International intrigue, family loyalty, love and war are just a few of the messy emotional ingredients in Elton John and Tim Rice’s hit musical, “Aida,” presented by the Rose Drama Club May 2-5 in Hatfield Hall.

Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. on the first three nights, with a 1:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday.

“Aida” tells the story of star-crossed lovers from the rival civilizations of ancient Egypt and neighboring Nubia. Aida is a Nubian princess captured by Egyptian forces led by Radames, an up-and-coming captain in the military who is engaged to marry the pharaoh’s daughter, Amneris.

As luck would have it, Aida and Radames fall in love with each other, blurring the lines between national loyalty and personal affection. Meanwhile, Radames’ father is scheming to accelerate his son’s assent to the Egyptian throne by poisoning the pharaoh, and Amneris starts to suspect that her upcoming marriage is a sham. Things get even stickier for Aida when her father falls into Egyptian hands.

“The love story is intensified in the context of an enslaved people seeking freedom where, at points, gospel music suggests evocative connections to the civil rights movement,” says director Terrence Hartnett.

The musical won four Tony awards, including Best Score, in 2000. John and Rice also collaborated on the music for Disney’s “The Lion King.”

Rose Drama Club cast members include junior Victoria Johns as Aida, first-year student Mackenzie Beasley as Amneris, senior Graham Cassel as Radames, junior Ryan Roetker as Zoser, senior Tucker Osman as Mereb and junior Jess Corso as Nehebka.

General admission tickets are $20 for adults and $15 students and those under 18. They can be purchased at , by calling 812-877-8544 or visiting the Hatfield Hall ticket desk Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets also may be available one hour before each show.