Stained Glass Playhouse opens Evita

Yes Weekly, 07-14-2010 » Page 41

Stained Glass Playhouse opens Evita

Evita Show Photographs 

They couldn’t get Madonna, but the Stained Glass Playhouse’s production of the Tony Awardwinning Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical extravaganza by Mark Burger Evita will open Friday, contributing columnist July 23 with Jaye Pierce in the title role.

Like Webber and Rice’s earlier stage hit, Jesus Christ, Superstar, Evita began life as a concept album before coming to the stage. The show premiered in London’s West End in 1978, followed the next year by its Broadway bow, under the direction of Harold Prince, with Patti LuPone in the title role. The Broadway production ran nearly four years and over 1,500 performances, winning Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score. (A Broadway revival is on tap for 2012.) After several false starts, the film version of Evita was released in 1996. Directed by Alan Parker, the film won Madonna a Golden Globe Award for her performance in the title role.

Evita is based on the life of Eva Peron (1919-’52), the controversial first lady of Argentina. Fueled by drive and ambition, she became a starlet at 22, the mistress of Argentina’s president at 24, the First Lady at 27 and dead at 33. To the common folk, she was a symbol of pride — one of their own come to greatness. She founded the Female Peronist Party (named in honor of her husband, the president Juan Peron) and championed women’s rights. To Argentina’s aristocracy and military, however, she was mistrusted and even detested. Her legacy remains much debated to this day, nearly 60 years after her untimely death from cancer.

Becky Burke directs this production, with Marie Denig serving as musical director. The cast also includes Jim Shover as Juan Peron, Matthew Morris as Che, Brandon Lloyd Hicks, Hannah Rivers, and a cast of 30 actors and musicians.

All performances will take place at the playhouse, located at the Marvin United Methodist Church (4401 Indiana Ave., Winston-Salem).

Evita is scheduled to run through Aug. 8.

Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $12, $10 for students and senior citizens. Reservations are suggested.

For reservations, call 336.499.1010.

For more information or group rates, call 336.6661.4949.