Overview
Synopsis
Evita is based on the historical story of María Eva Duarte de Perón, a poor Argentinian girl who grows up to be the wife of the president of Argentina, worshipped by her people. As a young woman who longs for an acting career, fame, and fortune, Eva quickly learns that her feminine wiles hold power among a culture, and a political system, run by men. Once she makes it to Buenos Aires, Evita finds fame and power in her powers of seduction, eventually seducing the rising political figure, Juan Perón, who becomes the President of Argentina. As First Lady of Argentina, she aligns herself with the poor, winning herself, and Perón, popularity among Argentinians. Evita becomes a hero to the poor and the working class—and an enemy to the rich. A young and unknown revolutionary, Ché, narrates the rise and fall of the beloved matriarch of the Argentinian people. This blockbuster musical, made even more famous as a 1996 Hollywood film starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas, shows both the righteous determination, and the ruthless power, of Argentina’s 20th century matriarch.
Show Information
- Book
- Tim Rice
- Music
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Lyrics
- Tim Rice
- Conceived By
- Andrew Lloyd Webber , Tim Rice
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1978
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Period, Contemporary, Multiple Settings, Simple/No Set
- Time & Place
- 1940s, 1950s, argentina
- Cast Size
- small
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Early Teen, Late Teen, Mature Adult, Child Characters, Small Cast
Context
Evita blends Latin music, pop, jazz, and musical theatre styles to create a moving, emotional, and resonant musical classic. Following the rise of ambitious and ruthless Eva Peron through the eyes of the future revolutionary leader Ché Guevara, Evita has become a musical theatre stalwart of the late 20th century with its female and male star power and highly involved, musically meaningful chorus.
Born of the same rock-opera concept as Webber and Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar, the show
to read the context for Evita and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Evita opens in a movie theatre in Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 26, 1952. Patrons are watching a Spanish film when it is interrupted by an announcement, saying Eva Perón, has died ("A Cinema in Buenos Aires, 26 July 1952"). The film audience enters into mourning, singing, in Latin, "Requiem for Evita.” A young revolutionary, Ché, the show’s narrator, watches the mourners and comments on their grief, and the state of Argentina’s culture and politics, and Eva’s influence at the
to read the plot for Evita and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
|
Songs
Act One
"A Cinema in Buenos Aires, 26 July 1952" – Crowd
--Replaced by "Junin, 26 July 1952" for the Japanese productions, London and Broadway revivals.
"Requiem for Evita" – Chorus
"Oh What a Circus" – Ché and Crowd
"On This Night of a Thousand Stars" – Magaldi
"Eva and Magaldi" / "Eva, Beware of the City" – Eva, Magaldi, Evita's Family
*"Buenos Aires" – Eva and *Crowd
"Good Night and Thank You" – Ché, Eva, Magaldi, Lovers
"The Lady's Got Potential" – Ché (often cut from productions)
"The Art of the Possible" – Perón, Generals, Eva
"Charity Concert" – Perón, Ché, Magaldi, Eva
"I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You" – Eva and Perón
"Hello and Goodbye" – Eva
"Another Suitcase in Another Hall" – Perón's Mistress, Men's Chorus
"Peron's Latest Flame" – Ché, Aristocrats, Soldiers, Eva
"A New Argentina" – Eva, Ché, Perón, Crowd
Act Two
"On the Balcony of the Casa Rosada" – Perón, Ché, Crowd
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina" – Eva
"High Flying Adored" – Ché and Eva
"Rainbow High" – Eva and Dressers
"Rainbow Tour" – Perón, Advisers, Ché
"The Actress Hasn't Learned the Lines (You'd Like to Hear)" – Eva, Aristocrats, Ché
*"And the Money Kept Rolling In (And Out)" – Ché and Crowd
"Santa Evita" – Children and Chorus
"A Waltz for Eva and Ché" – Eva and Ché
"You Must Love Me" – Eva --Written for the 1996 film, "You Must Love Me" was added to the 2006 London production and has been used in other post-film productions. Its placement varies from right after "Waltz for Eva and Che" to right before "Eva's Final Broadcast."
"Peron's Latest Flame" - Soldiers
"She Is a Diamond" – Perón
"Dice Are Rolling" / "Eva's Sonnet" – Perón and Eva
"Eva's Final Broadcast" – Eva
"Montage" – Eva, Che, Perón, Chorus
"Lament" – Eva, Embalmers, Che
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Telling a story, often accompanying or guiding the central action of the play.
A storyteller, or someone who provides commentary on the action of a play or musical.
A work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera.
A production designed especially to show off the talents of a particular performer.
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