Well, never mind! Just weeks after reports emerged that Oscar winner and Broadway favorite Ariana DeBose would star in an upcoming Jamie Lloyd-directed West End revival of Evita, Variety has that scheduling issues ruined that possibility. Announced late last year, the revival remains set for the London Palladium with performances beginning June 14 ahead of a June 27 opening night. No official casting has been announced.
The West Side Story star had reportedly that "[w]e鈥檙e 70% there," ostensibly referring to contract negotiations. Unfortunately, it appears that the deal fell through in that final 30%.
This particular production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice musical originated at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre in 2019, with Lloyd at the helm. Following the wild success of Lloyd's reimagined revival of Lloyd Webber's Sunset Blvd. in London's West End and currently on Broadway, it's no great surprise that Lloyd's staging of Evita is coming back. The creative team for the upcoming bow is to be announced, indicating there may be changes from the production's earlier staging.
鈥淎fter an unforgettable experience on Sunset Blvd., we are excited to continue our collaboration with Andrew Lloyd Webber, and to take another look at Tim and Andrew鈥檚 musical masterpiece Evita," said Lloyd in an earlier statement. "It is a great privilege to do so at the incredible London Palladium alongside [producer] Michael Harrison.鈥�
Harrison is producing for Lloyd Webber Harrison Musicals, alongside Lloyd's Jamie Lloyd Company.
Evita, which premiered as a 1976 two-LP recording starring Julie Covington (Eva) and Colm Wilkinson (Che), features a score by Lloyd Webber (music) and Rice (lyrics). Hal Prince staged both the original London and New York productions of the musical, which made stars of Elaine Paige (in London) and Mandy Patinkin and Patti LuPone (on Broadway). The score features such tunes as 鈥淒on't Cry for Me Argentina,鈥� 鈥淏uenos Aires,鈥� 鈥淎 New Argentina,鈥� 鈥淎nother Suitcase in Another Hall,鈥� 鈥淚'd Be Surprisingly Good for You,鈥� and 鈥淩ainbow High.鈥� Madonna, Antonio Banderas, and Jonathan Pryce starred in the film version. The Broadway revival co-starred Elena Roger, Ricky Martin, and Michael Cerveris.
Lloyd's staging of the musical is one of two competing revivals currently circling the waters, along with a Broadway-aimed staging from American director Sammi Cannold that played runs at New York City Center in 2019, and American Repertory Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company in 2023.
Visit . See photos from the 2019 run below.
