Antonio Banderas, Lea Michele, Sierra Boggess, Ramin Karimloo & More Considered for EVITA

A few weeks ago, producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders announced that Grammy Award-winning international pop icon Ricky Martin as Che, Olivier Award-winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger as Eva Perón and Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris as Juan Perón would play their final performance on Saturday, January 26, 2013.

Now according to the New York Times, a slew of stars were being considered to fill the leading roles. Antonio Banderas, Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias, Ramin Karimloo and Raul Esparza were all being considered to play Che, though they were not able to 'reach any deals.' Additionally, Lea Michele and Sierra Boggess were 'discussed for the title role of Eva Peron.'

Click HERE to read the full article.

The show will launch a national tour in September of 2013 at the Providence Performing Arts Center.

Directed by Tony and Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage and choreographed by Tony Award winner Rob Ashford, Evita began previews March 12 and opened on April 5, 2012 at The Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway).

Eva Perón used her beauty and charisma to rise meteorically from the slums of Argentina to the presidential mansion as First Lady. She won international acclaim and adoration from her own people as a champion of the poor, while glamour, power and greed made her one of the world's first major political celebrities. Evita tells Eva's passionate and tragic story through Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's most dazzling and beloved score, including "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," "Buenos Aires," "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" and "High Flying Adored," together with "You Must Love Me," the Oscar-winning hit from the film Evita.