Theater News

Evita to Be Revived by American Repertory Theater

Sammi Cannold will helm the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice rock opera in May 2023.

Solea Pfeiffer starred in Evita at New York City Center in 2019.
Solea Pfeiffer starred in Evita at New York City Center in 2019.
(© Joan Marcus)

American Repertory Theater, in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company, will revive the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice rock opera Evita, May 14-July 16, 2023, at the Loeb Drama Center in Harvard Square.

Based on the life of Eva Perón, it tells the story of how a poor girl triumphed over the traditional elites of Argentina and rose to become the first lady — and heart of a quasi-fascist political movement that persists to this day. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Evita features the songs "Buenos Aires," "High Flying, Adored," and "Don't Cry for Me Argentina."

Sammi Cannold, who directed the 2019 concert staging at New York City Center, will direct this expanded production.

In a press statement, Cannold said, "With Hal Prince's original production and ongoing research on the ground in Argentina as our north star, our phenomenal team and I will expand upon the ideas we began to explore at NYCC: examining Eva's story from a female and Argentine perspective, portraying this woman as a humanized icon, and seeing Evita's troubled teenage years as a dark, problematic backdrop lingering behind her dazzling 20s and 30s."

TheaterMania's review of the City Center production proclaimed, "Cannold's revival is ready for a Broadway transfer right off the bat, and I really hope it gets there." You can read the full review here.