Alysha Watson believes she was born to play Aida. The beautiful singer and actress will get her chance as Robert Morris University begins a four-night run of “AIDA” tonight.

“I just heard the music from the show six months ago,” said Watson, 20. “I fell in love with the music and the ending of the musical is what got me. Even though it’s a sad ending where both characters die, the Egyptians believed in an afterlife so the ending is still happy.”

LEADING LADIES—Alysha Walton, standing, and Maria Mauti in rehearsal for this weekend’s RMU presentation of the musical “AIDA.”

“AIDA” is a two-act play that chronicles the lives of star-crossed lovers from different backgrounds: Nubian Princess Aida and Prince Radames of Egypt.

The musical is based on Giuseppe Verdi’s Italian-language opera of the same name. It was adapted and produced by Disney’s Hyperion Theatricals division and ran on Broadway from 2000 to 2004. Music was written by Elton John and Tim Rice, and featured Heather Headley in the title role with Adam Pascal as Radames.

A professional six-piece band backs the production, and RMU’s partner, Pittsburgh’s Musical Theater, provides production support.

“We have a strong African-American commitment to theater at Robert Morris,” said director Ken Gargaro. “This is an interracial love affair and it has a great rock and roll score and I like the timelessness of the story and how love transcends. Alysha is an up-and-coming star and I wanted to feature her in something.”

Theater department head, Rex Crawley agreed with Gargaro. “Each year we put together a theater season and we were excited to produce a play with an African-American lead,” said Crawley, who is also an associate professor of communications. “To find a person like Alysha who is interested and available is phenomenal.”

“She’s dynamic and clearly developed into a wonderful talent here in Pittsburgh,” said Crawley. “This is a career-maker for her. There will come the time when people will wonder where she came from.”

Watson, a Steubenville, Ohio, native, is a junior at the university majoring in theater with a concentration in communications.

To prepare for the role, Watson studied Headley, and other R&B Broadway crossovers like Tony Braxton and former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams.

“Heather Headley has an amazing voice; and I hope audiences get the emotional aspects of the musical because it’s happy, sad and funny. You get every type of emotion in it,” said Watson. “I’d like audiences to be proud that a small school can put together such a great production.”

In addition to Watson, “AIDA” stars sophomore Channing Frampton as Prince Radames.

Following “AIDA,” Robert Morris’ other productions include “Awesome 80’s Prom,” an interactive theater play in November, “Godspell” in February and “The Miracle Worker: The Helen Keller Story” in March.

(“AIDA” will run at 8 p.m. Oct. 8-11 and 2 p.m. Oct. 12 at RMU’s Colonial Theater. Tickets are $10. For more information, call 412-397-5454 or visit www.rmu.edu/theatre.)