.
AIDA & NUBIAN WOMEN (CAPTURED SLAVES): Complete muted colored ensemble consisting of some of but not all of the following: Head scarf; simple long sleeved dress or tunic; top; skirt; shawl; hip shawl; girdle; sash.
ACT I Scene 2: RADAMES’ QUARTERS.
AIDA & RADAMES: Repeat I-1
ACT I Scene 3: THE DOCKS.
SOLDIERS & NUBIAN WOMEN: Repeat I-1
EGYPTIAN MAN (OF QUESTIONABLE REPUTATION): Dark, long sleeved, knee-length coat; shirt; waist sash or girdle; trousers.
MEREB (RADEMES’ HOUSEHOLD’S SERVANT): Attired in muted reds and orange: Cloth pill box-style cap; short sleeved shirt; long sleeved knit undershirt; trousers or pants; waist sash or girdle
ZOSER (CHIEF MINISTER; RADAMES’ FATHER): Black ankle-length coat/robe with high red collar & red trip closure down the right front; black trousers.
GUARDS: Black headband black sleeveless shirt; black leather harness (may be worn over shirt or without shirt); black pants; black belt or girdle;
OTHER MINISTERS: Black, waisted about-knee-length coat with high red collar and red trimmed closure down the front; black trousers
ACT I Scene 4: A HALLWAY IN THE PHAROAH”S PALACE.
AIDA: Now dressed in a palace slave woman’s uniform: Magenta, calf-length, long-sleeved dress; waist sash or girdle
ACT I Scene 5: THE BATHS:
AMNERIS:
- White sheet with blue trim wrapped sarong style over (2.)
- Blue, fitted, strapless, sleeveless bodice. Straight skirt; matching blue scarf.
WOMEN OF THE PALACE:
- White turban style head wrap with blue trim; white sheet with blue trim wrapped sarong style over (2.).
- Sleeveless, strapless thy length dress (each a different solid color); matching scarf and dance trunks.
SLAVE WOMEN: identical to AIDA; magenta calf-length long sleeve dress; waist sash or girdle.
FASSION SHOW: Each ensemble in a single bright color; head piece or wig; gown or ensemble; accessories as needed.
ACT I Scene 6: PHAROAH’S PRIVATE BANQUET ROOM.
3 EXOTIC DANCERS: Harem-style attire: Headband or small headpiece; bra-style, trimmed top; matching waist girdle; full, color coordinated chiffon skirt, dance trunks.
MEREB: Repeat I-3
RADAMES: Red, Knee-length coat with gold trim. Repeat girdle and trousers from I-1.
PHAROAH: Gold helmet; crown; gold, skirted, floor-length, long sleeved coat or robe; waist sash or girdle; gold sleeveless caftan.
PALACE SERVANT MEN: Dark or print, ethnic pants; matching drape worn off one shoulder. Optional extra: Coordinated shirt or tunic.
AIDA & NUBIAN PALACE SERVENT WOMEN (SERVING AT BANQUET): Small, dark purple cap or coif; matching, calf-length, long sleeved dress; waist sash or girdle.
AIDA: Later add coordinated shawl or mantle.
AMNERIS: Fitted beige satin bodice with gold trim; matching floor-length skirt and caftan.
COURTIERS: MEN: Red, soft, pill box styled cap; matching, long sleeved, floor-length coat; waist girdle or sash.
WOMEN: Solid colored, long veil worn on headband; coordinated, short sleeve blouse; matching tapered skirt.
ZOSER: Repeat I-3.
GUARDS: Black headband; black sleeveless shirt; black leather harness 9may be worn over shirt or without shirt); black pants; black belt or girdle; black gauntlet gloves.
ACT I Scene 7: AMNERIS’ DRESSING ROOM / BED CHAMBER.
AMNERIS, AIDA, & RADAMES: Repeat I-6.
ACT I Scene 8: THE NUBIAN SLAVE CAMP.
MEREB: Repeat I-6. Strike top shirt.
AIDA: Repeat I-6. Later add regal, sleeveless, very full surcoat made from man rags and fabrics pieces in brown, tan, beige, and other earth tones.
NUBIAN SLAVES & NEHEBKA (WOMAN SLAVE): Complete mens and womens, rages and patched ensembles in browns, beiges, tans and other earth toned colors consisting of some but not all of the following: Blouse; shirt; tunic; vest; trousers; skirt; wrap skirt; dress; breeches.
ACT I Scene 9: THE NILE’S EDGE. WASHING DAY.
WOMEN DOING LAUNDRY: Matching pink ensembles: Head scarf; bare midriff; sleeveless. Cropped top with elastic at neck and under breast; sarong-style wrap skirt; dance trunks.
RADAMES: Repeat I-7
AIDA & MEREB: Repeat I-8.
ACT I Scene 10: THE MARKET PLACE.
RADAMES, MEREB & AIDA: Repeat I-9.
AMNERIS: Bright orange, fitted dress with gold straps; bright orange shawl or mantle.
NEHEBKA: As WOMEN DOING LAUNDRY in I-9 in pink attire: Head scarf; bare midriff, sleeveless, cropped top with elastic at neck and under breast; sarong-style wrap skirt; dance trunks.
MEN & WOMEN MERCHANTS (HAWKING THEIR WARES): Complete pink, red and orange ensembles consisting of some but not all of the following: head rag; turban; dress; top; skirt; shirt; pants; shawl; drape; caftan.
ACT I Scene 11: RADAMES’ TENT
NUBIANS: Repeat I-8
OTHER EGYPTIAN SLAVES: Repeat PALACE SERVENT MEN AND WOMEN from I-6.
RADAMES & MEREB: Repeat I-10.
A SOLDIER: Repeat I-10.
ACT I Scene 12: THE NUBIAN SLAVE CAMP.
CROWD OF NUBIANS: Repeat I-8
AIDA: Repeat I-8
NEHEBKA: Repeat I-8 or I-10
ACT II Scene 1: STARSCAPE:
AIDA: Simple, black, long sleeved, ankle-length dress; waist girdle or sash.
RADAMES: Black, high-collared, long sleeved, knee length coat closing up the front; matching trousers girdle or sash.
AMNERIS: Black, fitted bodice with silver or gold straps; matching skirt; caftan or over-piece.
ACT II Scene 2: THE PRISON.
AIDA: Repeat II-1. Add black shawl or mantle.
MEREB: Repeat I-3 (with top shirt).
PRISON GUARD: Black headband; black sleeveless shirt; black leather harness (may be worn over shirt or without shirt); black pants; black belt or girdle; black gauntlet gloves.
AMONASRO (AIDA’S FATHER THE NUBIAN KING): In slave rag attire: Tunic or shirt; pants or breeches.
ACT II Scene 3: THE WAR ROOM OF THE PALACE:
ZOSER: Black, thigh length, long sleeved coat work open to expose chest; matching trousers or ethnic pants; girdle or belt.
AMNERIS: Green dress with gold straps; chiffon over-wrap or mantle.
RADAMES: Gray or neutral colored tunic or shirt; coordinated ethnic trousers or pants; belt or girdle.
THE MINISTERS: Black, short sleeved t-shirt with red band on left sleeve; black pants with red side stripe.
ACT II Scene 4: THE NUBIAN SLAVE CAMP:
AIDA: Repeat II-2
RADAMES: Repeat II-3
A SLAVE WOMAN, CROWD OF NUBIANS & NEHEBKA: Repeat I-12.
GUARDS: Black headband; black sleeveless shirt; black leather harness (may be worn over shirt or without shirt); black pants; black girdle or belt; black gauntlet gloves.
ACT II Scene 5: RADAMES’ GARDEN NIGHT.
RADAMES: Repeat I-6 with open coat.
AIDA: Repeat I-4.
AMNERIS: Blue dress similar to previous, matching belt; dark blue, purple and/or black floor length caftan. Underdress white chemise or full slip.
ACT II Scene 6: AMNERIS’ DRESSING ROOM.
AMNERIS: Being dressed into a wedding ensemble: White brocade or textured bridal fabric, high collared, long, sleeved, fitted gown; white satin helmet crown; full veil to encase the body from the top of the crown to dress hem or floor.
4 HAND MAIDENS: Small, dark purple cap or coif; matching, calf-length, long sleeved dress, waist sash or girdle.
ACT II Scene 7: THE ROYAL WEDDING.
ZOSER & 2 MINISTERS: Repeat I-3.
4 LADIES OF THE PALACE: White blouse, straight white skirt; white chiffon sari wrap.
RADAMES: White or cream colored, long sleeved, ankle length robe or coat with full skirt; waist girdle, sash, or belt.
AIDA: Repeat I-6
PHAROAH: White helmet crown; white, long sleeved, full skirted robe or coat; belt, girdle, or sash; white, silver or gold drape or over-piece.
PRISON GUARD: Repeat II-2.
ACT II Scene 8: THE DOCKS
AIDA: Repeat II-7
MEREB & AMONASRO: Repeat II-2
ZOSER: Repeat II-7
GUARDS: Repeat II-3
RADAMES: Simple, linen, knee length coat; shirt; ethnic pants or trousers.
ACT II Scene 9: THE JUDGEMENT HALL
AMNERIS: Repeat I-Prologue. Strike headdress
PHAROAH: Repeat II-7. Strike headdress.
RADAMES: Repeat II-8. Strike coat.
AIDA & GUARDS: Repeat II-8
MINISTERS: Repeat I-3
ACT II Scene 10: THE INTERIOR OF THE TOMB.
GUARDS, AIDA, & RADAMES: Repeat II-9.
EPILOGUE: THE MUSEUM.
AMNERIS & CROWD: Repeat I-Prologue.