A scene from the Disney musical "Aida", being staged at the Beijing Exhibition Theater November 19-23, 2008. [Photo: cnsphoto]

The Tony award-winning Disney musical "Aida" kicked off its five-day run in Beijing on Wednesday, and inaugurated a project that aims to create China's Broadway.

"Aida", which was brought to China by the Sino-U.S. joint venture, Beijing Oriental Broadway, arrived in the capital after touring seven other Chinese cities since September.

The ancient love-triangle musical is a collaboration between "The Lion King" composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice. It won the gong for Best Original Score at the 2000 Tony Awards.

Just one day before the musical's Beijing premiere, leading cast members attended a press conference where Oriental Broadway's American investor, the Nederlander family, signed a strategic contract with real-estate developer Shibo Investment Holding to build the "Creative Beijing" park in western Beijing.

The area, when it is finished in 2012, will become a complex including 32 musical theaters, and training facilities for composers, writers and actors. The flagship theater will be able to seat 2,000, and "Aida" will be staged there on a regular basis.