Evita: creative team and additional cast announced

Additional casting and the creative team has been announced for the 2006 London production of Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita, directed by Michael Grandage, opening at Broadway's Marquis Theatre on 5 Apr 2012, following previews from 12 Mar 2012.

Joining the previously announced Ricky Martin as 'Ché,' Olivier Award Winning Argentinean actress Elena Roger as 'Evita,' and Michael Cerveris as 'Juan Peron,' are Max Von Essen (Magaldi), Rachel Potter (Mistress) and Christina DeCicco (alternate/standby for 'Eva Peron' - alternate performances to be announced)

The ensemble will feature Ashley Amber, George Lee Andrews, Wendi Bergamini, Eric L. Christian, Kristine Covillo, Colin Cunliffe, Margot de La Barre, Bradley Dean, Melanie Field, Jennie Ford, Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines, Constantine Germanacos, Laurel Harris, Nick Kenkel, Brad Little, Erica Mansfield, Emily Mechler, Sydney Morton, Jessica Lea Patty, Aleks Pevec, Kristie Dale Sanders, Timothy Shew, Michaeljon Slinger, Johnny Stellard, Alex Michael Stoll, Daniel Torres and Matt Wall.

The creative team includes scenic and costume designer Christopher Oram, lighting designer Neil Austin, sound designer Mick Potter, wig and hair designer Richard Mawbey, projection designer Zachary Borovay and music supervisor/director Kristen Blodgette. Orchestrations are by Andrew Lloyd Webber and David Cullen, and dance arrangements are by David Chase.

As previously announced, Tony and Olivier Award-winner Michael Grandage will direct and Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford will choreograph.

This is the first new Broadway production of the seven-time Tony Award-winning musical since it debuted on Broadway over 30 years ago.

Eva Peron used her beauty and charisma to rise meteorically from the slums of Argentina to the presidential mansion as First Lady. She won international acclaim and adoration from her own people as a champion of the poor, while glamour, power and greed made her the world's first major political celebrity.

Evita tells Eva's passionate and tragic story through Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's score, which includes "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" and "High Flying Adored," together with "You Must Love Me," the Oscar-winning hit from the film Evita.

After researching the life of Eva Perón for many years, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber released Evita in 1976 as a concept album with Julie Covington as Evita and it became a world-wide hit.

Soon after, Evita debuted on stage in London's West End starring Elaine Paige and directed by Hal Prince. The production transferred to Broadway and opened in 1979, directed by Harold Prince and chreographed by Larry Fuller, starring Patti LuPone as 'Eva' and Mandy Patinkin as 'Che.' The show garnered seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

A major 1996 film of the musical was made starring Madonna as 'Evita' and Antonio Banderas as 'Ché.'

Bios:

Christina DeCicco (Eva alternate/standby) was most recently seen on Broadway in the cast of 'Sister Act.' She has toured the United States playing the role of 'Glinda' in the Stephen Schwartz musical 'Wicked,' and was part of the final cast of the Off-Broadway show 'The Marvelous Wonderettes' as 'Cindy Lou Huffington.'

Max Von Essen (Magaldi) as appeared on Broadway in 'Les Misérables' (revival), 'Dance of the Vampires,' 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' and 'Les Misérables' (B'way premiere). He recently starred Off-Broadway in the Roundabout's production of 'Death Takes a Holiday.'

Rachel Potter (Mistress) made her Broadway debut as 'Wednesday Addams' in 'The Addams Family,' opposite Brooke Shields and Roger Rees.