The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, in conjunction with Broadway Across America and Bank of America, present Evita, the final show in the 2013-14 Broadway Across Miami schedule. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, the winner of seven Tony Awards, will be playing at the Ziff Ballet Opera House starting on Tuesday, May 27. The engagement will go on for six straight nights, ending on Sunday, June 1.
María Eva Duarte, one of five children raised by a single mother in rural Argentina, ventured out 
on her own at the age of 15, using her charm, beauty and grace to make a name for herself in the big city of Buenos Aires. By the time she was 25, she fell in love with and married the Colonel Juan Perón, becoming Eva Perón. A year later, “Evita” became the first lady of her country. Knowing what their struggle was like, she made public overtures to Argentina’s poor, and in turn they idolized her. Her ambition was not welcomed by all, and she was forced to curb her quest for power. Sadly, her place in history was cemented as a tragic figure when she died from cancer at the age of 33.
Evita tells the story of her rise, her cult of personality, her conflict with the bourgeoisie and eventually her death. Even in death, however, the musical Evita shows that she has never left the minds of Argentinians and others worldwide. Performed beautifully in this musical are the original songs “Another Suitcase in Another Hall,” “High Flying, Adored,” “Buenos Aires,” “You Must Love Me,” and the iconic and legendary “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina.”
The national touring production of Evita started in September 2013 and is a continuation of the 2012 Broadway revival of the hit musical, which originated in the West End in 1978 and was adapted for American audiences a year later. The original 1979 American adaptation, which featured singer and actress Patti LuPone in the title role, won seven Tony Awards; the 2012 Broadway adaptation was nominated for three.
The director and choreographer of the touring production, respectively, are the Tony Award-winning team of Michael Grandage and Rob Ashford, who also had creative control of the Broadway production. Caroline Bowman stars as Evita. The rest of the cast consists of Josh Young as Che, Sean McLaughlin as Peron, Christopher Johnstone as Magaldi, and Krystina Alabado as Mistress.
The reviews for the revival of Evita have been overwhelmingly positive, with CBS commenting, “Evita is a formidable piece of theater…It’s a must-see hit, the show Broadway has been waiting for!” as well as “the hottest ticket in town!” The New York Post says that Evita is “a big, fat, high-octane blockbuster!” The Post went on to say, “The wait was worth it: packed with memorable tunes, Evita is a MODERN MASTERPIECE!” The Houston Chronicle concludes, “The revamped Evita revival gives the story the passion it deserves…Evita is substantially refreshed, if not wholly rejuvenated.”
The performance times for Evita at the Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County are as follows: Tuesday, May 27 at 8 p.m.; Wednesday, May 28 at 8 p.m.; Thursday, May 29 at 8 p.m.; Friday, May 30 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, May 31 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday, June 1 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Ticket prices range from $26 in Tier 4 seating, $56 in Tier 3, $76 in Tier 2, $96 in Tier 1, and between $76 and $96 in the Orchestra. To purchase tickets, visit arshtcenter.org or call the Box Office at (305) 949-6722. The Box Office is open from Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., two hours before every performance, and on Saturday and Sunday from noon until curtain time.
For more information on the national touring production of Evita, visit evitaonbroadway.com.
