Continuing the Evita Tradition

Here's a great article about a tradition started many years ago in the original London production of Evita. The article, by Andrew Gans, appeared exclusively on Playbill.com under the title "EXCLUSIVE: Continuing the Evita Tradition, Elena Roger Will Play Six Performances a Week".


Playbill.com has learned that due to the vocal demands of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice score, Olivier Award-winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger will play six of the eight weekly performances in the title role in the upcoming revival of Evita, which will begin previews this spring at the Marquis Theatre.

Producer Hal Luftig told Playbill.com that it has yet to be decided which six performances Roger will perform. The "Eva Alternate" will be announced at a later time.

The tradition of having two actresses play the role began with the original London production, which starred Elaine Paige, who won an Olivier for her performance, and Susannah Fellows, who performed at select performances. On Broadway Patti LuPone, who won a Tony for her Eva, played evening performances, while Terri Klausner played Wednesday and Saturday matinees. In the critically acclaimed 2006 London revival Roger starred with Abbie Osman as the alternate Eva.

In the upcoming revival, Roger will be joined by pop singer Ricky Martin (Les Miserables) as Che and Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris (Tommy, Sweeney Todd) as Juan Peron; both will play all eight performances.

The Broadway production reunites 2006 London revival director Michael Grandage and Tony Award-winning choreographer Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie, How to Succeed…). Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders produce the engagement.

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.