Ramin Karimloo and Jenn Colella to Bring 'Buenos Aires' to Vancouver Opera in EVITA

BroadwayWorld is excited to report that LES MISERABLES star Ramin Karimloo and IF/THEN's Jenn Colella will play 'Che' and 'Eva Perón' 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.

Karimloo is best known for playing 'Jean Valjean' in LES MISERABLES in London, on tour in Canada, 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 will be seen this weekend in Manhattan Concert Productions' THE SECRET GARDEN.

Colella recently starred in the Broadway-bound premiere of COME FROM AWAY at La Jolla Playhouse. She last appeared on the Great White Way in IF/THEN, and before that in CHAPLIN, HIGH FIDELITY and URBAN COWBOY. Among her off-Broadway credits are CLOSER THAN EVER, LUCKY GUY, BEEBO BRINKER CHRONICLES and SLUT.

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.