"Being an 'Eva' understudy carries an immense amount of responsibility," says Patty. "In such a grand, large-scale musical production as Evita , my ensemble track presents its own unique physical and vocal challenges every day -- so on the rare occasion when I am Ensemble by day and Eva by night, things like rest, concentration and preparation are all the more important!"
"Going from a young 15-year-old girl, to the headstrong first lady of a nation, to an ailing woman on her deathbed, requires a lot of mental preparation before the show. I also have a very specific vocal warmup, along with a thorough physical warmup that differs quite a bit from my everyday ensemble track."
"One of the most challenging parts of being an Eva understudy is not getting to do it very often, so every show presents itself with new discoveries -- in front of 1,500 people! But it's a thrilling challenge I'm eager to take on, and so lucky to have."
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Ensemble By Day, Eva By Night!" A Two-Show Day With Evita's Jessica Lea Patty
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Ensemble By Day, Eva By Night!" A Two-Show Day With Evita's Jessica Lea Patty
Jessica Lea Patty shares a unique two-show day at Broadway's Evita . With leading lady Elena Roger on vacation, Patty had the opportunity to star as Eva Peron twice over the course of the week. She documents the rare experience of performing in the ensemble and starring as Evita on the very same day. Read the Playbill.com story.
65 PHOTOS
Good Morning Playbill! My two-show days usually start with hitting the snooze button. Several times.
Jessica Lea Patty
This is Delilah. She's my other alarm clock. She usually wakes me up by lying on my stomach. Safe to assume she's probably hungry.
Jessica Lea Patty
My 3rd alarm clock, Dixie. She was abandoned at a vet’s office with a terrible upper respiratory infection. I adopted her from Broadway Barks in 2004. I affectionately refer to her as "Dixie, the One Eyed Wonder" :-)
Jessica Lea Patty
Time to feed the kitties.
Jessica Lea Patty
Along with a typical morning routine, I take about 10 minutes to steam in the morning. Especially, when I have to go on for Eva.
Jessica Lea Patty
Time for my morning meditation. Nothing like a great view to help clear your mind for a long, two-show day!
Jessica Lea Patty
Breakfast usually consists of 2 poached eggs, oatmeal & a grapefruit. Yum!
Jessica Lea Patty
This is my ride to work every day. No complaints here!
Jessica Lea Patty
After the ferry, I hop on a shuttle that takes me to midtown.
Jessica Lea Patty
Off to Physical Therapy. Evita is a very physically demanding show and Mark keeps us healthy and kicking. Laurel Harris looks on in amazement. Mark! You're Magic!
Jessica Lea Patty
Then it's off to my favorite bagel place in midtown, Times Square Hot Bagels. They have the best Iced Hazelnut Coffee! Need some caffeine to kick start my day!
Jessica Lea Patty
This is Ray, our awesome daytime doorman! I think he might be the Mayor of 45th St!
Jessica Lea Patty
Colin Cunliffe takes the green and economical route to work!
Jessica Lea Patty
Signing in for the first show of the day. I think Bradley might need a bit more coffee to get through this one.
Jessica Lea Patty
This is our Broadway Green Alliance “Green Board”. As the Green Captain for Evita , I try to keep everyone informed of upcoming BGA events and news. I also post helpful info on how to recycle and make our homes and community a greener place.
Jessica Lea Patty
As some of you know, mustaches are very popular in our show. Peron & Eva have even been “Stached.”
Jessica Lea Patty
I get to the theatre pretty early most days. The other ladies aren't even here yet.
Jessica Lea Patty
It tends to get pretty cold in the theatre, so I sit on a heating pad while I do my pincurls & makeup.
Jessica Lea Patty
Bahiyah Hibah and her son Soleil, also squeeze in some quality green room time
Jessica Lea Patty
Around a half-hour before show time, the green room starts to fill up.
Jessica Lea Patty
Everyone loves the green room! Even our handsome leads! Last chance to relax before the show.
Jessica Lea Patty
Bridget keeps the kids entertained with a puzzle. If you notice, it’s actually a Broadway Playbill puzzle. How fitting :-)
Jessica Lea Patty
You say you’re “taking pictures for Playbill.com” and strange things start to happen. An impromptu group warm-up by Colin, Emily, Johnny & Rebecca.
Jessica Lea Patty
Michael Cerveris, looking very dapper today, comes to relax & finish his coffee with the gang before the show.
Jessica Lea Patty
Speaking of warm-ups, it’s time to head to the stage for a warm-up myself, joined by some of the other cast.
Jessica Lea Patty
After a good warm-up, it’s time to put on my wig for The Requiem.
Jessica Lea Patty
Then off to grab my props from Jill!
Jessica Lea Patty
Everyone collects on the stage for “Places”.
Jessica Lea Patty
With fellow castmates Ashley Amber & Laurel Harris. Ready for Act 1!
Jessica Lea Patty
The top of the show starts with the “Requiem for Evita” where we mourn Eva’s death. Everyone takes a moment to themselves as we prepare for a very emotional opening number.
Jessica Lea Patty
After “Requiem”, Sam helps me into my “Buenos Aires” costume. One of the best dressers ever! Hands Down!
Jessica Lea Patty
I even have a heating pad for the changing booth on stage. It gets cold in the Marquis!
Jessica Lea Patty
The Aristocrats of Booth 2. Erica Mansfield, Margot De La Barre & I met when we were 16-years-old at the Broadway Theatre Project. All these years later, now performing on Broadway together!
Jessica Lea Patty
Intermission comes and it’s time for Emilia to re-pin my wig. Can’t have it flying off in the big dance number coming up in the 2nd Act!
Jessica Lea Patty
Ava also gets her hair ready for Act 2
Jessica Lea Patty
She even has time to put the last piece of the puzzle in place! 1000 piece Broadway Playbill puzzle finished!
Jessica Lea Patty
We all gather onstage for the top of Act 2 for the iconic balcony scene. Hankies in hand & ready to go!
Jessica Lea Patty
After “Money”, the big dance number in the 2nd Act, it’s snack time for Booth 2! One of the only breaks we get in the show. Time to relax with some goldfish and juice boxes before the “Montage.”
Jessica Lea Patty
After the show comes down, I head to one of my favorite midtown restaurants, Kodama. A light lunch is on the menu, as I can’t overeat before show #2. Tonight is a big one! On for Eva Peron!
Jessica Lea Patty
Cisco, our nighttime doorman. If Ray is the mayor of 45th St, then Cisco has to be the deputy! We’re lucky to have them!
Jessica Lea Patty
I get back to the theatre early to get situated. The In/Out sheet brings a huge smile to my face! Yay Eva!
Jessica Lea Patty
When on as Eva, I get to set up shop in the principle dressing room. Fancy!
Jessica Lea Patty
Time for an afternoon meditation and another date w/ my personal steamer. If you were wondering, I have two. One at home & one at the theatre :-)
Jessica Lea Patty
This is one of my favorite souvenirs from my trip to Argentina, a simple little trinket box that sits at my station. What I learned about Eva while down in Argentina was priceless – I’m so honored to have an opportunity to play this legendary woman who c
Jessica Lea Patty
As I put on my Eva makeup, I sit on yet another heating pad. Have I mentioned that it gets cold in the Marquis?
Jessica Lea Patty
Then it’s time for another warm-up.
Jessica Lea Patty
At 7:20, we are called down to the stage for lift rehearsal. The boys and I get a chance to practice the partnering & lifts in the show. Since I don’t go on for Eva every day, it’s good to touch base with each other so no one gets hurt.
Jessica Lea Patty
After lift rehearsal, it’s time for my wig. These are my 6 Eva wigs. She starts as a brunette and gradually gets more blonde as she rises to power in Argentina.
Jessica Lea Patty
Pincurl Time!
Jessica Lea Patty
Jenny pins my microphone onto my head. Eva’s costume changes are so fast that it’s best to have the microphones under our wigs so we don’t get caught up in the cords during the changes.
Jessica Lea Patty
Oh, and there’s actually two of them. Since Eva rarely leaves the stage, I wear two microphones under my wig – in the event that one dies, the sound department can just switch to the other one.
Jessica Lea Patty
Another wig cap is placed over the microphones to keep them in place.
Jessica Lea Patty
Wig goes on!
Jessica Lea Patty
Time to get dressed. These are my “Buenos Aires” shoes.
Jessica Lea Patty
And there you have it! Young Eva is ready for the top of the show!
Jessica Lea Patty
Daniel Torres & I also met when we were 16 at the Broadway Theatre Project. Daniel understudies the role of Che. Hopefully, someday we’ll get to play Che & Eva together!
Jessica Lea Patty
Act 1 is nonstop, so pics are impossible to come by. But at intermission, I snag a picture with Ricky Martin. He’s the sweetest!
Jessica Lea Patty
Time to get dressed for Act 2 and the iconic balcony scene.
Jessica Lea Patty
Into the stunning white ballgown. It takes two people to get you into this one. A double corset is no easy feat!
Jessica Lea Patty
Ready To Go! Don’t Cry For Me, Playbill!
Jessica Lea Patty
Act 2 is also nonstop, but I did manage to snag one as I changed for the final “Dice Are Rolling” scene. In this scene Eva is very sick, so the lipstick and blush come off to convey her frailty and gradual decline. Eva died from uterine cancer at age 33.
Jessica Lea Patty
The show is done and Ricky still has the energy to sweep me off my feet for one last picture. Did I mention how sweet he is!?
Jessica Lea Patty
I had a bunch of family & friends come see the show that night. Forever grateful for their love and support.
Jessica Lea Patty
Ricky draws quite a crowd at the stage door. Time to head out and sign some Playbills for the folks waiting outside.
Jessica Lea Patty
After hanging out with my family & friends, it’s time to head home to Jersey. And there you have it Playbill! It’s been an exhausting, but thrilling two-show day at Evita on Broadway. Ensemble by day, Eva by night! I couldn’t be happier! Living
Jessica Lea Patty
Directed by Tony and Olivier Award winner Michael Grandage and choreographed by Tony Award winner Rob Ashford, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Evita began previews March 12 and opened April 5 at The Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway). The cast is headed by Grammy winner Ricky Martin as Che, Olivier Award winner Elena Roger in her Broadway debut as Eva Perón, Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris as Juan Perón, Max von Essen (Dance of the Vampires, Les Miserables, Jesus Christ Superstar ) as Magaldi and Rachel Potter (The Addams Family ) as the Mistress.
Christina DeCicco (Sister Act ) is the alternate for Eva Perón and plays the role of Eva Wednesday evenings and Saturday matinees.
Rounding out the cast are Ashley Amber, George Lee Andrews, Wendi Bergamini, Eric L. Christian, Kristine Covillo, Colin Cunliffe , Margot de La Barre, Bradley Dean, Rebecca Eichenberger, Melanie Field, Jennie Ford, Maya Jade Frank, Bahiyah Sayyed Gaines, Constantine Germanacos, Laurel Harris, Nick Kenkel, Brad Little, Erica Mansfield, Emily Mechler, Isabela Moner, Sydney Morton, Jessica Lea Patty, Aleks Pevec, Kristie Dale Sanders, Timothy Shew, Michaeljon Slinger, Johnny Stellard, Alex Michael Stoll, Daniel Torres and Matt Wall.
For more information visit EvitaOnBroadway.com . For more information on Jessica Lea Patty, visit www.JessicaLeaPatty.com .