One of the most eagerly awaited films this season, and probably the most eagerly awaited film for theatre and diva fans, is the Alan Parker-directed Evita starring pop star Madonna as Eva, Antonio Banderas as Che and Miss Saigon's Jonathan Pryce as Juan Peron. One of PBOL's loyal readers sent us a tidbit about the release of the single "You Must Love Me," the one new song added to the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice score:

"The first single from. . .the EVITA soundtrack is shipping to Top 40 radio on October 1, and will be on the air everywhere in the U.S. on October 2. We understand the LaM just shot the gorgeous video last week. The commercial B-side to the single is entitled "Oh What a Circus" with an anticipated street date (when you can purchase the record in the shops) around October 15, 1996."

* And, here's some info from the official press release of the movie:

"The entire film will be a contemporary opera with no spoken dialogue. 'My screenplay is a realistic, naturalistic telling of the Eva Peron story, but the heart of the piece is still the construction of the original opera," Alan Parker says. "The challenge for me was to tell a historically accurate story in the operatic form. There is minimal spoken dialogue as it is a "sung-through" piece; however, in all other aspects, cinematically it will be a contemporary, realistic film."

* The music, which was recorded in a London studio for five weeks at the end of 1995, has been reworked by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice to adjust to the screenplay's construction. "All the music has been recorded and produced in an exciting contemporary manner," Parker continues, "bearing in mind that in its previous manifestations, Evita was a concept album and then was developed musically with the limitations of a pit orchestra. We have no such limitations and have the benefit of the technological advances in sound, both in recording and for film. The scale and subtlety that these advances allow will be reflected in our new production of the music.

* Also, the exclusive New York engagement for the film begins Wednesday, December 25, at Sony Theatres Lincoln Square. Showtimes are 10:30 AM, 1:20 PM, 4:20 PM, 7:30 PM and 10:40 PM.

Advance tickets are now on sale by calling 1-888-EVITA97. These tickets will be mailed to you in advance or you may call (212)-336-SONY to pick up your tickets at the theatre. Tickets are also available at the box office, 1998 Broadway at 68th Street. For group sales, call (212) 336-5025 or 5026.

* A new song has been written for the film, "You Must Love Me." Here are the lyrics, as posted on the web by lyricist Tim Rice:

Where do we go from here?
This isn't where we intended to be
We had it all you believed in me
I believed in you

Certainties disappear
What do we do for our dreams to survive?
How do we keep all our passions alive?
As we used to do

Deep in my heart I'm concealing
Things that I'm longing to say
Sacred to confess what I'm feeling
Frightened you'll slip away You must love me
You must love me

(Instrumental break)

Why are you at my side?

How can I be any use to you now?
Give me a chance and I'll let you see how
Nothing has changed

Deep in my heart I'm concealing
Things that I'm longing to say
Sacred to confess what I'm feeling
Frightened you'll slip away
You must love me
You must love me

-- By Andrew Gans

(My e-mail address is [email protected].)