Once again Chattanooga has been chosen to launch a Broadway touring musical-Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita.
Like last fall's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, the cast and crew of Evita is spending two weeks in residence in Chattanooga putting the finishing touches on this production before taking it on the road. Evita will cap its stay in Chattanooga with two performances only at Memorial Auditorium: Thursday and Friday, Sept. 13-14. The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m.
Review for Evita:
Winner of seven Tony Awards, EVITA brings to life the dynamic, larger-than-life persona of Eva Peron, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Peron. Eva Peron, blessed with charisma, captivated a nation by championing the working class. The epic story of the rise and fall of Eva Peron is told in a sweeping pop opera, featuring one of the Broadway stage's most dynamic and lush melodies, Don't Cry for Me, Argentina.
From Eva's illegitimate birth into poverty, to her status as a world player and South America's most important woman, Evita is a story of glamour, power and greed.
Beginning its life as a concept album in 1976, Evita instantly became a global phenomenon. It was the first mega musical when it opened at the Broadway Theatre on Sept. 25, 1979, setting records for the largest box office advance. It went on to sweep all theatre awards in 1979, winning seven Tonys including Best Musical, Score, Book and Director. It played 1,568 performances before closing June 25, 1983.
Evita became the first Broadway show to be reproduced successfully in every major city in the world, including the Philippines, where it had been banned under the Marcos regime because of the uncomfortable parallels to Imelda Marcos.
Evita also became the first musical since the Rogers & Hammerstein era to burst on to the world's pop charts. Four of the show's songs, including the breakout hit Don't Cry for Me, Argentina, were recorded globally. The Broadway cast album won a Grammy in 1981.
A new generation was introduced to Evita in 1996 when Alan Parker's critically acclaimed film version opened starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas. The film received five Oscar nominations, winning for Best Song, and won three Golden Globes including Best Picture.
Tim Rice (lyricist) won Tony Awards for Best Book and Best Score for Evita. He wrote the stage musicals Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Lion King and others. He received Oscars for Evita's You Must Love Me, and A Whole New World from Aladdin.
Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer) won a Tony Award for Best Score for EVITA. He is the composer of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, Starlight Express, Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard and Whistle Down the Wind. He has won six Tonys, three Grammys, and an Oscar in 1997 for Evita's You Must Love Me.
Evita is presented by TAPA. Incredible ticket discount offer by First Tennessee Bank: All seats to this Andrew Lloyd Webber hit musical are reserved at only $30 (plus facility and convenience fees). Tickets are on sale now at Memorial Auditorium box office, by phone at (423) 642-TIXS, and online at www.ChattanoogaOnStage.com.