Joining Argentine actor/singer Elena Rogers in the title role is Philip Quast as Juan Peron and Matt Rawle (Camelot, Miss Saigon, Martin Guerre) as the revolutionary and narrator Che. Also featured are Lorna Want as the Mistress and Gary Milner as Magaldi. Abbie Osman is the alternate Eva.
The ensemble for the production comprises Ashley Day, Stuart Neal, Paul Basleigh, Greg Castiglioni, Adam Pearce, Tim Morgan, Mark Heenehan, Kevin Curtin, Halcro Johnston, Jodie Jacobs, Pip Jordan, Emma Harris, Mark Powell, Kirsty Mather, Leila Benn Harris, Aoife Nally, Jackie Marks, Robyn North and Sarah Ryan. John Clarke, Grant Neal, Dean Chisnall, Stephanie Bron, Elizabeth Baron and Fiona Reyes are Swings.
Evita began life as a concept recording featuring Julie Covington in the title role. The focus of the musical is on Eva Peron's rise from her slum origins to the wife of Argentina's post-war nationalist leader Juan Peron, a position from which she held her people in thrall. Such was her power she became her country's unofficial vice-president and as she grew richer, her people's poverty deepened. She died of cancer at the age of 33.
This is the first major revival of the musical since Evita premiered at the Prince Edward Theatre in 1978. Hal Prince's production made a London star out of Elaine Paige and a Broadway star out of Patti LuPone. Madonna was already rather well known when she took on the role in Alan Parker's 1996 movie version.
The creative team for the new production includes designs by Christopher Oram and choreography by Rob Ashford, who with director Grandage are responsible for the current West End revival of Guys and Dolls. In her native Buenos Aires, Elena Roger appeared in productions of Nine, Beauty and the Beast, Les Misérables and Saturday Night Fever. With director Valeria Ambrosio Roger devised and starred in the musical Mina, che cosa sei, which won her the ACE Award for Best Actress. Roger's television credits in Argentina include "Hombres de Honor," "Pensionados" and "El Sodero de mi Vida."
Quast's theatrical pedigree includes three Best Actor Olivier Awards for Sunday in the Park with George, The Fix and South Pacific. His other credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Stuff Happens.
Polydor is scheduled to release the new cast recording of Evita. The 19-track disc includes these titles: "Requiem for Evita," "Oh What a Circus," "On This Night of a Thousand Stars," "Eva And Magaldi/Eve Beware of the City," "Buenos Aires," "Another Suitcase in Another Hall," "Goodnight and Thank You," "I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You," "Peron's Latest Flame," "A New Argentina," "Don't Cry For Me Argentina," "High Flying Adored," "Rainbow High," "And the Money Kept Rolling In (And Out)," "She Is a Diamond," "Waltz For Eva and Che," "You Must Love Me," "Eva's Final Broadcast" and "Lament."
Evita is produced by Andre Ptaszynski for Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Company.
For more on Evita call (0)870 895 5598.
