EVITA is Back on Broadway!

Yesterday, March 12, marked the first preview for the first Broadway revival for Evita since it’s debut over 30 years ago. Unfortunately, today’s preview was cancelled due to a flood at the Marquis Theatre, but the show will go on tomorrow for their inaugural Wednesday matinee. [Press Statement: "The deluge system went off at the Marquis Theatre, and clean up is underway…The deluge system is a large reservoir of water stored above the stage which, when released in case of fire, will flood the stage in an attempt to extinguish any flames. There was no fire at the theatre."] Michael Grandage serves as director, with Rob Ashford choreographing (both performed the same duties for the previous revival of Evita in the West End). I love the casting choice, the style, & the focused intent surrounding the vision of the artistic staff. IT LOOKS GREAT.

MICHAEL CERVERIS as Perón

TOMMY is back in the limelight!

Originally from Bethesda, MD, Michael Cerveris is "arguably the most versatile leading man on Broadway" [Playbill.com]. I love their casting decision to balance the other two leads with a true-blue Broadway veteran. I have loved Mr. Cerveris since 1993, when I was first introduced to him on The Who’s Tommy soundtrack. This production marked his Broadway debut as an "18-20 year old Tommy/Narrator." He received a Tony Award nomination as Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Drama League nomination, Theater World Award, & Original Cast Grammy Award. He also played the title role in Hedwig & The Angry Inch in the West End, Los Angeles, & Off-Broadway. He next appeared on Broadway in 1997 as the architect Thomas Andrews in Titantic, which was not embraced by the masses but loved by me. In 2004, he played the role of John Wilkes Booth in the Broadway musical Assassins & won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical & the Outer Critics Circle Award. In the 2005 Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd, Cerveris played the title role & lyric guitar; he was nominated for the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama League award, & received the Drama Critics Circle citation. In the Broadway musical LoveMusik (2007) he appeared as Kurt Weill, and received Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, & Drama League award nominations. He appeared Off-Broadway in the Stephen Sondheim-John Weidman musical Road Show at the Public Theater in 2008 as Wilson Mizner. From January 2009 to March 2009, Cerveris appeared opposite Mary-Louise Parker in the limited Roundabout Theatre Company production of Hedda Gabler. In October 2009, he played Dr. Givings in the Broadway comedy by Sarah Ruhl, in The Next Room or the vibrator play.

ELENA ROGER as Eva

A genuine Argentinean playing Eva Perón!

I am not overly-familiar with Elena Roger, but I like this casting very much. Having been born & bred in Buenos Aries, Argentina, Rogers will undoubtedly infuse this role with insight, experience, flavor, & strength. Roger’s Argentinean credits include the original production of Piaf (which garnered several awards, including the 2011 Konex Award for Best Actress in a Musical of the Decade), Nine, Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, Saturday Night Fever, & La Fiaca. In 2006, members of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group went to Argentina to research the West End’s revival of Evita. A Really Useful employee saw Roger perform & suggested her for the title role. After extensive auditions, she was cast as the West End’s new Eva Perón & received critical acclaim (and an Olivier Award Nomination for Best Actress). During her time in the West End, Roger also won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in Piaf & received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Fosca at Donmar Warehouse’s Passion.

RICKY MARTIN as Che

Cleverest Casting Choice Ever!

I think the general first impression is to find fault with this casting choice, but I love it. Though he is not a seasoned actor, Ricky Martin is not new to Broadway; in 1996, he made his debut as Marius in Les Miserables. Che is not a complicated role, acting-wise; he serves as the narrator, the rebel-rouser, the conscience, & the cause, but the emotionally heavy-handed acting is left primary to the Perón pair. Che needs to be engaging & dynamic, which are two of Ricky Martin’s defining characteristics. Having been heralded by Billboard as “an international pop icon and Latin Music’s Global Ambassador,” Ricky Martin presents the perfect balance of charisma, approachability, & the essence of Latin culture. He is an accomplished, dynamic professional & there is no doubt the man will make this production money. Plus, he just seems like a nice guy.