Well, they both star in the national tour of Disney's "Aida," which stops at the Orange County Performing Arts Center Wednesday through July 13.

With music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, "Aida" is the story of star-crossed lovers in ancient Egypt. It is the pop version of the classic Verdi opera by the same name, and this version circles around a Nubian princess who is enslaved by the Egyptians. During her ordeal, Aida falls in love with the captain of the Egyptian army, Radames, and he with her, but their romance is too politically fraught to end happily.

In the touring cast, Aida is played by British actress Paulette Ivory. Ivory has a long list of West End theater credits (she played Nala in the London premiere of "The Lion King") and was on the working-class Brit soap "East Enders."

But international audiences may be most familiar with her (without even knowing it) from the hit movie "Four Weddings and a Funeral."

"I was the second wedding singer," said Ivory of her part in the early '90s comedy that helped launch Hugh Grant's career.

The small part was also her first link to "Aida" composer Elton John.

"My credit (in the film) was right after Elton John' s," said Ivory. "That was my claim to fame."

With "Aida," Ivory's name is just as close to John's, but one gets the feeling the famed sunglasses-sporting musician may be paying more attention to it now.

For Ivory, it is a chance to play a character she really enjoys.

"She's a very strong, very passionate woman, Ivory said. "I identify with her very much. I" ve been in that situation, where I've fallen for someone I shouldn't have." Landing the part was a direct result of Ivory's previous work on a Disney musical. Insiders who had seen her work as Nala encouraged her to go see "Aida".

Ivory said she was "blown away" by the production, and decided to try her luck at the lead role in the national tour. Her final audition was scheduled for Sept. 11.

"That was canceled," Ivory said. "I had another audition a few days later."

She got the part, "but obviously, I couldn" t celebrate."

Playing the part since is celebration enough.

"People have come up to me and said, I'm so moved, Ivory said. "It's the best reward I could get."

But Ivory isn't the only cast member who got her start in a pop culture smash.

The role of Zoser, Radames' ambitious father and the biggest obstacle to the couple's love affair, is played by Micky Dolenz.

Yes, the same Micky Dolenz who played the drums in '60s sitcom "The Monkees," about a manufactured boy band that far pre-dates the likes of 'N Sync.

Zoser, though, is as far as you can get from the carefree Micky of the Monkees.

"He's the bad guy, he's the villain in the piece, Dolenz said. "He's plotting to have his son take over the throne. It is a thrill to be doing such a role."

And as far as Dolenz is concerned, it is not such a stretch -- though fans who are used to him as a madcap percussionist may find it a bit jarring -- since it is really just a return to his acting roots.

"Before I was in The Monkees, I was cast a lot as the bad guy, the bad kid, the delinquent," said Dolenz, who had his first screen test at age 6, and whose parents were both actors.

That penchant for villainy could have cost him his Monkee suit if it hadn't been for the fact that Dolenz had left acting a few years before to pursue a college career as an architect.

"It really struck a chord," Dolenz said. "I was going to fall back on show biz if I couldn't make it as an architect."

But then, the "Monkees" audition came along.

The part became so iconic that Dolenz and two fellow Monkees actually turned into a real band, which still tours the country giving concerts.

In fact, Dolenz would not even have played Zoser if it hadn't been for Monkee Davy Jones' refusal to tour this summer.

"I’ve thanked him a number of times," Dolenz said. "Not only is it a great musical, but a great part."

But Dolenz has always had other projects than the Monkees on his plate -- apart from the occasional musical (he's also done "Grease" and "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"), he produces and directs.

"I'm either a renaissance man or a dilettante," he said. "I’ve never been able to sit still.”