Evita Opens In Wellington

Evita Opens In Wellington

Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice’s masterpiece

EVITA

the story of the glamorous

first lady of Argentina, Eva Perón

opens on Saturday

WELLINGTON ONLY

Featuring some of the greatest musical theatre

songs ever, including Don’t Cry For Me Argentina

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s masterpiece, EVITA – the story of the glamorous first lady of Argentina, Eva Perón – opens in Wellington this week.

Set in Buenos Aires between 1934-1952, EVITA charts the rags-to-riches rise of the First Lady of Argentina, who won the love of her countrymen after marrying Argentine dictator Juan Peron.

Eva takes us on a journey from fatherless child to ambitious actress to the most powerful woman in Latin America – and, eventually, to a saint-like figure after her death from cancer at age 33. She will be played by award-winning New Zealand actress Heather Wilcock. Heather’s most recent roles include playing Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, Cathy in Auckland Musical Theatre’s production of The Last 5 Years, Hodel in Centrestage’s production of Fiddler on The Roof (NAPTA Nominated), as well as AMT’s production of Spring Awakening as Wendla (NAPTA Nominated).

Heather received her first NAPTA award for best leading female in a musical at the age of 16 for her role as Bobbie in the New Zealand Premier of The Railway Children at Centrestage Theatre and was recently honoured again for her stand out performance in Hairspray. At the age of 16, Heather was offered a place to study musical theatre at the New York Film Academy in Manhattan where she studied under many top Broadway performers.

Produced in Wellington by Amici Productions in association with PLT, the production features lavish costuming and sets designed by top New Zealand freelance director Stephen Robertson. This new and original design concept for EVITA will bring this story to life with a large cast of 46 performers from Wellington and around New Zealand.

The events in Eva’s life are presented in song and editorialised on by the show’s narrator, Che – played by Wellington-born actor Matt Pike whose credits include international tours of Jesus Christ Superstar and Cats, a highlight playing Munkustrap for the 10 year anniversary ofCats in Hamburg. Other credits include Miss Saigon (Engineer in the NZ premier Christchurch and Chris in Wellington); Cabaret (Emcee);Jacque Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris; Starlight Express (Electra); and Blood Brothers (Narrator).

Juan Peron is played by Chris Crowe – known for bringing to life some of the most demanding roles in musical theatre including Jesus inGodspell, Judas & Pontias Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, Enjolras in Les Miserables, Anatoly in Chess, and John in Miss Saigon – a role he has had the pleasure of performing in several New Zealand cities.

More recently Chris has received critical acclaim starring as the title role in The Phantom of the Opera – a role he has cherished and had the pleasure of sharing with audiences in Wellington, New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Christchurch.

Other credits include, La Traviata, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus for the Australian Opera Studio at His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth, and productions of On Broadway, Godspell and Smokey Joe’s Café, for Marshall Stack & Co, a collective of performers & musicians led by sisters Kate & Nic Marshall.

As a concert soloist, Chris has appeared in Orpheus at the Movies and Anything Goes: An Evening with Cole Porter, both with the Orpheus Choir and members of Orchestra Wellington, The Big Night In at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, & The Magical Music of Disney, a huge multimedia Walt Disney concert at the CBS Arena with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.

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.

Season details

Venue: Wellington Opera House
Dates: 7 - 21 November
Tuesday 7.30pm, Wednesday 7.30pm, Thursday 7.30pm, Friday 7.30pm,
Saturday 2.00pm & 7.30pm, Sunday 4.00pm

Tickets: Ticketek.co.nz | 0800 TICKETEK

Prices: $30 to $80

evitanz.com | facebook.com/Evita

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