AET Presents the Sweeping Masterpiece - Evita

Event Details

There's a "New Argentina" with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's stunning masterpiece, "Evita." The multi-Tony-award winning musical based on the meteoric rise of Eva Peron from poverty to becoming the most powerful woman in Argentina has captivated audiences since its inception, even becoming a hit feature film starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas in 1996. Don't miss this sweeping, opulent, and fully LIVE staged production of "Evita" at Arts Express Theatre, running October 24th-November 16th. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday Matinees at 2 p.m., with no performance on Halloween (Oct. 31st), and an extra added performance on Sunday Nov. 9 at 7pm.

The curtain rises on Buenos Aires, 1952, when announcers interrupt a film screening to announce that Eva Perón (Danae Dorame/Rachael Fornof), First Lady of Argentina, has died at the young age of 33. The outspoken and cynical narrator, Che (Jeremy Vega) imparts how the nation mourned Santa Evita (Eva), while also criticizing all she did not do.

Che takes us back to Eva's humble beginnings as a beautiful, alluring teenager. Eva falls for tango singer Magaldi (Jacob Litt) while he is touring through her small town and she convinces him to take her with him to the big city. Upon her arrival, she reveals her hopes and dreams ("Buenos Aires"), then soon drops Magaldi for more impressive men who help her climb the ladder to fame as an actress.

Amongst political turmoil in Argentina, Eva's ambitions rise higher as she meets the impressive military leader Juan Perón (Jóse "Chach" Snook), and sparks fly. Soon the two are married, and with Eva’s influence and prowess at public speaking, she helps catapult Perón into the seat of Argentina's Presidency. The crowds go wild in celebration, and shouts of Perón soon turn to "Evita," so Eva addresses the people with the beloved song, "Don’t Cry for Me Argentina."

Despite ongoing turmoil, Eva experiences a "Rainbow High" rise in popularity, an equally triumphant and disastrous European tour, followed by rumors that "The Money Kept Rolling In (and Out)" Eva decides to take on a more active political role. Just as Eva is poised to run for Vice President, she receives a devastating terminal cancer diagnosis, and Eva makes her final broadcast to the Argentine people.

With a lavish, moving music score by EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony)-Winner Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber infused with Latin, rock, tango and moving choral threads, and a brilliantly piercing and fascinating book by another rare EGOT Winner, Sir Tim Rice, "Evita" is an effervescent gem in the musical theatre universe, a show that is not to be missed.

"Evita" is Directed by Humberto Alabado, with Music Direction by Elizabeth Spencer and Choreography by Stevie Johnson.

For tickets, visit http://www.arts-express.org or call the Arts Express Theatre Box Office at (520) 319-0400.

ABOUT ARTS EXPRESS THEATRE
Arts Express Theatre is southern Arizona's leading musical theatre company, staging large-scale professional quality musical theatre productions throughout the year. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, AET is committed to opening the arts to all ages. It serves over 25,000 people annually through a continuum of introductory and advanced programs, and engaging audience experiences.