The Broadway company of Aida and WBLS Radio will present "Nubian Princess Nights" on June 20, 26 and 27.

Combining theatre, music and culture, the three evenings will celebrate women of African descent and will include discounted Aida tickets as well as a post-show discussion with title player Simone, WBLS radio personality Egypt, best-selling author Stephanie Stokes Oliver and other Aida company members. The discussion will compare and contrast the themes of the Elton John-Tim Rice musical to the modern day lives of women of color.

Each of the post-show speakers will relate her personal journey to the text of Aida, and audience members will also get the chance to share their thoughts and experiences. Simone will discuss the influence of her mother, the acclaimed jazz vocalist Nina Simone. In a statement, Simone explained, "[Nina Simone] was not afraid to use the stage as a platform from which to speak about or sing against oppression. She is my hero. This my legacy. I embrace it and I am carrying on."

Tickets for these special performances can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (212) 307-4747, visiting the Palace Theatre's box office, or going on-line to www.ticketmaster.com. Mention code JWBLS for the specially priced $65 and $45 tickets.

Aida features a score by Elton John and Tim Rice, a book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls and David Henry Hwang, sets and costumes by Bob Crowley, lighting by Natasha Katz, choreography by Wayne Cilento and direction by Robert Falls. The Palace Theatre is located at Broadway and 47th Street, and tickets are available by calling the Disney hotline, (212) 307-4747. A Dutch language production of Aida opened in Amsterdam in the fall of 2001, and a touring company is currently making its way across the country.