EVITA Heads to Melbourne for Summer

Tina Arena and the cast of EVITA in Sydney 2018. All Photos Jeff Busby

Starring Tina Arena EVITA is Melbourne’s Summer Musical

Melbourne Children’s Cast Announced!

Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s EVITA is Melbourne’s Summer Musical in 2018-9. One of the most celebrated musicals of all time, the original West End and Broadway production directed by Hal Prince, will play at the State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne from December 5.

Produced by Opera Australia, John Frost and David Ian, and starring the remarkable Tina Arena, the production has just completed a spectacular sold out season at the Sydney Opera House where it was celebrated by audiences and critics alike.

‘Tina Arena’s voice is astonishing… It’s Glorious. The kind of singing that makes you hold your breath. The stuff that musical theatre dreams are made of.’ – Time Out

‘A woman at the height of her musical powers… Arena’s rendition captures the complexity of Evita herself, with her mix of passion, grand ambition and manipulation.’ – The Sydney Morning Herald

The young cast for the Melbourne season have now been announced. The young actors are Chelsey Abela (8, Pascoe Vale South), Sebastian Astill (10, Prahran), Jasper Budd (9, Canterbury), Summer Bush (9, Ferntree Gully), Lucas Calzado-Yubero (11, Cheltenham), Jennah Coleman (8, Moonee Ponds), Aaron David (9, Sunbury), Marissa Enderby (9, Ivanhoe East), Katie Gorczynski (8, Lower Plenty), Christina Ivas (10, Lower Templestowe), Maisy Lester-Bryant (8, Northcote), Olivia Lupacchini (9, North Balwyn), Nathaniel Mitchell (10, Rosanna), Madeline Nesci (10, Templestowe), Aidan Synan (10, Moonee Ponds), Kershawn Theodore (10, Keysborough), Hannah Wing (10, Essendon) and Ruby Young (10, Donvale).

The children will be joining a stellar cast led by Australian icon, singer, songwriter and musical theatre star Tina Arena in the role of Eva Perón, opera superstar Paulo Szot as Juan Perón, and Kurt Kansley as the young revolutionary Che. Michael Falzon will play tango singer Magaldi, while the role of Perón’s Mistress is played by Alexis van Maanen, making her professional debut. Jemma Rix will be the Eva Perón Alternate at certain performances.

Completing the cast are Justin Anderson, Anton Berezin, Michael Camilleri, Olivia Carniato,Rachel Cole, Alie Coste, Jade Coutts, Kristian Crowe, Todd Dewberry, Rodney Dobson, Samantha Dodemaide, Laura Field, Zoy Frangos, Ashleigh Gurnett, Kate Maree Hoolihan, Georgina Hopson, Thomas Johansson, Kathleen Moore, Thern Reynolds, Christopher Scalzo,David Sirianni, Tod Strike, Simon Tichelaar, Dean Vince, Rachael Ward and Paul Whiteley.

Featuring some of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s best loved songs including ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’, ‘On This Night of a Thousand Stars’, ‘You Must Love Me’ and ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall’, EVITA charts the story of Eva Perón, wife of former Argentine dictator Juan Perón, from her humble beginnings through to the extraordinary wealth, power and status which ultimately led her to be heralded as the ‘spiritual leader of the nation’.

Legendary Broadway director Hal Prince has won 21 Tony Awards, more than any person in history. Hal Prince will be joined by fellow original West End creative team members including choreographer Larry Fuller and designer Timothy O’Brien.

This musical captured the attention of the public when it was first staged in 1978 and in its 40th year and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 70th year, Opera Australia, John Frost and David Ian are thrilled to bring this “modern masterpiece” (New York Post) to Australia in all its original glory.

evitathemusical.com.au

#EVITAinAUS