Caroline Bowman Replaces Jenn Colella in Vancouver Opera's EVITA; Karimloo Confirmed as Che

BroadwayWorld has learned that Caroline Bowman has replaced previously announced Jenn Colella in Vancouver Opera's spring production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's EVITA, running April 30 through May 8, 2016 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The production also stars Ramin Karimloo as Che.

Caroline Bowman most recently starred as Elphaba in WICKED on Broadway. Before that she starred as Eva Perón in the Broadway Revival Tour of EVITA. She has been seen on Broadway in the original cast of KINKY BOOTS as well as the national tours of SPAMALOT (Lady Of The Lake), FAME (Carmen), and GREASE (Rizzo).

Karimloo is best known for playing 'Jean Valjean' in LES MISERABLES in London, Toronto, and on Broadway, and the title role in the West End's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, as well as its sequel LOVE NEVER DIES. He also took the stage in PRINCE OF BROADWAY in Japan last year and performed in Manhattan Concert Productions' THE SECRET GARDEN to great acclaim.

Colella tweeted on Wednesday she would be leaving the production to film a TV series on AMC.

Pals n' Tweeps- I am not traveling to Vancouver to do Evita, as I've booked myself a tv show on AMC. MORE INFO TO COME! #everybodybecool

- JENN COLELLA (@JennColella) March 30, 2016

Winner of seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, EVITA is the story of the charismatic and controversial Eva Perón, whose beauty and ambition vaulted her from poverty to power as the First Lady of Argentina.

Set in the politically turbulent 1930s and 1940s, EVITA follows Eva's remarkable journey from small-town slums to the tango clubs of Buenos Aires, through a career in B movies, and to the presidential palace on the arm of her new husband, General Juan Perón. Fearlessly aggressive in defending the rights of workers and the poor, Eva attracted the wrath of the aristocracy and the universal love of the people. Her legend lives on, decades after her death in 1952 at age 33, even as her role in Argentina's history is revealed with increasing clarity as time goes on.

Vancouver Opera's full-scale production of this modern classic of musical theatre will be conducted by Jonathan Darlington and directed by Kelly Robinson. Also in the cast are John Cudia as 'Peron' and Shannon Chan Kent as 'Peron's Mistress', with further casting to be announced.

For tickets and more information on EVITA, visit Vancouver Opera's website.