Expat Choice | Powerful, Passionate & Political Tim Rice And Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Masterpiece ‘Evita’ Comes To Singapore

Powerful, Passionate & Political Tim Rice And Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Masterpiece ‘Evita’ Comes To Singapore

Published - 07 February 2018, Wednesday

Winner of over 20 major awards, the original West End and Broadway production of TIM RICE and ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER’s iconic musical EVITA, directed by legendary Broadway director HAL PRINCE, will make its Asian premiere at The Mastercard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands this February as part of an international tour. Tickets are on sale via Sistic and Marina Bay Sands ticketing.

EVITA originally opened at the Prince Edward Theatre London in 1978 and ran for a record-breaking eight years. It won two Olivier Awards, and starred David Essex, Joss Ackland and a then unknown Elaine Paige. The show opened on Broadway in June 1979, starring Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, playing 1,567 performances and winning seven Tony Awards.

Set in Buenos Aires between 1934 and 1952, EVITA charts the rags-to-riches rise 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” by the Argentine people.

For decades, EVITA’s fairy-tale love story coupled with the tragic hand of fate, has thrilled theatre-lovers all over the world. The 1996 movie starring Madonna as Eva, Jonathan Pryce as Perón, and Antonio Banderas as Che Guevara went on to win an Oscar and three Golden Globes.

The finest ever pairing of Tim Rice’s lyrics and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music has created some of the best loved songs in musical theatre, including Don’t Cry For Me Argentina, On This Night of a Thousand Stars, Oh What A Circus, You Must Love Me and Another Suitcase in Another Hall.

Opening on 23rd February 2018 for a strictly limited season, this new international production stars EMMA KINGSTON (Les Miserables in London’s West End as well as UK productions of In the Heights, Fiddler on the Roof, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Grease), who was personally chosen by Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Hal Prince to play Eva Perón.

South African musical star JONATHAN ROXMOUTH (The Phantom of the Opera, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Sunset Boulevard, Beauty and the Beast, Grease, West Side Story, Sweeney Todd) will perform the role of Che, and playing Perón is ROBERT FINLAYSON (The Phantom of the Opera and Miss Saigon in the West End, as well as Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Aspects of Love, High School Musical, West Side Story).

The production reunites the original creative team of legendary Broadway director HAL PRINCE, the West End and Broadway choreographer LARRY FULLER and the original designer TIMOTHY O’BRIEN.

Hal Prince has won 21 Tony awards, more than any person in history. As well as EVITA, his directorial and producing credits include Candide, West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Show Boat, A Little Night Music, Follies, Cabaret and Fiddler on the Roof. Hal Prince said “I am absolutely thrilled to be directing this original production of EVITA. I believe that it is Tim and Andrew’s finest work and audiences in Singapore are truly in for a treat.”

Tim Rice is the recipient of three Tony Awards, three Olivier Awards, three Oscars and 12 Ivor Novello Awards. His other musicals include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, Blondel, Chess, Beauty and the Beast, Aida, From Here to Eternity and The Lion King.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is the recipient of seven Tony Awards, seven Olivier Awards, a Golden Globe and an Oscar. His other musicals include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, CATS, Tell Me on a Sunday, Song and Dance, Starlight Express, The Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, Whistle Down the Wind, The Woman in White, Love Never Dies and School of Rock.

Chief Executive Officer of Base Entertainment Asia, Chantal Prudhomme, said, “Given the great sense of anticipation and excitement amongst audiences in Singapore to watch EVITA, I am thrilled to present the Asian premiere here at The Mastercard Theatres.” Producer and CEO of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, James Cundall, said “EVITA is one of THE classic musicals of the 20th century, and an outstanding Tim Rice/ Andrew Lloyd Webber collaboration. I am beyond excited to be finally bringing this masterpiece of a show to Singapore – it truly promises to be an unmissable theatrical event.”