Oscar winner Ariana DeBose is aiming to be "Rainbow High" in Jamie Lloyd's upcoming West End revival of Evita, per a report in Deadline.
The West Side Story star reportedly told Deadline's Baz Bamigboye that "[w]e’re 70% there," ostensibly referring to contract negotiations. That means that things aren't signed and anything could change—much as we learned via Andrew Rannells last year. "Fingers crossed," she told Bamigboye.
The upcoming revival was first announced late last year. Performances are set to run at The London Palladium June 14-September 6, with opening night set for June 27. No official casting has been announced.
This particular production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice musical originated at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2019, with Lloyd at the helm. Following the wild success of Lloyd's reimagined revival of Lloyd Webber's Sunset Blvd. in London's West End and currently on Broadway, it's no great surprise that Lloyd's staging of Evita is coming back. The creative team for the upcoming bow is to be announced, indicating there may be changes from the production's earlier staging.
“After an unforgettable experience on Sunset Blvd., we are excited to continue our collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and to take another look at Tim and Andrew’s musical masterpiece Evita," said Lloyd in an earlier statement. "It is a great privilege to do so at the incredible London Palladium alongside [producer] Michael Harrison.”
Harrison is producing for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, alongside Lloyd's Jamie Lloyd Company.
Evita, which premiered as a 1976 two-LP recording starring Julie Covington (Eva) and Colm Wilkinson (Che), features a score by Lloyd Webber (music) and Rice (lyrics). Hal Prince staged both the original London and New York productions of the musical, which made stars of Elaine Paige (in London) and Mandy Patinkin and Patti LuPone (on Broadway). The score features such tunes as “Don't Cry for Me Argentina,” “Buenos Aires,” “A New Argentina,” “Another Suitcase in Another Hall,” “I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You,” and “Rainbow High.” Madonna, Antonio Banderas, and Jonathan Pryce starred in the film version. The Broadway revival co-starred Elena Roger, Ricky Martin, and Michael Cerveris.
Lloyd's staging of the musical is one of two competing revivals currently circling the waters, along with a Broadway-aimed staging from American director Sammi Cannold that played runs at New York City Center in 2019, and American Repertory Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company in 2023.
Tickets for the Palladium run will go on sale in 2025. Visit EvitaTheMusical.com. See photos from the 2019 run below.
