According to a statement from the production, "The narrating role of 'Che' is reverted to the way it was written for the original concept album – as an 'everyman' of the lower/working class, serving as the voice of the people; not Che Guevara. Using Che Guevara as inspiration for the role was a choice made by Hal Prince when staging the original production."
The original concept album actually included a song entitled "The Lady's Got Potential," which referenced Che Guevara's notions about pesticides. The song was cut for the stage production but appeared in the film with different lyrics.
Mandy Patinkin played the role of Che in the original Broadway production; Colm Wilkinson was heard on the original concept recording.
The cast will also feature Olivier Award winner Elena Roger in her Broadway debut as Eva Perón, Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris as Juan Perón, Max von Essen (Dance of the Vampires, Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar) as Magaldi and Rachel Potter (The Addams Family) as the Mistress. Christina DeCicco (Sister Act) will be the alternate for Eva Perón.
DeCicco will play the role of Eva Wednesday evenings and Saturday matinees, with the exception of Wednesday, March 14 and Wednesday, April 4, when Roger will play both matinee and evening performances. The performance schedule is Monday-Saturday at 8 PM with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM. Beginning April 10, Tuesday performances will start at 7 PM.
Beginning in September 2012, the performance schedule will be Tuesday at 7 PM, Wednesday-Sunday at 8 PM with matinee performances Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday at 3 PM. (DeCicco will then perform the role of Eva during Wednesday and Saturday matinees.)
Tony and Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage will direct, and Tony Award winner Rob Ashford will choreograph. This is the first new Broadway production of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical since it debuted on Broadway over 30 years ago.
Rounding out the cast are Ashley Amber, George Lee Andrews, Wendi Bergamini, Eric L. Christian, Kristine Covillo, Colin Cunliffe, Margot de La Barre, Bradley Dean, Rebecca Eichenberger, Melanie Field, Jennie Ford, Maya Jade Frank, Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines, Constantine Germanacos, Laurel Harris, Nick Kenkel, Brad Little, Erica Mansfield, Emily Mechler, Isabela Moner, Sydney Morton, Jessica Lea Patty, Aleks Pevec, Kristie Dale Sanders, Timothy Shew, Michaeljon Slinger, Johnny Stellard, Alex Michael Stoll, Daniel Torres and Matt Wall.
The creative team includes Tony Award-winning scenic and costume designer Christopher Oram (Red), Tony Award-winning lighting designer Neil Austin (Red), Olivier Award-winning sound designer Mick Potter (Woman In White), wig and hair designer Richard Mawbey (Frost/Nixon), projection designer Zachary Borovay (Rock of Ages) and music supervisor/director Kristen Blodgette (Mary Poppins).
Orchestrations are by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Cullen (Sunset Boulevard), and dance arrangements are by David Chase (Billy Elliot).
"Eva Perón used her beauty and charisma to rise meteorically from the slums of Argentina to the presidential mansion as First Lady," according to production notes. "She won international acclaim and adoration from her own people as a champion of the poor, while glamour, power and greed made her the world’s first major political celebrity."
The revival promises songs from the original staging, such as "Don’t Cry for Me Argentina," "Buenos Aires," "Rainbow High" and "High Flying Adored," as well as "You Must Love Me," which was penned for the 1996 film adaptation.
Evita has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Harold Prince staged the original London and New York productions. Elaine Paige earned an Olivier Award for creating the role in London. Patti LuPone, who starred in the 1979 Broadway staging, earned a Tony Award for her work alongside Tony winner Mandy Patinkin as Che. Evita also earned the 1980 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Direction.
Roger won the 2009 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Édith Piaf in Piaf.
Tickets are on sale now, and can be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com or calling (800) 745-3000. For more information visit www.EvitaOnBroadway.com.
