Evita in Concert, a concert version of the Tony-winning Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, will be presented July 31-August 1 at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
Featuring the 30-piece London Musical Theatre Orchestra, the cast will be led by Auli’i Cravalho, the voice of Disney’s Moana and star of The Little Mermaid Live, in her West End debut as Eva, alongside Matt Rawle (Martin Guerre, Miss Saigon, Zorro) as Che, the role he played in the London revival.
Olivier winner Bill Deamer (Follies, Top Hat, Cats) will direct. Additional casting and creative team members will be announced.
Cravalho says, “I am absolutely thrilled to be playing the beautiful role of Eva Peron in Evita, one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most iconic leading ladies, alongside such incredible West End talent! My heart is so full to be part of Evita in Concert, held in one of the world’s most famous theatres. This is a dream come true!”
Evita, which premiered as a 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; Elena Roger headed the cast of the London and Broadway revivals, the latter with Ricky Martin.
The upcoming concerts will have orchestrations by David Cullen and Lloyd Webber, based on orchestrations originally by Lloyd Webber.
Evita in Concert is produced by Fourth Wall Live and the London Musical Theatre Orchestra and arranged with the permission of Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group.
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