Rehearsals for Broadway's Evita Revival, with Ricky Martin and Elena Roger, Will Begin in February

By Andrew Gans
29 Jul 2011

Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin

The Michael Grandage-directed production of Evita — which opened at London's Adelphi Theatre in June 2006 starring Argentine actress Elena Roger — will arrive on Broadway in spring 2012, with Roger repeating her work for New York audiences. Rehearsals, according to an Equity casting notice, will begin in February 2012.

As previously reported, the production is scheduled to begin Broadway previews March 2012 prior to an official opening in April. Pop star Ricky Martin will play the role of Che, the part created on Broadway by Mandy Patinkin, in the upcoming Broadway revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical.

Rob Ashford, who choreographed in London, will perform the same duties for the Broadway revival, which will be directed by Grandage and produced by Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders. Kristen Blodgette will be the musical director.

The Broadway production will play one of the theatres owned by the Nederlander Organization.

In a previous statement Martin said, "I've been blessed with the opportunity to perform on many of the world's largest concert stages, but I've never lost my love for the intimacy of the theater. I'm delighted to know that after I've had the chance to share new music and tour over the coming year, that I will then return once again to Broadway. I'm looking forward to playing such an essential part in Michael Grandage's wonderful production and the chance to work with the tremendously talented Elena Roger."

"It is very exciting to bring this new production of Evita to Broadway with an Argentinean woman in the title role for the very first time," added director Grandage. "With Ricky Martin joining the company, we now have an opportunity to make the production even more authentic and to celebrate Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's brilliant achievement as it comes to New York for the first time in over a quarter of a century."

Evita, which premiered as a two-LP recording starring Julie Covington (Eva) and Colm Wilkinson (Che), features a score by Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics). Hal Prince staged both the original London and New York productions of the musical, which made stars of Elaine Paige (in London) and Mandy Patinkin and Patti LuPone (on Broadway). The score features such tunes as "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," "Buenos Aires," "A New Argentina," "Another Suitcase in Another Hall," "I'd Be Surprisingly Good for You" and "Rainbow High." Madonna, Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Pryce starred in the film version; Roger headed the cast of the now-closed London revival.