Producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders announced today the official opening night and first preview dates as well as the public on-sale date for the new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's landmark musical EVITA. The show will open on Broadway Thursday, April 5, 2012 at The Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway), previews begin Monday, March 12, 2012 and tickets go on sale this Saturday, October 29, 2011 at 10:00 AM via www.ticketmaster.com / 1-800-745-3000.
The stars of EVITA - world renowned music artist Ricky Martin as Che, Olivier Award-winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger in her Broadway debut as Eva Perón and Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris as Juan Perón - recently gathered in a studio in New York City for a photo shoot with celebrity photographer Frank Ockenfels. As previously announced, Tony and Olivier Award-winner Michael Grandage will direct and Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford will choreograph. This is the first new Broadway production of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical since it debuted on Broadway over 30 years ago.
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 the world's first major political celebrity.
EVITA tells Eva's passionate and tragic story through Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's most dazzling and beloved score, which includes "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" and "High Flying Adored," together with "You Must Love Me," the Oscar-winning hit from the film EVITA.
After researching the life of Eva Perón for many years, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber released EVITA in 1976 as a concept album with Julie Covington as Evita and it became a world-wide hit. Soon after, the production debuted on stage in London's West End starring Elaine Paige and directed by Hal Prince. The production transferred to Broadway and opened in 1979 starring Patti LuPone, who went on to win one of the seven 1980 Tony Awards the show earned. A major 1996 film of the musical was made starring Madonna as Evita and Antonio Banderas as Ché. Michael Grandage's production of EVITA, which opened in 2006, took London by storm and garnered critical acclaim for the show and its leading lady, Elena Roger.
In 2006, after a lengthy search, Argentinean actress Elena Roger became an overnight sensation starring in the title role in Michael Grandage's widely hailed production of EVITA in the West End, for which she received an Olivier Award nomination. The London Evening Standard declared that Roger was giving "a socking great star performance" and The Independent called her "simply sensational." "The evening belongs to the big-lunged Argentinean Elena Roger, who zooms through with more than ‘just a little touch of star quality'" stated The London Sunday Times. A complete unknown to the rest of the world, Roger Starred in multiple theatrical productions and television shows in her native Argentina. In London, Roger won the 2009 Olivier Award for Best Actress for her performance as Edith Piaf in The Donmar's production of Piaf, starred as Gabriella in Matthew Warchus's production of Boeing Boeing and was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance as Fosca in Passion, again at The Donmar Warehouse.
Already a Latin music superstar, Ricky Martin, made his Broadway debut as Marius in the original production of Les Misérables. In 1999, he burst onto the global stage with his spectacular performance of La Copa de la Vida ("The Cup of Life") at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards. The New York Times said the famed GRAMMY moment "put a match to the tinder of the pop-music world" and instantly establishEd Martin as "the symbol of Latin culture's new mainstream status in the United States." Over the course of his two decade solo career, Martin has now sold over 60 million albums and performed to sold-out stadium and arena audiences throughout the world. Declared "an international pop icon and Latin Music's Global Ambassador" by Billboard and recognized by the Latin Recording Academy as it's youngest "Person of the Year" honoree, Martin has been the recipient of dozens of prestigious international awards saluting both his musical achievements and far-reaching philanthropic efforts. As essential a part of his persona as his love of performing, Martin is equally dedicated to extensive charitable work through the efforts of the Ricky Martin Foundation - which advocates for the well being of children around the globe in critical areas such as social justice, education and health. Over the course of the last year, Martin's critically praised autobiography "ME" debuted as a New York Times Bestseller, while his latest album "Musica+Alma+Sexo" posted the strongest chart debut for a Spanish language album in the last 15 years and was nominated for three Latin Grammy Awards. Before beginning rehearsals for EVITA, look for Martin to perform on the November 10th live broadcast of the 12th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards and then return home to Puerto Rico for a special final performance of his critically-praised Musica+Alma+Sexo World Tour.
From his "magnificent" Sweeney Todd to his "captivating, mesmerizing and enthralling" Hedwig and his Tony Award winning performance as John Wilkes Booth in Assassins, Michael Cerveris has been giving electrifying performances each time he's graced the stage since his Broadway debut as the title character in The Who's Tommy (The New York Times). A four-time Tony Award nominee, Cerveris' Broadway, West End and regional theatre credits include In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play), Hedda Gabler, LoveMusik, Titanic, Cymbeline, King Lear, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard II and Sunday in the Park With George. He has also appeared in the films Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, The Mexican and Stakeland and on TV most recently and notably as The Observer on "Fringe," as well as a recurring role in HBO's "Treme." An exceptional musician and song-writer, he has also toured with Bob Mould and Pete Townshend and release a solo album, Dog Eared. He is currently working on a musical called Nine Lives, based on Dan Baum's bestselling post-Hurricane Katrina book "Nine Lives: Mystery, Magic, Death and Life in New Orleans."
Broadway veteran choreographer, director and performer, Rob Ashford, won a Tony Award for his inspired choreography in Thoroughly Modern Millie, his Broadway debut as a choreographer. Since then, Ashford has earned Tony Nominations for his work on Promises, Promises; The Wedding Singer; Curtains and Cry Baby, Olivier Nominations for Thoroughly Modern Mille, Evita, Guys & Dolls and Parade, for which he also received a nomination for his direction, and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography for his work on the 81st Annual Academy Awards. Ashford is currently on the board of The Joyce Theatre, on the Board of SDC, is an Associate Director for the Donmar Warehouse in London and was most recently nominated for two 2011 Tony Awards for his direction and choreography of the new Broadway production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starring Daniel Radcliffe.
Tony and Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage is in his final season as Artistic Director of the Internationally acclaimed Donmar Warehouse in London where he has presented an extensive repertoire of work over the last decade. His Donmar work in the U.S. has included Frost/Nixon, Hamlet with Jude Law, Red (for which he won the 2010 Tony Award) and most recently King Lear at BAM starring Derek Jacobi. His work for the Donmar in England includes Guys & Dolls and Grand Hotel both of which won the Olivier for Outstanding Musical Production and Merrily We Roll Along which won the Olivier for Best New Musical. From 2000-2005, as Artistic Director of Sheffield Theatres in the UK, his high profile productions included Edward II with Joseph Fiennes, Richard III with Kenneth Branagh and Don Carlos with Derek Jacobi. His new production of Mozart's Don Giovanni is currently running at the Metropolitan Opera for the 2011-2012 Season.
Additional creative team members and casting will be announced at a later date.
Ricky Martin, Michael Cerveris and Elena Roger
Michael Cerveris and Elena Roger
Ricky Martin
