Theater Latté Da brings Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock-opera Evita to the Ordway Center's McKnight Theatre. The production will preview September 30 and October 1, open on October 2 and run through October 31, 2010.
First Lady of Argentina Eva Perón was a legend in her time. An illegitimate country girl, she rose to become the most powerful woman Latin America had ever seen-a potent symbol of hope and change. Theater Latté Da takes a fresh look at this provocative telling of her brief and fascinating life.
Artistic Director Peter Rothstein states, "
Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Weber created a new movement in music-theater: the rock-opera; Evita was at the frontlines of that movement. In my opinion, it is their masterpiece. It is innovative in form, challenging in subject matter, and simply compelling theater. For sometime we have wanted to do a production that highlighted the incredible talents of award-winning choreographer Michael Matthew Ferrell. Dance, particularly the tango, is essential to Argentine culture; thinking of Evita in terms of a dance-driven theatrical event makes complete sense to me."
The production is led by Peter Rothstein, director; Denise Prosek, music director; and Michael Matthew Ferrell, choreographer. The design team includes scenic designer
Rick Polenek (Theater Latté Da's The Full Monty); costume designer Rich Hamson (Theater Latté Da's Gypsy and Floyd Collins); and lighting designer
Paul Whitaker, making his Theater Latté Da debut.
The role of Eva Perón will be played by Zoe Pappas who is currently performing in Footloose! The Musical at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres and has also been seen in several productions at the Ordway Center (Beauty and the Beast, Grey Gardens), Chanhassen Dinner Theaters (Les Miserables, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Producers, Grease) and
The Children's Theatre Company. Evita marks Pappas' third production with Theater Latté Da (Floyd Collins, A Man of No Importance). Playing the role of Che Guevara will be Jared Oxborough who is also in Footloose! The Musical at Chanhassen Dinner Theaters and recently was in Beauty and the Beast at Ordway Center. Kevin Leines will play Juan Perón, and has been seen in several productions at Bloomington Civic Theatre (Man of La Mancha, A Little Night Music, Funny Girl). Paul Coate will play Augustin Magaldi and was in Theater Latté Da's The Full Monty last fall. Jessica Fredrickson plays the Mistress and most recently was in Bloomington Civic Theatre's Light in the Piazza.
Tickets for Evita are available for $19-$39 and are on sale now at www.ordway.org or by calling 651.224.4222. Group discounts are also available.
About Theater Latté Da:
Theater Latté Da is a Twin Cities musical theater company recognized for its ability to connect artists, audiences and communities through diverse stories that are both entertaining and enlightening. The company seeks to create new connections between story, music, artists and audience by exploring and expanding the art of musical theater. For more information, please visit our website at
www.latteda.org.
Support for the production of Evita is provided by St. Paul Cultural Star Funds from the City of St. Paul.
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