New Line Theatre closes its nineteenth season with the first St. Louis production in many years of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera EVITA, running July 8-31, 2010, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend. Tickets are on sale now, through Metrotix, 314-534-1111.
With this production, New Line will offer audiences a more intimate, more political, more rock and roll EVITA, based more on the original 1976 concept album than on the massive 1979 Broadway production. No violins and no giant chorus this time, just sex, power, and rock and roll. The original Broadway show focused on the story's spectacle, but seen through the lens of 2010, New Line's EVITA centers on the manipulations and the shallowness, the petty games and grudges that make politics a contact sport.
For more info about the show, visit http://www.newlinetheatre.com/evitapage.html
The cast for New Line's EVITA includes Taylor Pietz (Eva), John Sparger (Che), Todd Schaefer (Peron), Zachary Allen Farmer (Migaldi), Terrie Carolan (Peron's Mistress), Aaron Allen, David Blake, Tyla Daniels, Mike Dowdy, Macia Noorman, Jeanitta Perkins, Eeyan Richardson, David Sajewich, Michelle Sauer, Kimi Short, and Christopher Strawhun. The production staff includes Scott Miller (director), Jake Fruend (asst. director), Robin Berger (choreographer), Thom Crain (costume designer), Todd Schaefer (scenic designer), Kenneth Zinkl (lighting designer), and Robert Healey (sound designer).
EVITA runs July 8-31, 2010, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, at 8:00 p.m., at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend. This is not on the Washington University main campus. July 8 is a preview. All seating is general admission. Tickets are on sale now through all Metrotix outlets, including the Fox Theatre box office, the Edison Theatre box office, and select Schnucks stores, or by calling 314-534-1111. This show contains adult content.
EVITA ran for 2,900 performances in London and over 1,500 performances on Broadway. It was nominated for eleven Tony Awards and won seven, including Best Musical and Best Score. It was nominated for ten Drama Desk Awards and won six, including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Lyrics, and Outstanding Music. It also won the NY Drama Critics Circle Award. In London, the show won four Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical. A Broadway revival of the show is planned for the 2011-2012 season.
New Line Theatre is a professional company dedicated to involving the people of the St. Louis region in the exploration and creation of daring, provocative, socially and politically relevant works of musical theatre. New Line receives funding from the Regional Arts Commission, the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation, and the Missouri Arts Council. For other information, visit New Line Theatre's full-service website at www.newlinetheatre.com. As they have since 2007, the New Liners are blogging about the process of putting this show together and can be read the EVITA blogs online at http://www.newlinetheatre.com/blogs.htmlVideos