Press: Booking opens for EVITA for Artscape Opera House in December 2017

Booking has opened for Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s seven-time Tony Award-winning musical EVITA, coming to the Artscape Opera House from 1 December 2017.

Presented in South Africa by Pieter Toerien and David Ian, the superb cast of this original West End and Broadway production is led by Emma Kingston (In the Heights, Les Misérables), who hails from the UK and who was personally selected by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice and Hal Prince to play the role of Eva Perón. Kingston stars opposite South Africa’s multiple award winning musical theatre actor Jonathan Roxmouth (Phantom of the Opera, Grease, Beauty and the Beast, Sunset Boulevard, Sweeney Todd) as Che. Robert Finlayson (Jesus Christ Superstar, Miss Saigon, La Cage Aux Folles) will make a welcome return to the stage as Perón The show will be choreographed by the original West End and Broadway choreographer Larry Fuller and be designed by the original designer Timothy O’Brien.

Evita charts the rags-to-riches rise of the First Lady of Argentina, who won the love of her countrymen after marrying military leader-turned-president Juan Peron. Set in Buenos Aires between 1934-1952, the musical follows Eva Duarte Peron on her passionate and tragic journey from humble beginnings as a fatherless child and ambitious actress, to becoming the most powerful woman in Latin America who eventually took on a saint-like status after her death from cancer at the age of 33.

With more than 20 major awards to its credit, and an Oscar winning film version starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s EVITA is iconic and features some of the best loved songs in musical theatre, including Don’t Cry For Me Argentina and On This Night of a Thousand Stars, together with “You Must Love Me,” the Oscar-winning hit from the film.

Broadway Director Hal Prince has won 21 Tony awards, more than any person in history. As well as EVITA, his directorial and producing credits include Candide, West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Show Boat, A Little Night Music, Follies, Cabaret and Fiddler on the Roof. Hal Prince said “I am absolutely thrilled to be directing this original production of EVITA. I believe that it is Andrew and Tim’s finest work and audiences in South Africa are truly in for a treat.” Andrew Lloyd Webber is the recipient of 7 Tony awards, 7 Olivier awards, a Golden Globe and an Oscar. His acclaimed musicals include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Tell Me on a Sunday, Song and Dance, Starlight Express, Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind, The Woman in White, Love Never Dies and School of Rock. Lyricist Tim Rice is the recipient of 3 Tony awards, 3 Olivier awards, 3 Oscars and 12 Ivor Novello awards. His credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Blondel, Chess, Beauty and the Beast, Aida and The Lion King. Anton Luitingh is the Resident Director on the show.

After the run at The Teatro at Montecasino in Joburg, the season moves to Cape Town and opens at Artscape on 1 December 2017, running until 7 January 2018. Performances are Tuesdays to Fridays at 8pm with matinees on Saturdays at 3pm and 8pm and on Sundays at 2pm and 5:30pm. Tickets cost from R100 to R485 and advance booking, via Computicket, 08619158000 and 0214217695 is essential.